When women support each other,

incredible things happen

In 2022 FEWI developed a Sporting Sponsorship scheme committed to supported women and girls sport across the county.  It is hoped that this initiative will reach a new audience, making them aware of the WI, perhaps leading to the players, the women in their families and those attending looking at joining their local WI.  We also hope that it may encourage our members to start enjoying sporting activities that they may not otherwise have tried which, in turn, may improve their well being and support their mental health. We have since expanded the sponsorship scheme to include other women’s groups outside of sports.

We are also looking at other initiatives and groups that we could sponsor that will help women across the county, so if you have any suggestion of women’s groups – e.g. sports teams, choirs, artist groups, am dram, music groups, Morris dancing, etc. please do get in touch. 

February 2025 update – we are delighted that the Federation’s sponsorship of the various women’s and girl’s teams in Essex has been successful again and the Trustees have agreed to continue the scheme for a further year. 

The intention of our sponsorship scheme is to, not only support women, but also to encourage women to be more active physically, more active in their community and also hopefully to inspire more women to join their local WI.

The successful collaborations that we have made with various women’s and girls sports across the county are outlined below.

The Silver Darlings

The Silver Darlings is an Essex based all female shanty singing group who have become very regulars speakers at our WI meetings.  FEWI began sponsoring them in October 2024 so do look out for our badges on their shirts.  They are fully auditioned as FEWI speakers and feature in our Panel of Speakers book.  We are very happy to have extended our sponsorship beyond sporting teams to support women’s activities across the county.

Women’s Ice Hockey – Chelmsford Cobras and Pythons

We are a Gold sponsor with our logo on their team shirts and helmets and a rink-side ad-board at Riverside ice rink in Chelmsford.

It is free to spectate the womens games at Riverside Ice rink in Chelmsford, just turn up (but do wrap up warm). If you would like to support our sponsored teams here are the dates for the upcoming home games. Don’t forget to tag us with @wiessex and #essexwi to let us know if you attend any matches:-

MAY

4th 17:00 – Chelmsford Pythons v Bristol Huskies Dev – Home

4th 18:45 – Chelmsford Cobras v Cardiff Comets – Home

11th 17:00 – Chelmsford Pythons v Peterborough Phantoms Women – Home

Women’s Basketball – Essex Rebels

We are continuing to support the Essex Rebels Women’s Basketball team for the 25/26 season.  They are based at the Essex Sport Arena which is located at the University of Essex in Colchester.  Part of our sponsorship gives us a number of tickets to watch all of their home games this season.  If you would like tickets to any of the games below, please email admin@essexwi.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you on a first come first served basis.  Alternatively you can purchase tickets on Eventbrite. Don’t forget to tag us with @wiessex and #essexwi to let us know if you attend any matches.

Girls Rugby – Essex U18s

Our sponsorship enabled the Essex U18’s to purchase new match shirts with our logo on their backs. Andrea Church the Manager for Essex Women and Girls Rugby says “Our involvement with the WI last season brought lots of smiles to people’s faces reflecting what seem to be two very different ends of a wide spectrum. However, what it actually represents is one group of women who get together to learn and expand their friendships and knowledge supporting another group doing exactly the same.” We are delighted that they feel this way about our sponsorship.

Women’s Golf – Essex Ladies County Golf Association

We sponsor the Essex Ladies Inter Club Final – the Harris Bowl in October and will continue our sponsorship.

The Harris Bowl itself is one of ELCGA’s oldest trophies and is a direct link back to a founding member of ELCGA. It was originally presented by Miss Harris, from Halstead, who was the first County Secretary of the Association. There is mention of her in records from 1901. The trophy was originally presented for an individual competition and was awarded for many years. It was repurposed when the Harris Bowl inter club competition was introduced in 2005 and has become the most popular competition that ELCGA runs year on year.  

The sponsorship amount is used to supply mementos to each team who reach the final and to offset their practice rounds at the relevant finals venue as well as with expenses regarding the catering on the day.

Women’s Bowling – Essex County Women’s Bowling Association

We are sponsoring their Unfinished Finals Days.

Women and Girls Cricket – Essex Women’s Softball Cricket

We began sponsoring Essex Cricket for the 2023 season.  We are helping to provide softball cricket to over 250 women across Essex and East London, culminating in a Finals Day at the Cloud County Ground in Chelmsford.  Softball cricket is designed as an easily accessible form of the game, particularly for new players, of all ages.  This funding will help get women active and in social spaces outdoors over the summer, many of whom do not engage in other physical activity.  And we hope that it will introduce the WI to their players.  We were the named sponsor of their Essex Softball Series with 27 teams across Essex and East London and a 7 team finals day at the county ground in Chelmsford on July 30th 2023.   We have also sponsored two full team kit bags and two sets of team shirts.

Essex Cricket are also offering our members the chance to attend professional women’s cricket games at Essex Cricket as well as the chance to try the game themselves.  Look out in the magazine and bulletins for details about fixtures, free tickets, and taster days.

“With the launch of cricket in the Commonwealth Games and the Hundred, there has never been as much interest in Women’s Cricket as there is now, and we love to see that interest continue to grow in new audiences. Cricket is such an open sport that can be enjoyed in so many ways other than just playing.  Like the WI, cricket creates long lasting friendships and ways of helping local communities; we look forward to working together more in the future.”

Donna Harrington (ex Terling WI) playing Softball Cricket