The start of April has brought us beautiful sunshine – long may it continue!

Brockenhurst WI has a busy month with something for everyone.

April is the start of the WI subscription year and fees of £51 are due this month. Of this £51 Brockenhurst WI receives £25.10, Hampshire Federation receives £12.05 and the National Federation receives £13.85. It would help us greatly if you could pay your subscription of £51 by bank transfer. Please puts your surname and subs as the reference e.g. Smith Subs. If you require the bank details. Please contact us.

If you cannot pay by bank transfer, we will happily take cash or cheque at the April meeting. Please kindly note that you will not be able to vote at the AGM in May if we have not received your subscription fee. Find out more about the membership subscriptions here.

We have our monthly meeting on Monday 14th April and our speaker is “Dr. Simone and her Red Stethoscope – being a Paediatrician today”. This takes place at Brockenhurst Village Hall – arrival from 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

At the meeting this month , we will have our usual raffle run by Maureen and April. Karen will also be selling raffle tickets for the NFWI raffle.

Our “Competition of the Month’ will be a single bloom in a vase.  Members vote for their favourite with a silver coin of any denomination and the winner is the photo with the most coins. Donations go to ACWW.

Karen will also be collecting £14 for those who have signed up to the Skittles Evening with fish supper. But again if possible, it would help us greatly if you could pay your £14 by bank transfer. Please put your surname and Skittles as the reference e.g. Smith Skittles

There will be sign up sheets for a range of activities, including Croquet on 18th June (cost £12), The New Forest Show entries (see the schedule here, Brunch (see below), ACWW walk (see below), our summer outing to Highclere castle.

We will be continuing to collect donations of toothpaste and toothbrushes as part of our Dental Health Matters Campaign. These will be distributed to local schools for children in need.

Hordle WI have their Spring Fair on Saturday 12th April at the Hordle WI Hall, from 10am-4pm. As well as a range of craft items, fabric will be on sale from £4 a meter.

The Craft Group had a session on Friday 4th April, but then have a break for Easter. But do see Carole or any member of the Craft Group at the monthly meeting if you have any questions or would like to attend future sessions and Carole will put you on the distribution list.

Kim is running Quilting Sessions.

Britta is running Crochet sessions.

The Darts team continue to practice on Thursday mornings at the Foresters Arms at 11am in preparation for their match against Barton Bees WI. New members always welcome.

Bandage Making Bandage Making for Ukraine -Rita continues to lead a team in Bandage making on Wednesday mornings from 10am. Please contact us for the location.

Christine has organised a Brunch for April instead of lunch and it will take place at Esme’s Tea Room Esme’s tearooms at the Thatched Cottage in Brockenhurst on Monday 28th April at 11 am. Please sign up at Monday’s meeting or contact us for more details.

Julie has organised a fundraising walk with coffee and cake in aid of the ACWW ‘Walk the World’ campaign. This will be held on Tuesday 29th April, starting at 10.30am from Wilverley Plain Car Park. The walk will be approximately 2 miles. Non-walkers are invited to join us at approximately 11-45-12 noon for tea/coffee and cake. Please sign up at Monday’s meeting or contact us for more details.

Our main fundraiser for the year, the Needlework Fiesta takes place on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th April 2025 at Brockenhurst Village Hall. Brockenhurst WI are running the refreshments stall at this event and require cakes and volunteers to serve tea/coffee, cakes and lunches on the day. Please sign up at Monday’s meeting or contact us. Thank you.

WI4U You should have received an email from Hampshire WI letting you know that there is now a newsletter from them that lets you know directly of their information and activities (so you can book events before they fill up!) You need to sign up for for it and you can do so by clicking here. The response will come from the Hampshire WI Mailchimp account. Please do this as it will save our Secretary a lot of work and it will also keep you better informed. If you need help signing up for this newsletter, please ask.

The WI Learning Hub (formerly Denman) run a great range of courses and on offer this month are free digital technology courses. So if you need IT help, why not Unlock your digital confidence with the Barclays Digital Wings.

“Making Digital Learning Easy & Accessible

We believe in giving people the essential digital and financial skills needed to thrive in today’s world. Our journey began by helping our colleagues gain confidence in using and talking about digital technology. This has allowed us to expand our efforts, offering support in both digital literacy and financial management to boost overall confidence and competence.

The world of technology is evolving faster than ever, with more and more aspects of daily life moving online, from banking and shopping to social connections and work. While these advancements offer convenience and new opportunities, they can also feel overwhelming, especially when things change so quickly. But learning to navigate the digital world doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right support, building digital confidence can be simple, accessible, and even enjoyable.

That’s why the WI Learning Hub is proud to support Barclays Digital Wings; an online learning platform designed to make digital skills easier to access and understand. Whether you’re a complete beginner or already digitally confident and looking to expand your knowledge, there’s something for everyone.

Barclays Digital Wings offers a wide range of interactive courses covering essential skills, from using the internet safely to managing your finances online or exploring new technologies. The flexible, self-paced modules allow you to learn at your own speed, building confidence step by step.

No matter where you are on your digital journey, we’re here to make learning easier, more accessible, and empowering. Visit the WI Learning Hub and start building your digital confidence today!

WI Learning Hub – Barclays Digital Wings

Stay informed about the latest courses, training sessions, and events on the WI Learning Hub by subscribing to their newsletter. Simply click here to sign up or visit the WI Learning Hub website and select ‘Newsletter’ from the menu.  For any questions or further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Learning & Development team at wilearninghub@nfwi.org.uk

Diary Dates

Wednesday 9th April 2025 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Thursday 10th April 2025 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Friday 11th April 2025 Sewing Sewcial at WI HouseSouthampton Road Eastleigh SO50 9XB. You can drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm. Please email jacquiecarver@hampshirewi.org.uk with the time you expect to arrive. £5

Monday 14th April 2025 Monthly Meeting -“Dr. Simone and her Red Stethoscope – being a Paediatrician today”. At Brockenhurst Village Hall – arrival from 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Wednesday 16th April 2025 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Thursday 17th April 2025 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Skittles Evening and Supper at The Huntsman. 7pm.

Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Thursday 24th April 2025 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th April 2025 Needlework Fiesta at Brockenhurst Village Hall. Brockenhurst WI are running the refreshments stall at this event.

Sunday 27th April: ANZAC Day service at St Nicholas Church at 2.45pm .

Monday 28th April 11am Brunch at Esmes, Brookley Road.. Please contact us for more information or to book a place

Tuesday 29th April 2025. Walk and Tea in Aid of ACWW. Please contact us for more details or to sign up.

Thursday 1st May 2025 Hampshire WI Clean Rivers Event – “Can we save our rivers’ 2-4pm WI House. For more details and to book click here.

Friday 2nd May  2025 Craft Group – Please contact us for more information, to book a place and for the location.

Hampshire Activities

To end this post, we hope you have been considering our plea for new committee members. Please speak to Liz or contact her here.