A £5,000 award will help Gulworthy WI members get on the information highway. The WI is being given the cash from the Lottery Funding, Awards For All. It will help develop skills in computing, languages and physical activity. Elizabeth Harding, WI vice-president said members were delighted with the award, but it has to be spent within 12 months. The branch is making plans to attend courses and bring in tutors to maximise their output. ?Since the news of our award came after our July meeting, we need to decide how best to spend the money. We want to go to Denham College, which is one of our main aims,? said Elizabeth. The national WI college is extremely popular, offering a variety of residential courses, and Gulworthy WI is hoping to secure places on information technology and craft courses. ?We want to develop new skills in languages, new crafts, physical activity, either within our own area or at Denham College in Oxfordshire.? Elizabeth said branch president Joan Bird encouraged them to put in an application because other WIs had received awards. She believes Gulworthy?s rural location helped to secure the award. ?Gulworthy is not on a bus route, and many members have no transport. This will help bring tutors to us. We have members with cars, and because we are a very friendly group we arrange to pick them up?. The award is a massive boost for the club, which is nearing 50 members, and Elizabeth is keen to demonstrate to the community that the WI is more than their stereotype. ?The WI is conscious that the general public think we just make jam and sing Jeruselem! The WI during the last war had special allocations of sugar to make jams for people to help everyone with the rations, and it just seems to have stuck in people?s minds?. If you would like more information about the branch, or would like to become a member contact Elizabeth Harding on 01822 613936.
