The WI is back at the Ideal Home Show!

After years of absence from the Ideal Home Show, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is back and is encouraging visitors to take up its Carbon Challenge. Throughout the history of the Show the WI has been involved in a variety of different ways. It was, however, best known for its cooking demonstrations. And in 1951, the year of the Festival of Britain, there was even a WI ‘ideal home.’

This home was a massive success and thousands of visitors flocked to see the innovative and practical ideas designed to take the drudge out of housework. Before the house was designed some 6,000 WI members filled out a questionnaire to suggest how they would like their ideal home to be. The architect and builders incorporated as many of these suggestions they could.

This year’s WI stand still follows the theme of the 1951 house, which was to save on consumption. Then, there was a concern that supplies of electricity were limited and costly and because money was short excessive use was frowned upon. Today the WI is concerned about the effects that excessive consumption has on global warming and the climate.

The WI stand supports the WI Carbon Challenge, sponsored by Marks & Spencer. Visitors will be encouraged to check what their carbon consumption is, a term that was unheard of by visitors to the WI house. Since the launch of the Carbon Challenge more than 6,000 people have signed up. WI members will act as stewards during the 24 days of the Show and will help visitors to discover their carbon footprint using the WWF footprint calculator. WI members will provide tips on how to reduce visitors’ carbon footprints across all areas of the home, transport, lifestyle and food.                                                              

Fay Mansell, chair of the NFWI, said: “Climate change is the biggest challenge facing society today. In 1951 the WI was trying to reduce the drudgery of housework and the term Carbon Challenge hadn’t been invented. Today we invite everyone to take part in the WI’s Carbon Challenge, use the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and play their part in tackling global warming.

“By signing up to the Carbon Challenge, visitors to our stand (number 2Q19) will demonstrate that they care about climate change. This will provide valuable support for the WI campaign to persuade the Government that the public wants decisive action to combat climate change.”

Visitors will also have the chance to learn about the work of the Women’s Institute and the organisation’s campaigns. There has been renewed interest in the WI and 70 new WIs have formed in the last year. An interesting trend is the growth of WIs in cities. The WI has also seen an increasing number of young women joining to learn the traditional skills of cooking and crafts and to get involved in campaigning.

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