The First Women’s Institute

Women, War and the Way Forward for the SWRI

Established in 1897 in Canada, the First Women’s Institute was a group formed to combat isolation in rural areas, to give women mutual support and to be equivalent to the men’s Farmers Institute.
Scotland’s first group began in Longniddry, East Lothian, in 1917. Women suffered tremendous isolation in Scotland in the early years of the 20th century and the Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) strove to tackle this and to encourage and support education and social co-operation amongst Scotland’s rural women. The organisation now encourages home skills, family welfare and citizenship, preserves the traditions of rural Scotland, enhances awareness of Scotland's rural heritage, works for international co-operation and understanding amongst women and encourages home and local small industries, both individual and co-operative.

Now in its 90th year, the SWRI has moved with the times and includes art and aerobics amongst its activities. With about 25,000 members throughout Scotland, who make up over 900 local institutes, the SWRI is enjoying a surge of younger women including new mothers, women who have re-located for work purposes and business women.

SWRI Chairman Alison Bayley says, “Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes was started during the First World War and provided invaluable support and teachings. As there were few street lights in rural areas, monthly meetings often had to be arranged to coincide with moonlight nights. In the Second World War some meetings had to be abandoned, but this did not stop the groups gathering together. Women helped teach crafts in isolated camps and hospitals, and SWRI vans toured remote areas to give cooking and food preserving demonstrations. When the war ended the women continued to be involved in community work and local affairs.”

Alison continues, “We now consider our meetings as a chance to catch up with friends and to learn something new. We encourage members to further their education in the widest possible sense and to learn new and exciting skills.”

The SWRI currently supports small industries and businesses and enables women to go on study tours at home or abroad, debate local issues, organise events or simply enjoy the friendship of fellow members at the monthly meetings.

To find out more about the work of the SWRI in your area or to set up your own organisation log onto www.swri.org.uk or call SWRI headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724