Rowans Hospice delighted to host first Women’s Institute group held within a Hampshire hospice

Following the successful launch of a Women’s Institute Group at St Wilfrid’s Hospice (WI) in Eastbourne, Rowans Hospice in Purbrook, Waterlooville, is delighted to start a Women’s Institute group on their premises.

The new group, called Rowanberrys WI, Purbrook, welcomes all women aged 18+ from the local community to their meetings, taking place every first Friday of the month (except August) from 1:00 – 3:00pm at the Rowans Hospice Seminar Room (Purbrook Heath Road, Waterlooville, PO7 5RU). The group also set up a dedicated Facebook page.

Whether you are a female inpatient, a carer, have a loved one getting support from Rowans, or are local resident: You can play a vital role in the development of this new WI group. All members are encouraged to share any ideas and suggestions about how the WI group will look in terms of the activities and engagement within our local community.

Yvonne Penny-Filewod, Marketing & Fundraising Lead at Rowans Hospice, commented; “We are delighted to open our doors to the Women’s Institute, and look forward to welcoming the Rowanberrys WI, Purbrook, to our Seminar Room. We see this as a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds with our local community and hope to see women from all backgrounds attend. Hospice patients, their friends and family members, volunteers, staff and local residents – all are very, very welcome to join.”

Barbara George, WI Adviser and Hampshire Federation Trustee, adds; “I am delighted that we have been able to form a new WI based at the Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville. This is only the second such WI in the UK, and the first in Hampshire. All women in the area are welcome to come along and find out what the WI has to offer; to learn new things, make new friends and enjoy life. The charitable objectives of both organisations align well, and I look forward to taking this exciting venture forward.”

The WI shares the core values of Rowans Hospice and strives to offer its members:

• A compassionate WI where members care for each other.
• A progressive WI which is forward-thinking seeks new opportunities, ideas, and approaches.
• A respectful WI which acknowledges and accepts people’s individuality, allowing friendships to form in a safe and caring environment.
• A professional WI in which knowledge and skills are shared individually and collectively to enable personal development and that of others.

The WI is an organisation that continues to provide women with opportunities to further their knowledge and skills and to engage in a variety of activities that are meaningful and valued by them as individuals and their local community.

The creation of a WI within the heart of a Hospice community in Hampshire provides a new and exciting opportunity for the WI to demonstrate that it remains current and responsive to local people and their needs.

For more information, contact the Rowans Hospice team via info@rowanshospice.co.uk or the Women’s Institute via rowanberryspres@hampshirewi.org.uk​