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This course is valuable to secretaries either newly appointed, more experienced or those interested in taking on the role – and helps to demystify it. Nothing replaces face to face training and workshops offer an opportunity to interact with the Adviser and each other. Learning top tips, hints and getting ideas from each other is a crucial part of the workshops.

We use a variety of techniques including group discussions, delivering information and posing questions and, where applicable, using technology to enhance our workshops.

The various officer roles will be touched on to explain their relevance to the secretary’s role as well as ways to split the role so it can be shared among a few committee members.

WI Secretary training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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A treasurer has to organise the payments for the WI and receive and bank the money coming in, and record these in such a way that she can produce annual accounts that comply with charity law for presentation at the annual meeting.

The Federation provides a spreadsheet to assist with the record keeping, an extensive treasurer’s handbook and Sheena Landgraf, the Federation’s treasurer runs several workshops a year. These workshops give an opportunity to meet other treasurers, and each session covers a wide range of topics. A course handout covers items that don’t fit into the session and provide notes for later reference. They also give you an opportunity to understand terms that are used in the financial statement, find out how to complete the accounts sheets, file the paperwork and other areas that will make the role of treasurer run smoothly. It’s also a great opportunity to find out how other treasurers do things.

The workshops are open to those thinking about becoming a treasurer, the president or others from the committee if they want a better understanding of the financial statement.

Treasurer training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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Surrey Federation Advisers periodically run workshops specifically designed for Presidents, either in various locations across the Federation or centrally in the case of large scale training events.

The advantage of attending a workshop is the opportunity to exchange valuable ideas, tips and hints with each other. The content includes guidelines, information about the role and your responsibilities as President and how the various officer roles are similar and unique.

We aim to encourage interaction throughout the workshop between those attending and the Advisers. Past experience has shown that this course provides valuable support and information which is at its best when interaction is abundant.

We can try to find ways to help you with specific problems or concerns that you are encountering as well as offer top tips to help you to fulfil your role to the best of your ability. This workshop is ideal for those who are newly elected or longer standing Presidents and committee members who have an interest in accepting the role if nominated and elected.

President training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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The Adviser team run this course periodically either around the Federation or at larger scale training days. We use the course structure devised by the NFWI which is regularly updated – Advisers are not necessarily trained teachers so we value the framework provided and can adapt it to fit members’ requirements.

This course encourages members to have a go at speaking in front of the rest of the group and is pitched at various levels to enable everyone that takes part to progress during the workshop. Opportunities are provided to speak with confidence to a partner, in small groups and, increasing to address the whole group on a range of well-known topics, with encouragement given at every stage.

We are aware of how daunting it is for some people to speak to a group, let alone to do it with confidence. Our aim is to put you at your ease so you can get the best out of yourself and the workshop. You will be continually coached and coaxed and not made to speak out until you are ready to do so. The workshop is so gentle that before you know it, you are ready to be heard.

Where possible we use a microphone towards the end of the workshop to give experience of hearing your amplified voice. This experience is usually welcomed and members get the hang of it rather quickly.

This workshop is ideal for any member of your WI who wishes to improve confidence at public speaking, irrespective of whether or not they are on the committee. Advisers are always delighted to watch confidence grow throughout the workshop and in some cases see attendees flourish and progress to roles within their WI and the Federation as a result of taking this first step.

Speaking with Confidence training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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A chance to learn what your own WI could gain from having a social media presence.

Discussion and factual examples of highs and lows and how to keep your WI and members safe on line.

Social Media Awareness training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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We run a resolution briefing meeting annually and this is a must for members who are delegates to the NFWI annual meeting each year, or those presenting the resolution choices to their own WI.

Resolution Briefing sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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Various courses have been organised to train members who wish to become judges, either in cookery (baking) or craft within the county. If there is sufficient demand we are also able to organise a course in judging preserves.

Surrey was in need of new craft judges so in 2018 the Federation offered WI members the opportunity to train to become craft judges, tutored by Beryl Havers, a National Federation Craft Judge. Two Surrey members and four from Sussex took on the challenge. The aim was to enable them to acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding required to judge a full range of crafts at County, Federation, Group, WI meeting level and at local shows.

The course consisted of four one-day sessions at SFWI Headquarters along with field work, shadowing an experienced judge at a minimum of three shows with at least six different classes. A detailed portfolio was produced recording the content of each session, a critique of the three show schedules, evidence of all shadow judging carried out with photos, marking and exhibitor feedback, along with a mock report, and finally evidence of showing as a competitor with self-evaluation.

Judge training sessions will be bookable from the What’s On page. Click Training Events to check if there is an upcoming one.

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