COMPETITIONS

Federation Competitions

Every year the federation hold competitions open to all members/ WIs for which the winner receives a trophy at the Autumn Federation Meeting.

The Southey Cup

This cup was purchased and donated to recognise the service Mrs Elizabeth Southey gave to Surrey Federation and as NFWI chairman and was originally presented to the “best” Surrey WI of the year. However, the judging caused some difficulties and presentation of the cup lapsed.

The Cup will be awarded to the WI which have been involved and inspired by at least 6 of the aims and the objectives of the WI.

Instructions for this competition are below and this competition is a great way to get all of your WI involved working together.

This competition will not be taking place in 2023.

2022 Competition

NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

WI members can take part in a range of national competitions organised by the NFWI. Over the years there have been competitions to suit all members – from cookery and craft to writing, design and sport, open to individuals or working as a team. Current competitions include:

The Lady Denman Cup

An annual creative writing competition in which members submit an original piece of work based on a set theme.

This year, WI members are invited to write a letter explaining how the WI has influenced or impacted them as an individual, and how it has helped them become the woman they are today.

Members should consider how their letter would inspire other women and girls and encourage them to join the WI. Entries must be no more than 500 words; the letter can either be left open or addressed to a particular individual.

The NFWI will announce the Lady Denman Cup competition winner in October 2023 .

Schedule 2023Entry Form

The Huxley Cup

This is a floral art competition held at a different showground every year. Each Federation is invited to submit one entry, and the contestant must produce an arrangement to a theme provided to them on the staging day, along with all materials, sundries and containers. The cup was presented to the NFWI by Mrs L. K. Huxley, OBE, in 1938. She was elected to the NFWI executive in 1926 when she was in her 20s and was honorary treasurer from 1930-1936.

This year, the Huxley Cup Competition, supported by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) invites WIs to design a small community space for wellbeing and wildlife. The wildfire aspect of the entry should focus specifically on the theme of Our Fabulous Flying Friends, think about birds, butterflies, moths and bats!

Check the schedule for the rules and complete an entry form to accompany your submission.

Closing date for entry is Friday 19 August 2022 and sent to National directly and not SFWI.

Schedule 2022Entry Form

The Elizabeth Bell Challenge

This is an annual competition with a new challenge each time. This year WIs were invited to submit a collection of photographs depicting a year in the life of their WI. We are proud to say a team from the Surrey Federation’s Old Coulsdon Cupcakes WI were this year’s winners.

WIs are invited to compile a record covering the period January-December 2021, showing how members work together to engage and support one another throughout the year, offering opportunities that have united their members as well as successfully marketing the WI. All members are encouraged to contribute; from organising activities, photography, managing and writing the record(s), to designing and formatting the final entry which can be displayed in any form — diary, scrapbook (no larger than A3), video presentation etc. WIs are encouraged to be creative and include as much information as possible within their finished entry.

Entries should be submitted to the Federation office for initial judging by 7 March 2022. Three entries will be chosen to go forward for national judging.

Schedule 2021Entry Form

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