Jam and Jerusalem are coming to a branch in central Croydon

The country’s largest women’s organisation, famous for its jam-making and cake bakes, the singing of “Jerusalem”, but above all its general good deeds and fellowship, is coming to central Croydon.

The Women’s Institute is looking to establish a central Croydon branch, with its first meeting at the start of April.

“The WI brings women together for lifelong learning and skill sharing,” they say.

“It offers social connection, educational talks, crafting, community action and campaigning on national issues. It empowers women to learn, share and make a positive difference in their community.”

The first meeting of the central Croydon branch of the Women’s Institute will be on Wednesday, April 1, at The Salvation Army Citadel, Booth Road, CR0 1XY from 7pm to 8.30pm. It is proposed that meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month thereafter.

Doors will open at 6.30pm to enable a prompt start (the WI does have a reputation for being most  punctilious).

“At this meeting, once we have formally established the new WI, people will be able to enrol as members.” The annual subscription is £54 – little more than £1 per week.

The benefits of being a member of the Women’s Institute include:

• making friends in your local area and further afield
• a minimum of 11 meetings a year
• receiving WI Life magazine
• access to national and federation events

There are already existing branches of the WI in various areas in and around Croydon, including Sanderstead and Sanderstead Village, Purley Cross, Shirley, and there are two in Old Coulsdon and two in Warlingham.

Further information about the WI can be found on its national organisation’s website by clicking here, or by emailing infoproposedcroydon@surreyfedwi.org.uk

---

Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details

---

PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates

---

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

• As featured on Google News Showcase

• We offer FREE ads to community groups when they have members who are paid subscribers to Inside Croydon

• Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here

• ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2026, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for an EIGHTH time in nine years, in Private Eye magazine’s annual round-up of civic cock-ups

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network