Charity cheque presentation - March 2026

We were delighted to present a cheque to Velindre for £750. This was the result of our fundraising efforts for 2025/26.

The charity we have chosen for 2026/27 is Parkinsons UK Cymru.

Meeting – April 2025

 The main speaker at the April meeting was Nor'dzin Pamo, talking about pilgrimages to Nepal and Bhutan – please separate post.

Lynette Chappin talked to the group about making small blankets from the squares knitted by WI members. These were originally being sent to help African babies, then to a residential home, but now they are going to Ukraine. She said that she did not receive as many squares as she had in previous years. So this is a call to our members to get knitting! Lynette asks for 6" squares of any colour and design. She then crochets them together to form the blankets. Thank you Lynette for your long-standing commitment to this project and skilled crochet work

The photograph is of a representative receiving a number of the finished blankets to transport to Ukraine.

Also at the April meeting we had an Easter bonnet competition. The entries were judged by Nor'dzin and the winner received an Easter egg. Angela was the winner, third from the left.

Wales Air Ambulance

Wales Air Ambulance is our chosen charity this year. Ann Hughes came to tell us a little about their work.

Our co-president, Linda, with Ann.

They began in 2001 with one helicopter operating from 8 till 5, five days a week. They now have four helicopter that operate 24/7, and also five rapid-response vehicles. 

Since 2017 the helicopters have had consultants, doctors and paramedics on board, which are funded by the NHS. The charity has to provide the funds for the helicopters, which are leased with a pilot. This means that WAA has to raise £11.2 million a year to keep the helicopters providing their service. They have completed 50,000 missions since they began.

Ann Hughes expressed WAA's appreciation and gratitude for supporting them with our fundraising efforts this year.

March 2024 meeting

(Cymraeg)

This was a full and lively meeting.

The guest speaker was unable to attend because of illness, so one of the members, Pat Phillips kindly stepped up to offer a presentation. Pat and her husband are professional dancers and have represented Wales in international competitions.

Pat continued the theme as advertised: Keep on Moving. She stated that the old adage 'use it or lose it' holds true, and that physical activity is important to keep the body strong, and helps in everyday activity. She told us that dance tones the whole body as well as being a workout for the brain in remembering the steps.

She start the session with a few warm up exercises with controlled breathing, and then led us in a few dances. First a tango to the tune 'Hey Mambo', then a jig to the tune 'Pot of Gold' that was quite fast. The last dance was like the movements of line dancing. A good number of members joined in.

Then Pat showed a video of her and her husband competing in the finals of a competition. It was wonderful to see their graceful and expert dancing. She had also brought a few of her beautiful dance dresses with her, including the one seen in the video.

Pat ended her presentation by demonstrating the use of the hula hoop, and then led a few simple, slow, warm-down exercises to the tune of the 'Dying Swan'.

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Janine Williams talked to the members about her company Viney Hearing, based in Whitchurch. She gave information on the types of hearing loss and explained that hearing aids can only be aids – that is, they can only help individually, with whatever hearing loss and strength an individual has. She explained that Viney hearing off free hearing tests and a free ear health check. Wax removal costs £55 for both ears. Many people asked questions which she was happy to answer. They covered causes of whistling in a hearing aid; tinnitus; the need to change an ear mould every 4-5 years because the size and shape of the ear changes over time; preparation before having wax removed (she recommended Earol spray); and the cause of pain in the ear when flying and how to avoid it.

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Other items:

Linda announced that raffle tickets are on sale. £1 a ticket.

Voting for this year's charity (see newletter for details of options) – Wales Air Ambulance received the greatest number of votes and was adopted.

Gill Irwin announced that the joint choir with Rhiwbina WI has restarted. The choir will meet for every Wednesday morning, 11:30 – 12:30 except for the Wednesday of the Rhiwbina WI meeting. Meetings will be in the Royal Hall, Rhiwbina and there will be a cost of £28 a term to cover the expense of an accompanist.

Newsletter 180 – March 2024

WELCOME!

Due to illness we have a change to our advertised programme, but we are still going to 'Keep on Moving'!

One of our members, Pat Phillips, has kindly 'stepped in' to meet today's theme in a different way...

Janine Williams of Viney Hearing Care will tell us about the services available.

We will also vote for our Charity Choice of 2024. (See over)

W.I. RESOLUTIONS 

The results of your votes last month were:
Dental Health Matters – 22.
Impacts of poor housing conditions – 26.
Say "no" to gambling advertising – 9.
Improving outcomes for women in the Criminal Justice system – 14.
These have been passed to Glamorgan Federation to forward to the NFWI

PAYMENTS DUE – A REMINDER

Annual subscription for 2024/25 is £48, to be paid by Monday, 8th April.
Reference is Subscription if paying online

Ynys Hir Outing – 9th April 2024.
Have you signed up and not yet paid? See Liz (Treasurer) today who will accept payment by cheque or cash.
Reference is Ynys Hir Trip if paying online.

The banking details for those wishing to pay online are:-
Sort code: 30-98-90
Account number: 17814568
Account: Whitchurch Women's Institute
Reference: see above; each payment has it's own reference.

WYE VALLEY OUTING – Tuesday 11 June 2024

This will be a full day trip, picking up a tour guide at Chepstow and driving through Tintern and along the Wye Valley to Monmouth. After a coffee & loo break, there will be a guided tour of the Shire Hall and Victorian Court including the history of the Chartists who were tried there. We will spend free time in Monmouth for lunch and/or shopping before a short drive to pick up a 45 minute boat trip on the Wye. We return to a hotel for coffee/tea and biscuits and then back to Cardiff.
Cost, including coach, boat trip and tea/coffee and biscuits will be £32.

OUR MAIN CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR 2024 – Whitchurch
Festival

For the past few years, members have raised and contributed plants for sale at the Fete at the end of June. We are NOT doing that this year.

Instead, we plan to sell good quality second hand toys and games; also complete jigsaws in good condition. It is a few months off, but please bear this in mind – especially those of us with grandchildren. Any other ideas are welcome.

GROUPS: Dates for your diaries.

St Mary's Gardens: Tuesday 12th March
LOTS of planting today – come when you can manage after 9.30.

Book Group: Wednesday 13th March 2024 at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara.

Craft Group: Monday 18th March 2024 at 10.30am, 24 Lakelands Court, Rhydypenau Road, CF23 6QE

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 24th March 2024 at 1pm at Whitchurch Golf Club.

Poetry and Prose: Monday 25th March 2024 at 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat.

Family History: Thursday 11th April 2024 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road.

The Bus Pass Group will be re-starting when the weather is better!

NEXT MEETING: Monday 8th April 2024 at 2pm.

Subject: How Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs were saved
Speaker: Richard Cowie
Plus an add-on session by Nor'dzin, telling us about Tangling, or structured doodling

'TALKING POINT' – This is a service from the Alzheimer's Society which may be useful to you or someone you know. Alzheimer's sent the information in with their 'thank you' for our donation to their charity.

"Just one of the vital services we provide is Talking Point, our online safe space, where a trouble shared can become a trouble halved. People accessing Talking Point can learn from each other's experiences, share their frustrations and their knowledge of local services. Talking Point lets people living with dementia share and learn from each other in a safe online space. Just £50 means 312 people can access this site any time, day or night."

CHARITY CHOICES 2024

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity is funded by the people of Wales. They rely entirely on charitable donations to raise £11.2 million every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road across Wales.
The on-board consultants and critical care practitioners are highly skilled and carry some of the most pioneering medical equipment in the world. They can deliver blood transfusions, administer anaesthesia and undertake emergency operations at the scene of the incident, before flying the patient directly to specialist care. 

 

“By funding the right research into the most promising treatments, we get closer to a cure every day. Until then, we're here for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.”
Local groups are run by volunteers who usually have personal experience of living with Parkinson's. Groups run supportive activities and welcome people with Parkinson's, family members and carers to join in. A monthly support group runs in Rhydypennau library.

 

MS Society Cymru are a regional support team that have specific projects that support the Wales MS Community, which are in addition to the services provided by MS Society UK Community Officers run a series of activities and events across Wales  such as yoga, exercise classes and  outdoor taster activities such as adaptive climbing, surfing and cycling. A new project is Breathing Space which offers respite and short breaks for carers of those living with MS in Wales. They have social support with Men’s Shed, choirs, online quizzes etc. 

 

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Powered primarily by kind donations, our search and rescue service has been saving lives for nearly 200 years.
Also RNLI lifeguards have been patrolling beaches since 2001. They share safety advice, provide first aid to those who need it, and save the lives of those who get in trouble in the water.
The vast majority of RNLI people are volunteers - ordinary people doing extraordinary things - supported by expert staff, all working together to help communities at home and abroad save lives.

 

Sandville is a self-help charity, supporting people with life limiting and life changing conditions.
Their centre which has a lounge, a café, an exercise room and a hydrotherapy pool overlooks the Porthcawl coastline. There people can meet others from across Wales who are going through similar experiences. It is a safe place where they can make positive changes to their physical, psychological and emotional well-being.
Specific days are allocated for specific conditions such as Parkinson’s, cancers, MS, motor neurone disease, stroke, brain injury, and dementia.

 

See http://whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com for our activities, photos and
reports from previous meetings.

A cheque for the Wallich

Co-presidents Linda (left) and Glenys (right)
presenting the cheque

 

The Wallich charity was presented with a cheque for £600 at the February meeting. Many thanks to all members for helping to raise this

A cheque for Alzheimers's Society Cymru

Elanor Wyatt, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, was delighted to accept a donation for £600 from Whitchurch WI.  The cheque presentation was made by Glenys Care, President, and Sheila Austin, Committee Member, at the February Committee Meeting.

 

A cheque for City Hospice

At the January 2024 meeting, Whitchurch WI formally presented a cheque for £600 to one of our charities, City Hospice.

Vice President Linda, Katie Vaughan, and Treasurer Liz.

 

Katie Vaughan received the cheque on their behalf, and offered thanks for our support, expressing the importance of their work in supporting people in their own homes. 

Yng nghyfarfod Ionawr 2024, cyflwynodd WI Eglwys Newydd siec o £600 yn ffurfiol i un o’n helusennau, City Hospice.

Derbyniodd Katie Vaughan y siec ar eu rhan, a chynigiodd ddiolch am ein cefnogaeth, gan fynegi pwysigrwydd eu gwaith yn cefnogi pobl yn eu cartrefi eu hunain.