A COMMUNITY call is being issued to women in Fordingbridge to attend a meeting to start a new Women’s Institute for the town.

No longer beset by the “jam and Jerusalem” cliché acquired in the 1950s, Hampshire WI, with its 8,500 members is attracting women of all ages who are calling themselves everything from The Desperate Housewives to the Village People.

A mention of the Women’s Institute usually conjures up images of the silver-haired, blue-stocking brigade putting the world to rights while learning flower arranging. But not any longer.

The revival is explained by a growing trend for young groups offering a dazzling array of alternative activities.

Over the county recent sessions have included burlesque, life drawing, bike maintenance and sushi rolling.

There are already established groups operating in Woodgreen, Sandleheath and Godshill, but Fordingbridge has no group of its own.

But now Pat Marshall of Fordingbridge WI's wants this to change and is welcoming women to an informal get together today at 10am in the Salvation Army Hall in Fordingbridge.

A Hampshire WI spokesman said: "There is no group in Fordingbridge, although there are groups in villages outside the town.

"At the moment we have more groups opening than closing and the face of the WI is changing - we have more young women joining than ever before, many of whom are in their 20s and 30s.

"WI groups have so much to offer people. Friendships are made, we have speakers and events and the speakers have to be good - they have to audition before they get a slot and put on our books.

"The WI is an organisation which is always changing and evolving to meet the needs of the 21st century and nowhere is this more so than in Hampshire.

"After the war the WI had a reputation for making jam and, although we do make jam, we do much more.

"We are a non-political group but we campaign for things that matter in our communities."

The WI was founded in England by a group of women in 1915, who discussed their contribution to the war effort over tea and cake in a cottage on Anglesey.

By 1918, the UK WI expanded to 199 clubs, which played a role in boosting morale on the Home Front.

Now in the UK there are 6,600 clubs and about 210,000 members.

For more information ring WI House on 02380 616712, email secretary@hampshirewi.org.uk or visit hampshirewi.org.uk