The Women's Institute was formed in 1915 with two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.

More than 90 years on, the organisation has 205,000 members in 6,800 branches.

It was once all jam and Jerusalem, but has the WI adapted to remain relevant in today's society?

I went to Westbourne WI to find out. When I first walked into Christ Church hall on Wednesday morning I was struck by how busy it was, although I was disappointed to see there weren't many members under the age of 60.

And when the meeting began with a rendition of Jerusalem, I wondered whether the WI really had moved with the times.

But president Helga Ransome assured me the hymn was a one-off to mark the group's 150th get-together and as the meeting continued, my concerns quickly proved unfounded.

I learnt that current WI campaigns include climate change, sustainable consumption and food waste.

It's also clear that, far from becoming outdated, the WI is thriving - it aims to recruit another 25,000 members in the next 10 years.

Westbourne is certainly contributing - two new members were welcomed in July.

And there's plenty for those members to do. A long list includes a strawberry tea, a coffee morning for new members, craft, film and book clubs as well as boat trips, outings to art exhibitions and a theatre visit - and that's just in the next month or so.

"We cater for everybody," said Helga, who has been a WI member for 25 years.

In fact, it was the arts and crafts which attracted her to a meeting in the first place.

"I was made so welcome," she remembers. "They took me to their hearts.

"My husband died recently, and the WI has been a very stout support to me.

"I couldn't function without them."

Helga stressed that, while members do still make cakes and jam, baking is no longer their main focus.

In fact, I was astonished to learn that the cake provided for the special 150th meeting was - horror of horrors - shop-bought.

It's a fact which would once have drawn shocked gasps from members, but today passes without so much as a murmur.

"Making jam and cakes was very laudable in years gone by, but we've moved with the times," said Helga. "We have now taken on current affairs."

Ruth McDonald is a fan of the education on offer, having attended the WI's residential Denman College in Oxfordshire three times.

At 54, she is one of the group's younger members and admits she was unsure when she attended her first meeting 12 years ago.

"When I joined it was because I was living in a village and I didn't have children of school age, so I didn't fit in with the mother and toddler groups," she said.

"I saw a notice for the WI and someone suggested going along. Because I was only in my early 40s I thought Oh, WI', but I liked it right away.

"We've got a wide range of age groups, which I think is very good and they make new people very, very welcome.

"It's a real opportunity for people."

And what of WI Lite? Group secretary Diana Finnamore is all for it. "Different groups lean towards different things, " she says. "We're all different - but in the WI there is room for us all."

Westbourne WI meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 10.30am. To find your nearest branch call 01305 266366.