Welcome to our small library of downloadable meeting sessions which we have put together to help WIs.
Whether you’ve had a speaker pull out at short notice and you need to rustle a new meeting together or whether you wish to schedule one of these meetings into your regular upcoming programme, we have a solution!
These meetings are downloadable, so no need to worry if you don’t have a reliable internet connection at your venue. You can simply book the session you want and download all of the relevant links and print any accompanying documents where applicable, or email them to your members after the session takes place.
Please ensure that your venue has the necessary technology, equipment, and expertise to screen a meeting before making a booking.
An Introduction to Meditation
Meditation is increasingly being referenced in modern life – from media articles, to TV documentaries, and even numerous smartphone apps! And yet there often still seems to be a degree of “mystery” around meditation. Do I need to sit in a special position? Should I feel something special when I meditate? Can I, and should I, “stop thinking” when I meditate? Simon Gregor first encountered meditation as a teenager, and it has been a part of his life in various different ways ever since. In this talk, Simon will talk about where meditation “comes from”, explore a bit about what it means to meditate, answer some frequently asked questions and hopefully dispel some myths, and even lead a short ten-minute meditation at the close of the session.
Length of the recording is approx 60 minutes.
You may wish to include a period at the end of the session for discussion.
No additional materials are needed for this meeting. Please just ensure your meeting attendees are seated comfortably.
You may wish to dim the lights at your venue during the guided meditation at the end of the session.
Simon Gregor
Simon is a regular host on the WI Learning Hub. He took his first degree in English Literature at the University of Cambridge, and later completed his PhD in History at the University of Wolverhampton. Simon is committed to making literature and history fun, engaging and widely accessible. He teaches a range of courses ranging in various historical topics, from the World Wars and American Presidents to Shakespeare Summer Schools. Simon is also a meditation enthusiast and has been practicing meditation since he was a teenager. He runs a monthly Meditation session on the WI Learning Hub which is free for all WI members to join on the first Friday of each month at 1pm. More information can be found on the WI Learning Hub website.
£30.00
PRESS HERE to book now
Paper Flower Crafting
This demonstration will show you how to make papercraft flowers which are made from simple materials and look very effective. The recording will show you how to make one flower, however you may wish to make more to create a wreath and decorate your home.
Length of the recording is approx 40 minutes.
Felicity pauses at various intervals during the recording to allow time for meeting attendees to catch up/discuss aspects of the session. We recommend that you pause the recordings at these points before continuing.
You will need the following materials for this meeting:
Per Person:
- A4 (approx) sized piece of paper, thin enough to fold (a page from a magazine or wrapping paper will also work well)
- Scissors
Can be shared within a small group or table:
- Glue Stick (or double sided tape)
- Pencil
- A circular item to draw around such as a mug
Felicity Jennings
Felicity loves teaching crafts via the WI Learning Hub. From crochet to drawing, dotting to paper crafts, Felicity aims to make her classes fun and accessible for everyone.
Felicity has worked in education for over 30 years and has been crafting all her life.
Felicity is an active member and former President of her own WI too!
Felicity offers a range of craft workshops regularly on the WI Learning Hub. Please visit the website for more information.
£30.00
PRESS HERE to book now
A Taster of British Sign Language
BSL is a beautiful language, and allows people to be expressive and inclusive. Even learning the BSL alphabet and a few basic signs – like hello, goodbye, please and thank you, can be useful when meeting people whose first language is BSL.
BSL can help to build confidence, improve communication skills and develop a sense of empathy and understanding towards others. It can also provide opportunities to meet new people and form new connections within the Deaf community. It’s a common misconception that BSL is difficult to learn, as it’s a non-verbal and purely visual language. But don’t be put off – it’s like learning any other language. Once you get started, you’ll want to keep going.
An experienced and very well received speaker and tutor, Lindsey has been delivering workshops and talks on BSL since 2009. Included in this session will be some of the history and development of BSL, some myths busting, some basic greetings signs and the BSL alphabet.
Want to break down barriers? Learn some BSL
Length of the recording is approx 60 minutes.
Lindsey pauses at various intervals during the recording to allow opportunities for meeting attendees to discuss and practice. We recommend that you pause the recordings at these points before continuing.
No additional materials are needed for this meeting
You may wish to print or email the accompanying PDF document to share with your members
Lindsey Barrell
WI President, Lindsey has been signing for 13 years and has recently completed Level 3 in BSL (British Sign Language).
Lindsey’s background includes supporting deaf students in a High School, working in outreach for Deafblind UK and being part of the ECL Sensory Team in Essex. From these roles Lindsey has gained a wide range of experience of working within a Sensory world with people who have both audial and visual impairments.
An experienced and very well received speaker and tutor, Lindsey has been delivering workshops, courses and talks on BSL for 11 years.
If you'd like to learn more BSL, Lindsey regularly runs BSL courses on the WI Learning Hub.
£30.00
PRESS HERE to book now
A Talk on the History of London
Join Dr Simon Gregor for a richly illustrated whistlestop tour of 2000 years of London history! It’s a city that many of us think we know well, and yet there is so much more history hidden in plain sight on the thoroughfares and by-ways of London. In a decade or so as a tour guide, Simon enjoyed re-introducing people, even lifelong Londoners, to the rich tapestry of stories woven into the fabric of the city. From Julius Caesar’s “visit” in the first century BC to the opening of the new US embassy under President Trump, from the hubbub of the City of London to the swanky backstreets of Mayfair, this talk will show you the UK’s capital in a new light!
Length of the recording is approx 60 minutes.
You may wish to include a period at the end of the talk for discussion.
No additional materials are needed for this meeting
Simon Gregor
Simon is a regular host on the WI Learning Hub. He took his first degree in English Literature at the University of Cambridge, and later completed his PhD in History at the University of Wolverhampton. Simon is committed to making literature and history fun, engaging and widely accessible. He teaches a range of courses ranging in various historical topics, from the World Wars and American Presidents to Shakespeare Summer Schools.
Simon has been passionate about literature and history since he was a child studying the Tudors at secondary school! His passion for history is amplified by his love of travel, which has enabled him to visit a number of the places he teaches about, and he has been lucky enough to lead historical tours across the UK and Europe.
Simon offers history talks regularly on the WI Learning Hub. Please visit the website for more information.
£30.00
PRESS HERE to book now
