Two Women’s Institute branches close after 72 years following resignations over trans membership policy

Two long‑established branches of the Women’s Institute (WI) in Bristol have closed after senior committee members resigned in protest at a national policy change restricting membership to women born female.

The Longwell Green Women’s Institute, founded in 1954, formally ceased operating on 1 April after 72 years of activity, while the Westbury‑on‑Trym branch has voted to wind down following a membership ballot.

The closures follow a decision by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) announced in December 2025 that, from April 2026, trans women would no longer be permitted to hold formal WI membership. The federation said the move was required to ensure compliance with a UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex under the Equality Act 2010.

At Longwell Green WI, the resignation of the three essential committee officers - the president, secretary and treasurer - meant the branch could no longer meet its constitutional requirements. Despite appeals to members to fill the vacant posts, no replacements came forward, leaving the group unable to continue.

In a statement, the branch said the resignations were “a direct result” of the change in national policy and the way it was introduced, adding that some members had decided not to renew their membership as a consequence. A special meeting overseen by the Avon Federation of WIs subsequently voted in favour of closure.

Before closing, Longwell Green WI had grown to more than 80 members and described itself as providing “friendship, wellbeing, interests and support” within the local community.

The Westbury‑on‑Trym branch also voted to close after its committee declined to implement the new membership requirements. Frances Riley, a committee member, told local media that members were asked to sign a form confirming they were born female and were informed they would have to resign if they did not comply.

“The whole committee of eight decided this was a decision we weren’t prepared to go along with,” she said. Following the committee’s stance, more than three quarters of branch members voted to suspend the group, with full closure expected after a period of inactivity.

Ms Riley said the decision was taken “out of conscience and conviction” and described it as an outcome that members had never expected to face.

The NFWI has said it regrets the change but maintains it is necessary for the organisation to continue operating as a single‑sex charity under existing law. Chief executive Melissa Green said the institute had welcomed trans women for decades but now had to act in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment.

The federation has also said it is supporting the creation of local “WI Sisterhood” groups, intended to provide social gatherings open to all women, including trans women, outside of formal WI membership structures.

The closures in Bristol come amid reports that other WI branches across the UK are reassessing their future following the policy change, with some suspending activities and others continuing in alternative community‑based groups.