Farnborough's Inner Wheel

With a worldwide membership of 100,000 in 4,000 clubs across 100 countries, it is one of the largest women’s voluntary organistions which has just celebrated 100 years since it was founded in this country in 1924.  Being totally non sectarian, Inner Wheel has 4 non-governmental representatives at the United Nations.

Farnborough Inner Wheel was formed in 1960, a year after Farnborough Rotary and we have worked alongside each other ever since.

Our membership consists of like-minded women who wish to serve their community whilst gathering new friends.

We are not campaigners but support many women’s causes that aim to make the world a safer place, as well as working in the community and fund raising to help those in need at home and abroad.  This past year we have supported the Visually Impaired/Open Sight Club, by providing sandwiches & cake for their monthly meeting and annually giving them a party.  We run a stall at the annual Knellwood Residential Home open day.  Rotary’s bi- annual Music in Park sees us serving refreshments, and involvement in their annual Kid’s Out day held in June is very rewarding.  ‘Knit/Stitch/Natter’ evenings have been held to make blankets for the Hamlin Fistula charity in Ethiopia and items for ‘Link to Hope’ shoeboxes are being collected for the vulnerable elderly in Eastern Europe.  Currently we are collecting food items for the local Food Bank.  100 knitted hats were sent to ‘Revive & Thrive’ who send these to Africa, before we really started on the squares for the blankets.    One member took on a personal challenge for the Association President’s 100 for 100 challenge and knitted 100 baby/toddler items which will be donated to ‘Revive & Thrive’.   We also planted 100 crocus bulbs [50 at the Farnborough Gate Bowls Club and 50 at Knellwood).   With the help of the cake makers from Rotary we ran a very successful cake stall at the Donkey Derby, where the array of homemade cakes is always appreciated by the public.  Donations have been given to the Eclipse All Stars, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, PJ Fairies (pyjamas for children in hospital), the Food Bank, BEAT (a charity supporting those affected by eating disorders) and Dementia/Admiral Nurses. Internationally we have raised money for Water Aid, Purple Community Fund (giving relief aid principally in the Philippines), Street Child and The Book Bus Foundation which provides books for schools in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador.

Being a member of Inner Wheel enables us to visit other clubs within the organisation and we often benefit from their attendance at our events, thus spreading the opportunities for new friends.

Among the speakers at our meetings was a bee keeper, and a young man whom we supported as he had been selected to go to the Scout Jamboree in South Korea.  As we also collect used stamps for the Leprosy Mission, a speaker came and dispelled some of the myths about the disease.  Fund raising events are always very sociable, but lunches and other outings are organised.   The Club celebrates its 65^th Anniversary in 2025 and preparations are under way for a lunch to celebrate this.

Meeting once a month our club is open to women from all walks of life and we always welcome new members.  To find out more contact innerwheelfarnborough@gmail.comor phone Sue 07590353005

 Cakes for Visually Impaired Party