Tom Gordon MP celebrates 100-year anniversary of Burton Leonard Women’s Institute
Recently, Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Burton Leonard Women’s Institute in Parliament.
Tom also celebrated this achievement with the group in February when he attended the Burton Leonard Women’s Institute Centenary Exhibition at the village hall, which showcased the rich history of the organisation through documents and photographs. The story highlighted the resilience and determination of generations of women who have found strength and camaraderie through the Women’s Institute, supporting each other through both challenges and celebrations. For Tom, it was wonderful to see the community come together in this way to celebrate such an important history.
Reaching a century is a remarkable achievement for any community group, but it is an especially big achievement for an organisation in a small village. As Tom learned during his visit, the Burton Leonard Women’s Institute has thrived over the years thanks to the dedication of its volunteers, whose commitment has kept the organisation going. Tom was keen to recognise the hard work of all the volunteers over the years and celebrate this accomplishment in Parliament today, ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8th March.
As well as urging the Minister to join him in recognising the significance of this milestone, Tom also called on the Government to allocate time for a debate on the importance of community organisations and the need for funding to ensure their continued success.
Commenting, Tom said:
"Visiting the Burton Leonard WI Centenary Exhibition was a wonderful experience and reinforced how essential community organisations are, especially in smaller villages like Burton Leonard.
"To reach 100 years is an incredible milestone for any community group, and even more so for one in a rural community. These organisations bring people together and is what communities are all about. The many volunteers who have supported this group over the years have done an outstanding job, and their efforts deserve to be celebrated.
“The Government must recognise the importance of community organisations like the Women’s Institute and commit to ensuring they receive the necessary funding to continue their vital work. I want to see more fantastic organisations reach centenary celebrations in the years to come.”
ENDS