THINKING of the Women’s Institute (WI) people usually imagine octogenarians, not onesies.

But the women of the Blackbird Leys estate are challenging the stereotype, while desperately looking for new members.

Made up of 14 members, the Leys WI group prides itself on reaching a younger generation than more traditional organisations around the country.

When it was first founded in 2009, chairwoman Rachel Fisher was one of the country’s youngest WI presidents, aged just 25.

Its current chairwoman, Linda Page, said the group was a good space for women of any age to socialise.

The 48-year-old said: “A lot of WI groups are predominately for retired women, but most of us work.

“We are much younger than some groups, we have a range of ages. We’re not all stuffy, older people.

“There’s an association of the WI singing Jerusalem, but we don’t know the words. We did make jam once, but it’s not exactly a regular activity.”

The mum-of-two, who works as a childminder, added: “We have all sorts of people come and talk to us, we cover a whole range of topics.

“We’ve had people telling us about colourful coffins, last month we had a onesie evening and this week we have spinning demonstrations using wool.”

The group meets at the Clockhouse in Long Ground, Greater Leys, on the first Wednesday of every month and is open to any women over the age of 16.

Mrs Page, who moved from the estate to Kennington, was voted in as chairwoman earlier this year after joining the group three years ago. She said: “We are quite a small group, it would be good to have more members.

“People are always welcome. As chairwoman that’s what I’d like to achieve, getting more people involved.”

The group’s youngest member is 21-year-old Stephanie Deacon, who goes to the meeting with her mum Claire and grandmother Cecily. She said: “I joined about three years ago when my mum started going.

“It just seemed a really nice way to spend time with her away from the rest of the family.

“It would be quite nice to have some other, younger women along as well.

The dairy farmer, from Cowley, said: “People often think the WI is just for older people, which isn’t the case.

“We do a lot of really interesting things that I wouldn’t have done otherwise."

“Once we learned how to do aromatherapy massages."

The first two WI meetings are free, after that it costs £3.50 a meeting or an annual membership of £34.50.

For more information email theleyswi@yahoo.co.uk

* Last month, to celebrate 100 years of the WI, a centenary baton made its way through Oxfordshire. It is making its way around the UK’s 69 Federations, ending with a celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in June.