I think it’s the prospect of slide shows about thimble collections, or creating a miniature street scene out of felt and fir cones on a tea tray, that has always put me off the Women’s Institute.

Having said that, Jam and Jerusalem is in my blood. My mum was a staunch WI member, as was her mother. On Monday evenings, Mum would head off to WI, armed with bags of cloth, paint, pipe cleaners and rolls of paper, which would be transformed into anything from handmade dolls to themed hats. The WI was a big part of her life, a circle of friendship organising shows, craft fairs, concerts, quiz nights, trips.

Of course, it’s not all craftwork and companionship. The WI movement is a force to be reckoned with. Just ask Tony Blair, famously given a hostile reception by WI members who heckled and slow hand-clapped his speech at their 2000 conference.

Formed during the First World War to encourage women to help with food production, its aims have broadened over the years. Current WI campaigns include reducing food waste and fighting global poverty and violence against women. It’s now the UK’s largest women’s organisation, with 205,000 members.

The movement came under the global spotlight when the Rylstone and District WI’s famous nude calendar raised £2 million for Leukaemia Research, inspiring a film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

In recent years, the WI’s dated image has undergone a makeover, thanks to branches like the Shoreditch Sisters, a bunch of twenty-somethings in a fashionable London borough.

Closer to home, a group of young women in Baildon have set up their own 21st century WI. Forget jam-making and cake-baking – the Baildon Belles plan burlesque dancing, makeovers, clothes swaps and flavoured vodka-making. “We’ve no plans to sing Jerusalem. I don’t even know the words!” founder Sara Mogford said. Intrigued, I contacted Sara, asking if I could write about the Baildon Belles, and she invited me to the first meeting. Suspecting a clique of young mums discussing potty-training, I arrived at Baildon Community Link to find a few women clutching cups of tea.

I spied a cake stand, an industrial-sized teapot and what looked suspiciously like a pile of knitting needles. “So far, so WI,” I thought.

How wrong I was. “We’re knitting boobs tonight – do you want some in the photo?” said a friendly young woman in a mini dress and heels Carrie Bradshaw would kill for. When she handed our photographer a pair of woolly breasts, he didn’t know where to put himself.

“We’re knitting what?” I asked. “All will be explained…” she smiled.

By now the place was filling up with a stream of women of various ages. The Baildon Belles were clearly popular.

“I had no idea we’d get so many! I’m thrilled,” said Sara. “It started off as an idea a few of us came up with in the pub; I thought we’d maybe get 30 people. There are more than 60 here, it’s snowballed! We wanted something for strong, modern women; initially we considered a business networking group, then we thought WI would be more fun.

“We looked into it and realised it didn’t have to be old-fashioned, and when we contacted the WI Federation they were delighted with our ideas.”

Sara welcomed us to the meeting and outlined future plans, from wine-tasting to belly-dancing. “We’re going on Facebook. And we want your ideas too,” she said, holding up a suggestion box. “We want to be a voice for women in Baildon and do things for the community, like getting Christmas lights and organising a charity ball.”

To get us mingling, Sara asked us to talk to someone we didn’t know and jot down something about them. “You have three minutes with each person. When you hear the bell ring, move on to someone else. It’s a bit like speed-dating,” she said.

My heart sank. I always feel uncomfortable with contrived ‘getting to know you’ techniques, like describing yourself in ten words, but once we all started chatting it turned out to be a great ice-breaker. Hannah Pickles, 18, had come along with her mum, Louise. “There’s nothing really like this for people my age. It’s fun,” said Hannah. “I’m trying to get my friends to join!” Sandra Marshall said: “I once went to a WI meeting and it was a boring slide show. This is much livelier. It’s great to see so many people.”

For mum-of-two Michelle Leese, the WI offers ‘me time’. “It’s good to meet a variety of people, rather than just other mums,” she said.

After our chattering session, Emma Taylor of Baildon store Emma’s Home And Garden, showed us how to make a pretty spring floral wreath.

Then came the knitted boobs – our contribution to Leeds Primary Care Trust’s initiative helping pregnant women learn to breast-feed.

Armed with a knitting needle and a ball of wool, I found myself trying get the hang of casting off. The last time I knitted anything was probably when I was a Brownie, so it took some practise!

We put our knitting to one side as Sara signed in as president and appealed for committee members. The Baildon Belles had officially joined the WI.

Jill Yates, West Yorkshire WI adviser, helps new branches get started. “It’s fantastic to be setting up a new group,” she said.

“Much of the WI membership is quite elderly now, and young women aren’t joining them. If we carry on like that the movement will die out. The only way it’ll keep going is if younger women set up their own branches. It’s heartening to see groups like this with such enthusiasm. “The WI means different things to different people, but it offers friendship and the opportunity to make your voice heard. Every WI member gets to vote on an annual resolution. We lobby the Government on various issues.”

Afterwards, a crowd of us went to the pub. Standing at the bar, I noticed knitting needles poking out of handbags all around me. Everyone was buzzing, and it felt like being part of a family. At that moment I knew – like my mum, I was destined to join the WI…

For more about the Baildon Belles ring Sara Mogford on 07957 275590 or e-mail saramogford@yahoo.co.uk