On 25 March, the Oxfordshire division of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) proudly sponsored the Women’s Institute (WI) Oxfordshire Annual General Meeting. Maggie Coleman, Area Operations Manager for OSJCT, was invited to give a presentation on the history of OSJCT, the services the Trust provides, and female empowerment in the health and social care sector.

Joining Maggie at the event were Oxfordshire Home Managers from Spencer Court, Lake House and Henry Cornish, alongside colleagues from the Trust’s Marketing team, helping to represent OSJCT and engage with members.

Maggie highlighted the central role women play across the sector: “In our homes, women are at the heart of everything we do — from carers and nurses to housekeepers and leaders. Beyond job titles, you see compassion, resilience, and strength in every interaction.” She also reflected on female leadership within OSJCT: “Across our senior leadership positions, we currently have 149 women, with a combined 1,473 years of experience. Many began their careers in junior roles and progressed through the organisation — showing that when women are supported, empowered, and mentored, incredible things happen.”

Maggie drew parallels between OSJCT’s work and the WI’s mission: “The spirit of the WI — women supporting women and strengthening communities — reflects exactly what we aim to create within our homes. When women support and empower one another, stronger workplaces, communities, and futures are built.”

Renata Crisostomo, Oxfordshire Director for OSJCT, added: “The WI is a great organisation and there is a strong synergy between us. It was a pleasure to support the WI again at their AGM, and we look forward to welcoming WI members at our events and further supporting them in the future.”

It was an enjoyable day meeting hundreds of WI representatives from across Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties. We were proud to sponsor and support such an inspirational and caring organisation, with values and heritage so closely aligned with our own.