Working Men's Club and Institute Union

The Working Men's Club and Institute Union (CIU or C&IU) is a voluntary association of private members' clubs in Great Britain & Northern Ireland, with about 1,800 associate clubs. One club in the Republic of Ireland, the City of Dublin Working Men's Club is also affiliated. Most social clubs are affiliated to the CIU.

They do not have to be working men's clubs, although most are. There are many village clubs, Royal British Legions, Labour Clubs, Liberal Clubs, and various other clubs involved. A member of one CIU-affiliated club is entitled to use the facilities of all other CIU clubs, although they will only be entitled to vote in committee elections in clubs where they are full members.

The CIU has two main purposes: to provide a voice at national level for working men's clubs and social clubs; and to provide discounted products and services for its members.

The Club and Institute Union was founded by The Rev. Henry Solly in 1862. A great propagandist for clubs, he provided a much needed conceptual clarity to the notion of club work.

He was also an important advocate for the extension of working class political rights and helped to set up the Charity Organisation Society.

The CIU as a national body is non-political. Though individual clubs can be affiliated to political parties. Originally it was a middle class led philanthropic organisation aimed at education and non-alcoholic recreation. However, working men themselves soon took over the running of the CIU and drinks were allowed.

In the Victorian era, the Liberal Working Men's Clubs were prevalent in increasing the Union's membership. Sometimes Liberal Clubs were called Gladstone Clubs in honour of the Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. In some working-class areas local landowners and business owners would contribute to the cost however as land was relatively cheaper in those days, it was fairly easy for groups of men to buy the land and establish the clubs using their own skills and labour.

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