Despite continued progress, women and girls remain underrepresented in coaching, leadership and workforce roles across sport and physical activity. Barriers linked to access, confidence, inclusivity and wellbeing still impact participation and progression. In response, Sport Birmingham and The Active Wellbeing Society launched the inaugural EmpowerHER Festival – a bold, collaborative initiative designed to address these challenges and support lasting change.
Delivered from 11th to 26th April across multiple venues and online platforms, the EmpowerHER Festival brought together partners, practitioners and communities for a two-week programme of training, workshops and networking. It aimed to empower those working with women and girls, while creating more inclusive, supportive and accessible environments across the sector.
At its heart, the festival was about connecting people, and sharing ideas and opportunities to build a stronger, more representative future for sport and physical activity.
A Collaborative, City-Wide Effort
A defining feature of the EmpowerHER Festival was its collaborative approach. Delivered with over 20 local and national partners, the programme reflected a shared commitment to tackling inequality and supporting women and girls at every level of participation and leadership.
The festival focused on four key themes:
- Inclusive Coaching – creating safe, welcoming and empowering environments
- Leadership Pathways – supporting women to enter and progress within the sector
- Health and Wellbeing – addressing topics such as mental health, menstruation and menopause
- Training and Development – providing access to qualifications and essential skills
A Diverse and Impactful Programme
Across the two weeks, the festival delivered a packed timetable of activity, combining formal training with interactive sessions and opportunities for reflection and connection.
Week One: Building Foundations
The festival opened with a strong focus on coaching and leadership. The Women & Girls Coaching Conference set the tone, offering valuable insight and shared learning, while accredited opportunities such as the England Netball Level 1 course supported participants to gain recognised qualifications.
Workshops throughout the week explored key areas including governance, safeguarding and neurodiversity, alongside women-only sessions that created safe and supportive spaces for discussion. Sessions like “Unbound Bodies” encouraged open conversations around body image and participation, while sport-specific leadership programmes provided practical development opportunities.
Health and wellbeing were also central, with sessions addressing menopause and supporting women at different life stages to remain active and engaged.
Week Two: Expanding Opportunities
The second week built on this momentum, with a focus on leadership, career pathways and community engagement.
A wide range of sessions covered topics including mental health, pelvic health, marketing, early years activity and inclusive environments. Networking opportunities, such as the Women’s Sport Collective event, enabled attendees to connect, share experiences and learn from one another.
The Unlocking Careers in Community Sport webinar, introduced apprenticeship pathways through the Coach Core Foundation. Designed for both organisations and young people, the session highlighted how careers in coaching and community sport can be accessed through meaningful work experience combined with formal qualifications.
A particularly powerful element was hearing directly from female apprentices, who shared their personal journeys, challenges and successes.
As Adam Warden, Head of Workforce at Sport Birmingham, reflected:
“The session was a powerful reminder of the importance of role models within the sector. It was great to hear from females who have overcome adversity and stereotypes to forge a career in sports coaching and are now inspiring the next generation of women and girls to follow in their footsteps.”
Alongside this, sessions on sexual harassment, leadership development and inclusive practice reinforced the festival’s commitment to creating safer, more equitable environments across sport and physical activity.
Tackling Health and Wellbeing Head-On
A key strength of the EmpowerHER Festival was its focus on topics that are often underrepresented within the sector. By addressing issues such as menopause, pelvic health and mental wellbeing, the festival created space for open and honest conversations.
These sessions not only raised awareness but also equipped participants with the knowledge and confidence to better support women and girls.
Sport Birmingham’s Sport Welfare Development Manager Seona Deuchar, led a Menopause Matters workshop and reflected on the impact:
“Bringing such a variety of women together was a joy – we laughed, we shared, and we talked. Supporting people through menopause is essential to keep women, and today’s girls, in activity, and I’m really excited to see what we can do together.”
This focus on lived experience and practical understanding highlighted the importance of designing inclusive environments that respond to the real needs of participants.
Strengthening Connections Across the Sector
Beyond the formal programme, one of the most significant outcomes of the festival was the strengthening of relationships and partnerships.
Claire Norman from the This Girl Can Community and Engagement team highlighted this impact:
“Over the past few months, building strong relationships and establishing key contacts across the city and wider community has been a significant personal highlight. The EmpowerHER Festival has provided a valuable opportunity to better understand the landscape and identify key stakeholders, while also showcasing the incredible and impactful work already taking place.”
Claire added:
“Importantly, the festival has helped to connect partners with one another, strengthening collaboration across the sector.”
These connections are vital in ensuring that the work continues beyond the festival, enabling organisations to collaborate more effectively and share knowledge and resources.
Amplifying Women’s Voices
The Women’s Sport Collective networking event at Villa Park provided a powerful platform for sharing experiences and celebrating the work being done across the sector.
Mel Gibbs, Sport Birmingham’s Community Engagement Officer, reflected:
“The event was great; the panel was really insightful as someone still very early in her career in sport it’s always great to hear people’s experiences and what they have learnt. There was a great buzz in the room and women from every walk of life could share experiences and what amazing work is going on across the city and country within women’s sport.”
Events like this play a crucial role in building confidence, fostering a sense of belonging and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
The festival concluded with a celebration event at Edgbaston Priory Club, bringing together partners and participants to reflect on the journey and explore future opportunities.
Through engaging discussions and shared ideas, the event provided a fitting conclusion, highlighting both the progress made and the work still to come.
Adam Warden emphasised the wider significance of the festival:
“The EmpowerHER Festival has showcased how community-led events can reach women and girls from all backgrounds. Our aim was to champion women in the sector, address barriers to participation, and create pathways into leadership positions.”
Adam added:
“A massive thank you to the whole team for all their hard work in organising the EmpowerHER Festival. It has been a huge undertaking to bring local, regional and national partners together for one shared, collaborative purpose but I firmly believe this has started an important conversation across the city, and we are ready to build on that momentum.”
Building a Lasting Legacy
While the festival has been a clear success, it has also highlighted the ongoing challenges facing the sector. Strong registration data demonstrated demand, but barriers to access and engagement remain.
Claire Norman acknowledged this:
“Registration data clearly demonstrates strong interest; however, there remain ongoing barriers to ensuring accessible, informative support for everyone within the community. Addressing these challenges will be essential as we move forward.”
Recognising these challenges is key to ensuring future initiatives are even more inclusive and impactful.
Key Takeaways
The EmpowerHER Festival has:
- Raised awareness of barriers facing women and girls in sport
- Delivered practical training and development opportunities
- Created safe spaces for important conversations
- Strengthened partnerships across the sector
- Inspired individuals to pursue leadership and career pathways
Most importantly, it has demonstrated the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
Continuing the Momentum
The EmpowerHER Festival is not an endpoint, but a starting point. It has sparked important conversations, built new connections and created momentum across Birmingham and beyond.
As the EmpowerHER team looks ahead, the focus remains on sustaining this energy, continuing to share knowledge, support collaboration and create opportunities for women and girls to thrive.
This is just the beginning of a longer journey towards a more inclusive and equitable future for sport and physical activity.
For more information about the festival you can contact:
Claire Norman, This Girl Can Community and Engagement – Claire.Norman@theaws.org
Nikki English, Sport Birmingham, Inclusion Development Manager – Nicola.English@sportbirmingham.org
Continuing this focus on women and girls, why not explore our dedicated Girls of Brum page to find out more about the upcoming Summer Showcase Event this June, see below: