Want to feel more confident in media interviews and speak clearly in front of the camera or microphone?

Join former BBC journalists Tamsyn Kent and Hannah Morrison for a free, interactive online session designed to boost your communication skills.

You’ll discover how to:

• Get your message across with clarity and impact

• Handle tricky questions with confidence

• Speak with ease in front of the camera or microphone

For deeper, personalised support, you can also sign up for an optional one-to-one virtual coaching workshop. In this safe and focused space, you’ll receive tailored guidance, practice interviews, and constructive feedback to refine your skills.

Join us as Lancashire Cricket Foundation, Sixes Manchester and the Women’s Sport Collective come together for a fantastic afternoon of cricket and networking.

No cricket experience needed!

Venue: Sixes Social Cricket Manchester | Cricket Nets, Simulators & Ultimate Activity Bar Experience | Sixes Social Cricket, The Corn Exchange, Cathedral St, Manchester, M4 3TR

Date: 18th November

Timings:

Arrival between 2pm and 2.30pm. Welcome drink provided.

2.30pm - Introductions and a short 'how to'

3-4pm - cricket opportunity in the batting lanes with support and guidance available

4-6pm space to network in the games room informally including pool table etc. Food and drinks available to purchase.

You don't need to wear anything specific, just clothes you can move around in and probably advisable to leave the stilettos at home.

Thank you to Sixes Manchester and Lancashire Cricket Foundation for hosting the event.

We’re thrilled to welcome Hope Powell CBE to the Women’s Sport Collective Coaching Hub for an exclusive live Q&A.

A true pioneer of women’s football, Hope earned 66 England caps as a player before becoming the Lionesses’ first full-time head coach, leading the team for 15 years. She went on to serve as FA Technical Director and later managed Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL.

Please join us on Saturday November 8 to watch Sale Sharks Women take on Ealing Trailfinders Women in the PWR.

The Women’s Sport Collective members will meeting for some informal networking in the bar area from 2pm before heading into the stands for kick off at 3pm. It’s unallocated seating so we can all sit together and enjoy what is sure to be an amazing game – especially following Sale’s extraordinary opening performance this weekend.

We’re so grateful to Sarah Perris and Sales Sharks for offering free tickets to Women’s Sport Collective members. Yesterday’s game was a sell out, so be sure to reserve your place quickly! 

Your name will be added to the list at the door for a complimentay place and to join us in the bar. The bar will be open for food and drinks throughout the afternoon. 

Really excited to catch up with many of you in person at this event and / or at the Northern Grit Sporting Glory event the following day on Sunday November 9.

Roundtable Discussion: Pathways, Progression, and Belonging in Coaching

How do coaches build a career, develop their skills, and feel a sense of belonging in the sports they serve? This roundtable discussion will focus on themes from the National Coaching Survey around progression, CPD, and inclusive coaching cultures.

We will consider what helps coaches feel valued, how opportunities (or barriers) appear in career pathways, and what support could make the biggest difference. This is a chance to share experiences, listen to others, and shape ideas for creating better environments for women in coaching.

Focus areas

• Development opportunities: access to CPD, funding, and personal development plans

• Career pathways: clarity of progression routes, promotion opportunities, barriers faced

• Belonging and culture: feeling valued, respected, heard, and culturally safety

Discussion prompt

• What forms of CPD have made the biggest difference for you?

• How do you experience progression (or lack of it) in your sport?

• What would make you feel more valued and supported as a coaches

This roundtable will be led by Tanya Martin, Head of Insight & Innovation at Women in Sport, and Professor Leanne Norman from the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University. They are leading the first national survey of its kind into the working conditions and culture of coaching across all sports and levels.

About the project

This work forms part of the Women in Coaching Taskforce, a wider project funded by Sport England and led by Women in Sport to transform the experiences of women in coaching. The Taskforce is building a shared understanding to drive lasting change and create better environments that support more women to thrive in coaching.

Join us for the Women’s Sport Collective Manchester Meet-Up

Come and be part of a morning that celebrates the impact of women in sport.

At this meet-up, we’ll hear from Sale Sharks and international rugby players Rhona Lloyd and Courtney Keight, who will share their experiences of rugby, resilience, and shaping the future for women in sport.

You’ll also have the chance to connect with fellow members working across the sector, building the networks and support that sit at the heart of the Women’s Sport Collective.

With thanks to Mills & Reeve for kindly hosting us.

Roundtable Discussion: Coaching as Work – Realities, Challenges, and What Needs to Change

Coaching is one of the most rewarding careers in sport – but also one of the most precarious. Drawing on findings from the new National Coaching Survey, this roundtable will explore the realities of coaching as work: contracts, pay, job security, and the challenge of balancing coaching with wider life commitments.

We will share early insights and invite you to bring your own experiences to the table. Together, we will consider what “good” should look like in coaching and identify where change is most urgently needed.

Focus areas

• Employment conditions: contracts, pay, job security, written agreements

• Work–life balance & caring responsibilities: maternity/parental leave, flexibility, workload

• Why coaches stay/leave: burnout, lack of structure, lack of progression, financial insecurity

Discussion prompts

• Does this reflect your own coaching experience?

• What “minimum standards” would you like to see for coaching work?

• If you could change one thing tomorrow about coaching as work, what would it be?

This roundtable will be led by Tanya Martin, Head of Insight & Innovation at Women in Sport, and Professor Leanne Norman from the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University. They are leading the first national survey of its kind into the working conditions and culture of coaching across all sports and levels.

About the project

This work forms part of the Women in Coaching Taskforce, a wider project funded by Sport England and led by Women in Sport to transform the experiences of women in coaching. The Taskforce is building a shared understanding to drive lasting change and create better environments that support more women to thrive in coaching.

Join us for a Women’s Sport Collective networking breakfast, taking place at Style of Our Own (SOOO) at 245, Regents Street, London on Thursday October 9 at 9-11am.

SOOO is a first-of-its-kind store built for fans of women’s sport and the people who play it. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to informally build your network with over 100 women working across sport, and hear from two of our members (from Man City Women and Prem Rugby) as they share their career journeys in sport and their learnings along the way.

Join us from 9am for a delicious breakfast as you meet new people and hear about opportunities in sport. The event finishes at 11am when you’re free to explore the rest of the SOOO store which houses over 20 sports brands from predominantly women-led businesses.

We’re so grateful to the Firebird Collective who are supporting this event.

Join us for an in person meeting of our Midlands Hub, and colleagues from Sport England, on Thursday September 25 at 4-6pm at Loughborough University. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to informally build your network with women working across sport in the Midlands and hear from one of our members as she shares her career journey in sport and learnings along the way..

Join us from 4-6pm. Full joining instructions to be confirmed soon.

We’re grateful to Loughborough University who are co-hosting this event. Both Women’s Sport Collective co-founders will be at the event – Kate Hannon and Sue Anstiss

Would you raise your hand if asked to speak at a major event or present in front of the board?

A lot of women don’t.

Not because they’re not qualified but because of fear.
Fear of being judged. Fear of getting it wrong.
Or simply not seeing themselves as someone who should be speaking up.

This webinar has been designed for women working in sport who want to change that.

You'll learn how to:

• Shift your mindset and build inner confidence

• Use breath, posture, and voice to speak with clarity and impact

• Discover everyday moments where you can step up and practice – on your terms
  

The session ends with a 15-minute Q&A, giving you space to ask questions, share reflections, or get support with real challenges you're facing.

This isn’t just about public speaking. It’s about learning to trust your voice, back yourself, and take up space in whatever room you walk into.

This session will be led by ALICE EKONOMOU

Alice brings nearly two decades of experience in the sports industry, having worked across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East in sponsorship consulting and event management. Her deep understanding of the professional sports world gives her unique insight into the pressures women face, especially when it comes to stepping into the spotlight.

She now empowers women to show up with calm, confidence, and presence – whether they’re leading meetings, presenting on stage, or navigating high-pressure moments. Combining tools from public speaking, mindset training, and sports psychology, Alice creates practical, engaging sessions that help participants use their voice and own the room.

She also shares her work through The Balanced Speaker, where she explores the connection between movement, mindset, and powerful communication.

We are thrilled to welcome Giselle Mather for this special Q&A with the Women’s Sport Collective.

A true trailblazer in rugby, Giselle was the first woman to achieve the RFU’s Level 4 coaching qualification and has gone on to become one of the most respected figures in the game. From winning the Rugby World Cup as a player to leading Wasps Women as Director of Rugby, and the GB 7s Rugby Team, Giselle’s career has been defined by courage, innovation and her commitment to developing the women’s game.

In this conversation, we’ll explore her remarkable journey, what it takes to succeed as a female coach in a male-dominated sport and her vision for the future of women’s rugby. Expect honest insights and inspiring advice from this much respected coach.

In partnership with UK Sport and Liverpool City Council, we’re hosting a networking and knowledge-sharing session for our members together with an opportunity to watch some incredible live sport.

The free session will:

- Highlight career opportunities and roles within major sporting events.

- Feature insights from UK Sport’s Major Events team

- Include guided networking to connect with other women working in sport

World Boxing Championships 2025

Liverpool will host the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 for elite men and women. It will be the first global championships hosted by World Boxing, the new International Federation which has been set-up to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.

The action will feature competition in 10 weight classes for both women and men, and will be the first time ever that female and male boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of world champion at the same event.

More information here

Sue Anstiss is looking forward to hosting an informal gathering of WSC members in Edinburgh on Wednesday August 13.

She’ll be at the Two Children cafe from 4-6pm for anyone that fancies a coffee and a hello, and then heading to The Place to be in the audience of a live podcast event with Women Who Sport, hosted by Scottish rugby stars Rhona Lloyd and Sarah Bonar.

Tickets for the podcast event are £12 and you can get them here:

 On July 11th Durham Cricket has very kindly agreed to host a networking event, followed by complimentary tickets to watch Durham Cricket Women’s Tier 1 team play against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast T20. This is the first season ever that Durham has had a professional women’s team so it feels very fitting we have our first North East gathering there!

Members are invited to join for networking, refreshments and food from 5pm. The game starts at 6.30pm so there should be plenty of time to get to know each other better before and during the game. If you can’t make it for 5pm please don’t worry we’d love to see you at any point. The venue is the Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham DH3 3QR

As it’s a Friday evening we’d like to extend the invitation to your family and friends to watch the game. Durham Cricket has kindly provided a code to give your friends and family access to discounted tickets. They can join our group to watch the game or if you prefer you can join them elsewhere in the ground after the networking. It’s all very relaxed!

Discounted tickets are priced at £8 for adults and just £3 for children

Ahead of the game your friends and family could spend time in the Family Active Zone or getting refreshments around the ground.

Once we have confirmed attendees you will receive more information about accessing your complimentary ticket for the game and the finer details to make it a really enjoyable evening for all. We hope you can join us!

Women’s ODI Offer!

Durham Cricket has another exciting offer for Women’s Sport Collective members. On 22nd July the Women’s One Day International between England and India is being hosted at the Banks Homes Riverside Stadium. As a Women’s Sport Collective member, you, your friends and your family can access discounted tickets using the code WSCODI25. Tickets are priced at £10 adult/ £5 child

The game starts at 1pm and promises to be a spectacular day. Alongside the incredible international talent on the field there will be a fantastic festival vibe off it with live music, food and activities for all. This could be a great way to kick off the school or summer holidays!

Location

Banks Homes Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham, DH3 3QR

🌟*Q&A with Jenny Meadows*🌟

Following the huge success of our recent session with Jess Thirlby, I am thrilled to share that we have another superstar coach joining us for an exclusive Q&A with members.

Join us on Tuesday, June 3 at 1-2pm, to hear from Jenny Meadows a former world-class middle-distance runner and now one of Britain’s most respected athletics coaches.

Recently honoured – alongside her husband – as BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year, Jenny now co-leads the M11 Track Club in Manchester, guiding a group of elite athletes including Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson.

Let us know in advance if you have questions you’d like to ask Jenny, or feel free to ask them on the call.