England Netball and Wellbeing of Women join forces to tackle female health taboos in ‘I Wish I Knew: In Conversation With…’ webinar series
The series kick starts on 12 March 2026 opening the conversation on how women can stay active safely during pregnancy and how to return to sport with confidence after giving birth.
The series is the latest offering from England Netball’s industry-leading NETBALLHer initiative, created to enable women and girls to show up and thrive in sport at every life stage. Developed in collaboration with NETBALLHer’s strategic partner Wellbeing of Women, the UK’s only charity dedicated to improving all of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, the series is driven by a shared commitment from both organisations to tackle the barriers preventing women and girls from belonging in sport.
‘I Wish I Knew: In Conversation With…’ will combine medical expertise with authentic lived experiences. Voices from the elite and community game will reflect on their own experiences of navigating the different female life stages and expert advice and support will be offered by female health experts from Wellbeing of Women and other partners, including This Girl Can and the Active Pregnancy Foundation. Importantly all conversations will be shaped by the real questions and stories that have been shared by the netball community since the launch of NETBALLHer’s ‘I Wish I Knew’ campaign.
Launched in September 2025, ‘I Wish I Knew’, was created to address the female health and wellbeing knowledge gap impacting participation in sport. Designed to spark curiosity, challenge stigmas and empower women and girls to ask questions about their health and wellbeing, the campaign reached over 1 million people in its first six months. The depth of engagement and volume of stories shared, has directly informed the next phase of the campaign, shaping the content of the I Wish I Knew: In Conversation With…’ webinar series.
The series will run across five webinars taking place throughout 2026, covering NETBALLHer’s key focus areas: pre- and post-natal, puberty, menstrual health, menopause and puberty for men supporting girls in sport.
The first session, titled ‘Moving through motherhood’ will focus on the pre- and post-natal life stages. Taking place on Thursday 12 March at 7pm, the panel will feature Dr Louise Roper NHS Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Ros Cooke, Physiotherapist, Lecturer, Doctoral Researcher and Active Pregnancy Foundation Scientific Advisory Board member; Eboni Usoro-Brown, England Netball President and former Vitality Rose; and Jamilah Bruce, post-partum player and volunteer at Warriors Netball Club.
Speaking about the series launch, Kelly Gordon, Chair and Executive Lead for NETBALLHer, said: “Women and girls have told us very clearly what they wish they’d known and this series is about listening, learning and acting on that insight. By combining expert medical guidance with real lived experiences from across the netball community, we’re creating space for honest conversations that help women and girls to feel informed, supported and confident to stay involved in sport at every stage of life.”
Janet Lindsay, Chief Executive of Wellbeing of Women said: “Exercise supports women and girls at every stage of life – from puberty to pregnancy to menopause and beyond. Yet many face barriers, such as heavy and painful periods or fatigue during menopause, which can stop them from staying active. Our partnership with NETBALLHer seeks to change that by sharing expert advice and information that will empower women and girls to thrive in sport and when exercising.”
With thanks to England Netball
