Wiltshire wins big

Wiltshire County Netball Association (CNA) was named winner of the Resilience in Adversity Award at the Community Sport and Recreation Awards on International Women’s Day.

The award celebrates the methods which community clubs use to keep their participants engaged during difficult periods – with issues affecting their local community, or more national-scale problems such as the cost-of-living crisis.

At a ceremony at Headingley Stadium in Leeds to celebrate the outstanding work of the clubs, organisations and individuals that are so crucial to grassroots sport in this country, Wiltshire CNA were presented with the prestigious award by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Wiltshire CNA were nominated for their work in the local community aligned to England Netball’s NETBALLHer initiative over the past year. Following Mo Squires’ endometrial cancer diagnosis, fellow volunteers at Wiltshire CNA joined Mo to collectively begin to raise awareness of female health to help others identify irregularities early.

They hosted the Wiltshire Women’s Health and Wellbeing Netball Festival in Swindon, which combined multi-generational netball tournaments with information from health professionals who were invited to supply information and talk to people about their concerns. The focus was on cancers that are more prevalent in women, as well as the menopause and the mental health impacts of these physical changes.

Wiltshire CNA volunteers Helen and Cathy said: “Being nominated was special, but to win amongst such a strong field of inspiring volunteers is exceptional, especially to be recognised on International Women’s Day. The whole ethos of the tournament was to raise awareness of women’s health conditions, in particular the importance of asking questions, not feeling alone and ultimately getting things checked.”

England Netball’s Interim Deputy Director of Development and Head of Volunteering Imogen Greatbatch attended the event and said: ‘To see Wiltshire CNA recognised across the sector for their impact was really special. The way they are positively challenging the system to raise the bar for, and reduce the drop out of, women and girls in sport and activity through bringing everyone across the county (and country) together to celebrate netball, raise awareness of female health and contribute vital funds to charity, through delivery of a festival is very special.”