Introducing The Well HQ’s 2025 Community Champions

To close the curtains on 2025, we decided to do something new: our first-ever Awards!

But this isn’t some black-tie, fancy venue, expensive bubbly drinks, get your trophy and say something on stage type of thing. In fact, we will probably be in our pajamas when we look at the results and write about them in our newsletter…

But we see it as an opportunity to remember all the good things that happened in women’s sports in 2025, and to highlight some of the people who have been doing great work in this space.

That’s why we asked you to nominate Community Champions: individuals, organisation or teams going the extra mile to serve local sport.

Now here’s the plot twist…

Our intention was to read through all the nominations and decide on who would be The Champion. But we decided that this wouldn’t be nearly as interesting as letting you know who these people are and what they do. And, if we pick one or another, you won’t.

So these are The Well HQ’s Community Champions – Class of 2025.

Alice Owen – Iron Ladies

Who are they: personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder, Alice is also a mum of an  8-month-old and an 8-year-old and created a fitness space aimed at empowering women through strength training.

Why they were nominated: “Alice created this incredible place for women of all different shapes and sizes to train together, build new healthy habits, get stronger mentally and physically without judgment – just encouragement. It’s simply a magic place that has turned how I exercise, nourish my body, reward myself and support others to do the same.”

Claire East – CoPAC and Beasties coach

Who are they: Claire is an endurance coach at the City of Portsmouth Athletic Club. An athlete since she was 11 years old, she has a successful career as a runner and works with a focus on developing teenagers in the sport.

Why they were nominated: “Dedicated 5 times a week to giving teenagers specific middle distance coaching, with many very successfully representing club, county and nation; whilst others train hard and PB in their own races. All are valued and enjoy running and keeping fit and active in a friendly, supportive club.”

Denise Drummond – Alnwick Tri Club

Who are they: Denise is a seasoned triathlete who pours her passion for the sport into her volunteer work at Alnwick Tri Club, where she is the club leader and a coach.

Why they were nominated: “A brilliant athlete and dedicated coach who encourages all and has lead the tri club for three years, pushing the community ethos.”

Emma Flood – Broadbridge Heath FC

Who are they: Emma is the Women’s & Girls Development Lead at Broadbridge Heath FC – a role that didn’t exist before her – with a dedication to developing a supportive and safe space for women and girls in the sport while creating a clear pathway from grassroots through to open-age football.

Why they were nominated: “For her extraordinary dedication to developing the women’s and girls’ game across Sussex. Emma is a true grassroots powerhouse whose impact is felt on and off the pitch every single day.

As the Women’s and Girls’ Lead at Broadbridge Heath FC, Emma delivers coaching sessions three nights a week for our younger girls’ teams, ensuring they have a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment to grow as players and as people. She also provides invaluable 1-to-1 goalkeeper coaching, patiently helping those new to the position build confidence and fundamental skills. Despite her enormous coaching and leadership commitments, Emma still finds the time to play for—and captain—the Women’s First Team, leading by example with passion, drive, and professionalism.

Beyond the club, Emma serves as the U18 Age Group Officer for Sussex County, supporting the Women & Girls League at a county-wide level. She manages club and fixture secretaries, league scheduling, results admin, referee coordination, and even the occasional fines or charges—an enormous responsibility overseeing 18 teams. Her organisation, communication, and calm problem-solving keep the league running smoothly week after week.

On top of her football commitments, Emma also works for The Gym Group, where she champions the groundbreaking Female Health First programme. Thanks to her work, more than 180 delegates have now completed the course, and pelvic health workshops and functional female fitness classes are running across 87 gyms nationwide. Emma’s ability to take what she learns and share it meaningfully with others is one of her greatest strengths—those of us who know her can confirm that we don’t go a single day without hearing about the importance of pelvic health, non-negotiables, or training throughout the female lifecycle!

Emma brings energy, expertise, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to empowering women and girls in sport. Her influence reaches players, parents, coaches, colleagues, and communities. She goes way above and beyond, not for recognition, but because she genuinely wants to make a difference.

Emma Flood truly embodies what a Community Champion should be, and she wholeheartedly deserves this recognition.”

Fearless Women

Who are they: Founded by entrepreneur Sue Anstiss, who has decades of experience in the women’s sports industry, Fearless Women is an organisation dedicated to amplifying women in sports through high-profile content – podcasts, newsletter, books, and more.

Why they were nominated: “Helping create a more diverse, inclusive sports industry and to assist in the continued growth of women’s sport.”

Kim Ingleby – Energised Performance

Who are they: Kim is an award-winning coach, TEDx speaker, author and founder of Energised performance. She uses systems that combine physical and psychological methods to help clients achieve various goals, and has raised almost £90k for charity.

Why they were nominated: “Kim Ingleby of Energised Performance is an incredible human. Living with health problems herself, she is always striving to achieve and help others in everything she does. There is always a crazy challenge on the agenda: this year she has done a huge 100-mile challenge in the most horrendous conditions. Her and her team have raised over £12K for charity this year alone and have committed to raising for charities ever since Energised started. Kim helps her local community and is much loved and needed by so many.”

Lou Harris – Mojo Sisters Triathlon

Who are they: The Founder and Head Coach at Mojo Sisters Triathlon Club, an online triathlon club for women in the UK and Ireland, offering opportunities for women to access great coaching, a community and education on all things women’s health along the way.

Why they were nominated: “For the inspiration she brings to women not just in the club, but to the wider community. She gives you the belief you can achieve your goals and the tools and expertise to help along the journey, as well as bringing women together in a really empowering way as a collective.”

Mrs D Birkin – Taverham High School

Who are they: Mrs Birkin is the head of Year 7 and PE teacher at Taverham High School in Norfolk.

Why they were nominated: “For championing her team against some of the best schools in Norfolk.”

Nicki Farrell – Thames Valley Triathletes

Who are they: An ultra-runner, triathlete and life-long athlete, Nicki is also a volunteer at Thames Valley Triathletes triathlon club, advocating for the inclusion of women – from the workplace to sports and beyond.

Why they were nominated: “Further to TWHQ’s Guided Coaching Course (just fabulous btw!), Nicki has been inspired to raise the profile of the importance of female health in triathlon – club, regional and national level. Starting off with the “Caught Short” campaign with Thames Valley Triathletes to support both our Junior & Adult sections, working with Triathlon England South Central Region to fund all Clubs in the region, and then getting British Triathlon Federation to drive at national level (thank you to FabLittleBags!) At club and regional levels, she is supporting athletes, coaches, welfare officers and parents with a dedicated library of resources covering key areas on the course and best practice knowledge share on how to be a women-friendly club. Within Thames Valley Triathletes, she is encouraging to have a Female Welfare Officer in role to complement the current male and be a lead on Female Health.”

Northumbria Sport

Who are they: Part of Northumbria University, they are dedicated to supporting student wellbeing and development through access to a variety of sports and forms of physical activity, with sports facilities and specialist staff.

Why they were nominated: “For developing and rolling out their inaugural Women in Sports Fair, inviting all female club members who participate in the university sport and all the coaches who support them to attend. The fair has been designed to reduce barriers, raise awareness, start conversations and provide opportunities for great exchanges, and consisted of a key note speech, and engaging expert stalls covering topics in nutrition, psychology, physiography, pelvic floor health (Sarah Thorne), period products (Nixi Body and Fablittlebag), Sports Bra Fittings (PEBE) and the university’s interdisciplinary research team (women in sport and wellbeing). In addition, they created student placements to conduct audits on the gender gap in coaching and in the facilities, make period products available and kit in the hopes to level up and provide the best support for the female club members.”

Open Minds Active

Who are they: A social impact organisation promoting mental and physical wellbeing through swimming, who have encouraged and taught over 300 women how to swim.

Why they were nominated: “Created a learn to swim project focusing on global majority women, to enhance their physical and mental well-being and create pathways to more activities including open water swimming, hiking and surfing.”

Paula Williams – Fareham Running Club

Who are they: Paula is the Secretary & Training Coordinator at Fareham Running Club, elected England Athletics SE volunteer Coach of the Year 2025.

Why they were nominated: “For dedication to running the club training plan, coaching individual athletes to achieve their challenging goal results in endurance events.”

Sarah Collett – Merstham FC, women and girls section

Who are they: Sarah is the Director of Women’s football at Merstham Football Club, working to create a supportive environment for girls and women to play football, developing a clear pathway from U8 to the women’s first team.

Why they were nominated: “Sarah and a team of volunteers run wildcats sessions as well as the numerous girls’ football teams, enabling hundreds of girls to play football. Many players from the MLFC recreational teams give up their time to coach over the weekend, alongside fulfilling their own playing commitments, all for the love of the game and to give young girls a welcoming and inclusive space to develop. The club has grown exponentially over the past three years, with one women’s first team, three women’s rec teams, and around seven girls teams, alongside wildcats. A true community club, Merstham provides more than just football, it provides a sense of family. A very special club!”

SportCheer England

Who are they: An NGB based in England to support the sport of cheerleading, which involves 89,000 female athletes and was officially recognised in March 2025 due to their efforts.

Why they were nominated: “For finally getting cheerleading formally recognised by Sport England as a sport and their work to develop governance, safeguarding and professional development of the sport –  including the invitation to give evidence this year in the government select committee’s Game On inquiry, several gold medals at this year’s World Cheerleading Championships and English female athletes representing Team GB in the World Games this summer. This was the first time cheerleading has been included in the World Games and only 10 countries were selected to compete. All as a completely volunteer-run, female-led organisation, with a 75% female board.”

Team Brave

Who are they: a volunteer-led organisation acting in Bristol and Southampton using football to enhance mental wellbeing and foster supportive communities.

Why they were nominated: “They provide free, friendly football for all women and people of gender minorities. Their focus is on boosting happiness, mental health, and wellbeing through football and a kind, supportive community. They make such a huge impact and are totally volunteer-run.“

Women in Racing

Who are they: a volunteer-led organisation dedicated to amplifying female presence in horse racing, through professional development, definition of career pathways, promoting athletes and partnering with horse racing bodies to raise the profile of women in the sport.

Why they were nominated: “a wonderful group of voluntary women pushing forward the women’s agenda in British horseracing through mentoring, bursary, the Racing Home and much more.”

Women in Tri UK

Who are they: A charity dedicated to closing the gender gap in triathlon by removing the barriers for women to swim, bike and run. They offer a range of initiatives, from race entry sponsorships to coached sessions and mentorship programmes, to make triathlon accessible to women of all backgrounds all over the UK.

Why they were nominated: “They are breaking down barriers within swim, bike and run (and more), giving more and more women access to triathlon and the empowerment that it brings!”