Meet Our New Regional Chair: Rowena Hackwood!

sharon@kangaroouk.com (Sharon Keevins) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:55:38 GMT

We’re thrilled to introduce the new Chair of our Regional Board—a true East Midlander with a lifelong passion for netball. With a career that spans various sectors and a deep commitment to the sport, she’s ready to take on this new role with enthusiasm and a vision for the future. Born in Nottingham and now living in Leicestershire, our new Chair is rooted in the East Midlands. Netball runs in her family—her sister was a junior international player, her niece is climbing the ranks in the junior pathway, and her nephew plays for the England Mens Trailblazers.

She’s got a diverse background, having worked in the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors. These days, she runs a large education Trust, but netball has always been her passion. She’s also been involved in a bunch of volunteer roles, from chairing the Moll Buzzers Netball Club to captaining TFC in the Regional league.

Why She Took On This Role

“I’m committed to developing the sport at all levels as we move into a professional era,” she says. For her, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing how sport can change lives, build confidence, and create lifelong friendships. She’s excited to create a club environment where players can thrive and bring their best selves to the court.

Her volunteer journey has been shaped by some amazing people, like Sue and David Jenkins, who coached her when she first started playing in the 1980s, and Mrs. Skinner, her school netball teacher, who went out of her way to support her training. And in a fun twist, she’s recently reconnected with Sue Connor, her first county coach, who is now the Regional Vice-Chair!

What She Hopes to Achieve

Looking ahead, she has big dreams for netball in the East Midlands. “Wouldn't it be brilliant for the East Midlands to lead the way in netball participation at all levels?” she asks. She’s aiming to create a smooth pathway from school to club to performance levels, so the region can compete—and win—on the national stage.

She’s also passionate about making netball more inclusive, with plans to highlight our talented male players in a mixed programme at the regional level. And personally, she’d love to see a ‘masters series’ for players over 50 who still want to compete at a high level—a nod to her belief that netball is a game for life.

A Message to Volunteers

To all our amazing volunteers, she has a heartfelt message: “Thank you. You make the game what it is, and we couldn’t do it without you.” As netball enters an exciting new chapter, she encourages anyone who’s interested to get involved, whether it’s at the County level or within our regional structures. If you think you’ve got something to offer, she’d love to hear from you!

With her passion and leadership, the future of netball in the East Midlands is looking bright. We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have on our community.

Safeguarding and EDI Conference 2024

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:07:33 GMT

We are thrilled to announce the resounding success of the East Midlands "Uncovering Hidden Safeguards in Netball" Conference, held on Sunday, April 21st at Charnwood College. With over 40 passionate attendees, this event brought together netball enthusiasts and experts to explore crucial topics including Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Safeguarding, Neurodiversity, and more. The conference aimed to provide clubs and teams with a deeper understanding of often overlooked aspects of safeguarding, ensuring the well-being of all participants in and out of the sport. The conference featured three impactful sessions, each delivering invaluable insights and sparking meaningful conversations among attendees:

1. Hidden Disabilities – Neurodiversity by Beth Jackson

Beth Jackson's session on neurodiversity left a profound impact on the audience. Attendees engaged deeply with the material, gaining a new perspective on how the human brain functions and the importance of recognizing and supporting neurodiverse individuals within their clubs. The session encouraged participants to rethink their responses and delivery methods to better support and listen to members with neurodiverse conditions.

2. Intro to Mental Health and Safeguarding by Dannii Donavan and Dickon Turner

This informative session provided key insights into safeguarding members, emphasizing the responsibility of everyone to report concerns without making judgments. Dannii and Dickon highlighted the processes and procedures for supporting vulnerable individuals, stressing the importance of acting on concerns to protect young people and adults alike. They also reminded attendees of the valuable resources available on the EN safeguarding website, which supports not just the club’s safeguarding officer but all members.

3. LGBTQ+ Diversity by Ebony Harding

Ebony Harding's session on LGBTQ+ diversity offered a great insight into the use of pronouns and the importance of creating an inclusive environment. The discussion focused on understanding differences and ensuring that all members, regardless of their social, ethnic, or sexual orientation, feel welcome and valued in the netball community. Participants learned the significance of using correct pronouns and the impact of addressing others respectfully.

Attendees praised all the speakers for their real-life experiences and engaging delivery, expressing a newfound awareness and enthusiasm to implement and share the insights within their clubs and teams. Feedback highlighted a desire for future topics such as safeguarding, social media use, mental health support, and greater awareness of neurodiversity and EDI.

Moving Forward

The success of this conference has inspired the EDI group to plan future events and initiatives. Stay tuned for more updates and future events as we continue our mission to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in netball. Together, we can make a significant impact on the well-being of our community and ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued in the world of netball.

derbyshirenetball

Meet Our New Regional Chair: Rowena Hackwood!

Safeguarding and EDI Conference 2024