Network
Walsall Women's Network
The network is a collective of women from organisations across the Borough to come together to share information, discuss issues that affect them and to look to local solutions to effect change.
Voice, Project & Partnerships
MEETINGS
Meetings
Our quarterly forum meetings bring together inspiring women from across the Borough and all sectors. The Women’s Network harnesses the collective power, skills, and expertise of its members, united by a shared commitment to support, collaborate, and uplift one another.
As a member, you will have the opportunity to share your work, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections with like-minded women.
Find below a summary of the key discussions from the meetings.
27 May 2025: Women's Network Meeting Summary
4 September 2025: Women's Network Meeting Summary
20 November 2025: Women's Network Meeting Summary
19 February 2026: Women's Network Meeting Summary
Interested in joining?
Fill out the enquiry form here and tell us a bit about why you'd like to be part of the network. We will be in touch if your registration is successful.THEATRE PRODUCTION: "HEAR HER NOW: WOMEN'S HEALTH IN WALSALL"
Hear Her Now: Women’s Health in Walsall
A powerful conversation sparked through theatre and lived experience.
On Thursday 26 March 2026, Hear Her Now: Women’s Health in Walsall took place at The Local Hub in Bloxwich, bringing together around 60 attendees for an inspiring afternoon focused on women’s health, lived experience, and open dialogue.
The event explored key and often overlooked issues affecting women’s lives, including menstruation, pain and menopause. These themes highlighted both immediate opportunities for change and the need for longer-term collaboration across communities and services to create more equitable and supportive environments where women can thrive.
Unlike a traditional presentation, the session used a creative and engaging approach to spark conversation. A powerful short theatrical production by Bostin’ Creative Arts & Theatre CIC brought real experiences to life, helping to amplify women’s voices in a relatable and impactful way. This was followed by a thought-provoking expert panel discussion chaired by Dr Ravi Sandhu (Walsall Modality Division).
The event opened with a welcome led by Vicky Hines (One Walsall) and Angela Virdee (The Local Hub – Bloxwich), followed by an introduction from Vicky Hines and Jan Davies (Brownhills Community Association).
Attendees also viewed video reels from Walsall Together, setting the context for the discussions ahead. A follow-up video reel to be released, continuing to share the voices, themes and messages from the event.
Guests were provided with a light buffet by Kaushalya UK, a charitable, community organisation working to empower and uplift women, offering a welcoming space for attendees to connect and reflect before the main session began.
Following the theatre production, guests took a short comfort break before joining a dynamic panel discussion featuring Dr Ravi Sandhu, Jan Davies, Vikki Tolley (Public Health) and Michelle McManus (Walsall Together). The panel explored barriers to accessing women’s health services, the importance of listening to lived experience, and the need for joined-up working to improve outcomes for women across Walsall.
With the national Women’s Health Strategy set for a 2026 refresh, the event provided a timely opportunity to reflect on local needs and consider how organisations can ensure women’s voices are genuinely heard and acted upon in shaping future services.
The session reinforced a shared commitment to collaboration, recognising that while some improvements can be made immediately, more complex challenges will require sustained partnership working across health, community and voluntary sectors.
As part of the event’s wider commitment to tackling period poverty and improving accessibility to essential products, attendees were also given goody bags containing sanitary products. This formed part of an ongoing campaign to help ensure sanitary ware is more accessible to those who may struggle to access it, reinforcing the importance of dignity, equity and support for all women and girls.
The afternoon concluded with a strong sense of engagement and purpose, with attendees reflecting on the importance of continuing these conversations and turning insight into meaningful action.
Thank you to all speakers, partners, performers and attendees for their contributions to making Hear Her Now a powerful and impactful event focused on improving women’s health and wellbeing in Walsall.
ONE WALSALL WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL DAY 2026
One Walsall International Women’s Day 2026
On Tuesday 10 March 2026, One Walsall hosted a vibrant International Women’s Day event at The Local Hub in Bloxwich, welcoming around 70 women and supporters from across the borough to come together under the global theme “Give to Gain.”
The event celebrated the achievements, contributions and strengths of women in Walsall, while promoting inclusion, equality and empowerment. It provided a safe and supportive space for attendees to connect, share experiences and explore opportunities to strengthen community belonging.
A key focus of the day was raising awareness of both hidden and physical disabilities, highlighting the importance of accessibility, understanding, and ensuring that women of all abilities are fully included and supported within their communities.
The event opened with a warm welcome and icebreaker session led by One Walsall’s Vicky Hines, alongside Angela Virdee (The Local Hub-Bloxwich), setting a friendly and collaborative tone for the programme. Attendees took part in a fun and engaging activity learning how to introduce themselves in British Sign Language (BSL) and fingerspell their names, helping to promote awareness of communication barriers and inclusive practices from the outset of the day.
Participants then heard from a diverse range of speakers, including:
- Deirdre Maguire (Zebra Access)
- Sandra Tittel (Refugee and Migrant Centre)
- Marie-Claire Kofi (Plasma of Hope)
- Alys Murphy and Jodi Adams (Active Black Country)
- Jessie Allen (BREAD for Life Project).
Each speaker shared powerful insights into their work supporting women, personal journey, tackling inequality and building stronger communities.
A networking lunch was provided by Kaushalya UK, a charitable, community organisation working to empower and uplift women, offering attendees an opportunity to connect informally while enjoying a thoughtfully prepared buffet.
During the lunch session, participants also engaged in important health awareness activities, including demonstrations using breast models to show how to check for lumps and what changes to look out for, helping to promote confidence and early detection in a safe and supportive environment.
Following lunch, attendees took part in interactive round table discussions focusing on key themes such as nature and the environment, community safety, physical activity, accessibility, and voice and influence. These sessions encouraged open dialogue and collective reflection, with participants contributing ideas and lived experiences to help shape future action.
Students from Walsall College also attended the event, capturing key moments throughout the day. A video showcasing the event is available below.
The event strongly reinforced One Walsall’s commitment to inclusivity, with discussions ensuring that the voices and experiences of women living with hidden and physical disabilities were heard and valued throughout the day.
The day concluded with a sense of inspiration, connection and shared purpose, reflecting the spirit of International Women’s Day and the #GiveToGain message. Emphasising the value of collaboration, generosity and collective action in advancing gender equality.
One Walsall would like to thank all speakers, partners, facilitators and attendees for their contributions in making the event a meaningful celebration of women in Walsall.
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL DAY 2025
Walsall International Women’s Day 2025
On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, over 140 women from Walsall came together to celebrate International Women’s Day at Walsall Football Club. The event marked a significant opportunity to honour women’s achievements and promote empowerment and inclusion. the focus was on health and wellbeing, covering important topics such as menopause, discrimination, and women’s health challenges.
A total of 24 organisation stands were set up for guests to explore, each offering a variety of informational materials for attendees to take home. The focus was on health and wellbeing, covering important topics such as menopause, discrimination, and women’s health challenges. Additionally, there was a designated pink bin available for women to donate sanitary products, promoting health and hygiene initiatives within the community.
The day began with live music from Katherine Thompson & Wayne Blake (Diversity Music), accompanied by some light dancing from attendees.Vicky Hines, CEO of One Walsall, served as the host for the event, which featured presentations from:
- Adam Davy (Walsall Football Club Foundation) on women’s sports initiatives.
- Shajeda Ahmed (Integrated Care Board) on leadership
- Diane Porterfield-Bourne (Bourne2care) on menopause.
- Julie McCarthy (Greater Manchester) on creative health.
- Dr Ravi Sandhu (GP Partner and Trainer) on women's health hubs and insights from recent listening exercises.
- Claire Mullin (UK Parliament) on women influencing policy, which led to follow-up meetings, including one at the Digital Hub and another with the Health Foundation Trust.
During lunch, the Walsall Football Club Foundation organized an interactive activity where guests could attempt to kick a football into inflatable goalposts.
The event concluded with round-table discussions addressing questions such as, “What does 'good health' look like?”
Key themes from the event included:
- Employment and career progression
- Menopause awareness
- Domestic abuse support
- Access to healthcare
Guests left with keepsakes from the event, including Walsall International Women’s Day tote bags and daffodils.
One Walsall and its partners would like to thank everyone who attended, sang, celebrated, promoted their work, and networked. We look forward to planning the next International Women’s Day event in 2026.
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL DAY 2023
Walsall International Women’s Day 2023
One Walsall held an international women’s day event in March 2023. Over 100 attendees attended the event and as a follow up, there was a request from the floor that a women’s network should be set up.