Storyhouse Women: From Lioncubs to Lionesses

As an amateur boxer Stacey won a European silver medal before turning professional and making history in 2018 when she became the first ever British woman to win the Commonwealth title. In 2017 she founded Pave The Way, a charity which challenges gender traditional stereotypes for boys, girls, women and men. Stacey delivers talks in schools, communities, and businesses, and has spoken at European Parliament and the United Nations. She is a broadcaster on BBC Radio Manchester and recently won the ‘Emerging Talent’ award at the O2 media awards for presenting the ‘Paving The Way’ television series on Granada Reports.   

 @staceycopelandboxer 

An award-winning British born International speaker, Prince’s Trust Ambassador, activist, and the Chief Executive and Founder of the Goals4Girls development programme. Through her work she is a globally recognised executive on sport for development, women in sports insights and female leadership. 

Francesca has been recognized by HRH Prince Charles and was the recipient in 2016 of the Pride of Britain Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award, for her success in empowering young women through sports and education. She has also won a Football black list award, a NatWest business award, a black magic award and an esteemed national rising star award. Francesca is a trustee for the Football Foundation and a senior trustee on E-ACT Academy school board. 

Her journey is why Francesca endlessly dedicates her life to providing opportunity to young women. Her organisations aim has been to increase the confidence, self-esteem, motivation, and communication skills of young women aged 11-16, through football and education. The well devised programme offers female students football coaching and player development as well as mentoring, workshops, qualifications and enriching life skills. 

With her unique approach and expertise, Francesca has managed to break down barriers in the sporting industry and engage over 1600 registered students within marginalised communities, delivering international keynotes on this work to sport federations, global sports brands, and education bodies – on female leadership, equality, and success.

Now a mum of two, Francesca does not plan to stop any time soon! With a mission in creating sustainable development pathways for young women and girls beyond education, Francesca and her organisation Goals4Girls have partnered with global brand adidas in launching the UK’s first female led football development centre – bridging the gap between grassroots and the professional game. 

@cesc.brown 

Wendy Owen was a member of the squad for the first official women’s football international match played between England and Scotland in November 1972. She gained 16 full England caps between 1972 and 1977 and went on to embark on a career in teaching and coaching. She was one of the first five women in England to qualify as a Women’s FA Preliminary Coach (in 1974) and went on to gain her UEFA ‘B’ licence (in 1999). Wendy had 30 years coaching experience (between 1974 and 2005) including coaching College and University women’s and men’s teams; coaching at soccer camps in the USA (as one of the first female coaches); as the under 16’s coach at the FA Centre of Excellence for Girls’ Football/Tranmere Rovers; and as Director of the Sport Cheshire Advanced Coaching Centre for Girls’ Football at the University of Chester. She was a Lecturer in sports coaching pedagogy at the University of Chester from 1987 to 2016. In 2022 Wendy was invited to Wembley to receive her FA cap and shirt on the 50th anniversary of the first official international, in recognition of her achievement as one of the game’s pioneers.  

Expert in Creating Change – Founder of Little Blackbird joins us to share the work they are doing in grassroots Sports.  Delivering  programmes that have impact and drive meaningful change, from on the pitch sessions tackling key issues of misogyny in sport, to active exercises that explore resilience and equality, Little Blackbird support young people, their parents and coaches and aim to challenge cultures and beliefs and improve well-being.

Professor Moira Lafferty is Head of the School of Society in the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Society and within this role she works with the Dean and Associate Deans to lead and deliver on the Faculty and University strategic plans and to manage and support developments within the Divisions of Psychology and Social Work in line with the University strategy. She is a chartered psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychology Society and a HCPC registered sport and exercise psychologist. She has taught, researched, and supervised in the area of sport and exercise psychology for over 25 years.