Emma Ballard

2 weeks ago | womenssporttrust.com | Emma Ballard

Women’s sport is at a pivotal moment – the sector is growing fast, but how it grows matters. Striking the right balance between commercial success and building a more equal future for women is essential if we want a future that’s not just bigger, but better. The Firebird Collective recognises that sport, like the arts, is a powerful cultural force. And within that, women’s sport is both an area of persistent inequality and a significant, underleveraged opportunity.

2 months ago | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Renee Muirhead |Kathryn Kynoch |Glenda Hawley |Emma Ballard

What already is known? ○ Research has demonstrated that not only do newborn infants experience immediate physiological and hormonal responses to pain, but untreated or poorly managed pain is associated with alterations in brain development leading to adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae. ○ There is limited evidence on the optimal approach to managing neonatal post-operative pain to alleviate discomfort, while minimising the unwanted effects of excessive use of analgesics.

2 months ago | womenssporttrust.com | Emma Ballard

Marilyn Okoro knows firsthand the power of the Women’s Sport Trust’s Unlocked programme. The former British track and field athlete, who was part of its inaugural cohort in 2020, describes it as nothing short of life-changing, and she’s thrilled to see it returning in 2025, made possible by a grant from the Jacobs Futura Foundation. “I was looking for community,” she says simply. At the time she applied, Marilyn was unknowingly at the beginning of her retirement from elite sport.

Feb 20, 2025 | womenandgolf.com | Emma Ballard

As my four years as Editor of Women & Golf come to an end, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the current state of the women’s game, from club to elite level. When I thought about what to write in this final opinion piece, one thing kept coming to mind: women’s golf is in a good place. You could even say it’s thriving – against all the odds. I say “against the odds” because, at every level, there are barriers and challenges that should have held the women’s game back.

Feb 17, 2025 | womenandgolf.com | Emma Ballard

The Army Golf Association (AGA), which was formed in 1974 to promote the interests of all golfers, both officers and soldiers, regular and reserve, is pushing hard to increase women’s participation in the sport. Claire Ham, a Military Personnel Administrator, is a key figure in this effort. Here she offers insight into how she got involved in golf, her journey in the Army’s golfing community, and the steps being taken to attract more women to the game. Claire’s introduction to golf was unexpected.