Halewood sisters set up new support community to help women grow and get stronger

A new Liverpool community that aims to support and empower women is holding its biggest networking event next month.

Ladies_That will stage its third meeting on International Women’s Day at The Loft in Bowring Park.

Its aim is to support women from across the Liverpool City Region and help them on a journey of self-awareness and growth, either in their personal life or at work.

Co-founder Sian Rumble says: “We believe that by coming together we can make a positive change in the community, for ourselves and for others.”

Sian, 33, set up the Ladies_That with sister Rhian, 30, last year after they both found themselves at points of their life where they were struggling.

And it was in seeking solace and support for themselves and each other that they realised they weren’t alone, and a community was born which has grown and grown.

Sian who, like Rhian, lives in Halewood, explains: “I was a personal assistant, and I went through a hard time last year with my job.

“My role was getting bigger and bigger, and I was feeling stressed and undervalued, and it began to get on top of me. I was losing sleep, and I wasn’t coping – and all my GP wanted to do was put me on medication.

“It was a fellow PA who was in a WhatsApp group I was in who reached out and helped me, contacting me every day to ask how I was, and really supporting me.

“I had never met this woman before, and yet there she was getting me through this difficult period in my life.”

She adds: “I realised that this was the community of support that women used to have but which isn’t always there now.

“So I set up a Ladies_That Instagram page with positive quotes and affirmations that helped me and I hoped would help others.

“It has snowballed from that and we now have 72 ladies in the group.  They come from all walks of life, from women who own their own small businesses who are trying to make life better for themselves, and people who just want to meet new people.

“Many are like me and Rhian, who are both mums. I have two children, James, 12, and Grace, seven; and Rhian has two, George, nine, and Isabella, who’s four.”

As the group grew Sian and Rhian decided to hold a networking event so people could meet in person, meeting at a café in Huyton. But as more and more women got involved they decided they needed a bigger venue, with the third meeting on Saturday, March 8, being held at The Loft for around 50.

There’ll be the chance to hear guest speakers including Martine Gibson, a mental health coach; Kelsey Reeves a PT who’s set up mum and baby classes; You Are What You Wear clothing brand; and Knowsley FACE (Family And Community Education) which offers a range of courses for women looking to get into, or back to, work.

There will be meditation with coach Claire McDonald, an afternoon tea, a pop-up jewellery stall by an independent artist, as well as a performance by young singer Heidi Leah Askew.

“It will be a chance for people to make new friends and connections, and to share their own journeys and offer support.

“We have already organised outdoor walks as well as the events, and we hope eventually to meet twice a month and launch more activities for people to get involved with,” says Sian. “We have been surprised with how many people have come on board but then life has changed for so many of us, especially after Covid, when we work from home and don’t always have that close circle of support around us.

“This has shown that we’re not on our own. That we all go through difficult points in our lives,” says Sian.

“More than anything though, it has created a positive out of a negative, and that when one door closes, another opens. We want to help women see that and support them to get more confident and grow.

“We have teamed up with many businesses – ‘Care Merseyside have sponsored the cost of the venue for our next event’– and ladies across Knowsley and Liverpool, and we’d love more people to get involved and join us.”

Ladies_That will meet at The Loft, Bowring Park, on Saturday, March 8 from 1pm-4pm. Tickets are £20 plus booking fee via eventbrite.

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