Urdd Gobaith Cymru will host its third #FelMerch – Like a Girl – Conference, welcoming more than 250 young women from across Wales to inspire, support and empower the next generation through sport.
Acclaimed sportswomen, presenters and female leaders will unite at Cardiff City Stadium to provide inspirational talks, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities designed to ignite ambition and equip attendees with the tools to thrive in sport and beyond.
Organised by the Urdd, the bilingual #FelMerch Conference has grown to become Wales’s largest female youth sports conference. Backed by the Welsh Government Euro 2025 fund, this year’s event is part of the Welsh Government legacy project to celebrate the success of the Cymru Women’s football team reaching their first UEFA European Championships.
First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said:
“The #FelMerch Conference champions the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensuring equal access to sport, while nurturing young talent and strengthening grassroots clubs across the country.
“Empowering girls and women through sport is about more than medals – it’s about confidence, community and creating a Wales where every young woman knows her voice matters. I’m proud to support the Urdd’s #FelMerch conference and its mission to open doors, challenge limits and inspire the next generation of leaders.”
A recent report by Public First on women in sports revealed that boys aged 11-18 spend on average 1.4 hours more per week playing sports than girls; the equivalent to girls missing out on 52 football matches every year.
Siân Lewis, Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said:
“Following their first-ever qualification for the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2025, Cymru’s national team has inspired a new generation of girls across the country, making this year’s #FelMerch Conference more timely and powerful than ever. But despite having seen many positive developments in women’s sport in recent years, there’s still a long way to go until the world of sports is a level playing field.
“The Urdd’s #FelMerch Conference is a flagship event in our calendar and delivers on our ‘Urdd for All’ strategy to widen access and participation, creating space where every young person feels seen, heard and supported.
“We’re thrilled that more young women and girls than ever before, from every corner of Wales, will be joining us this year to take part in an inspiring programme of speakers and workshops designed to empower, uplift and ignite ambition.”
The event will be hosted by seasoned sports presenter Heledd Anna, with an inspiring line-up of guest speakers including Rhian Wilkinson, Head Coach of the Cymru Football Team, Rosie Eccles, the gold-medal-winning boxer from Newport triumphed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Ela Letton-Jones, who secured a silver medal at the World Para Swimming Championships 2025 in Singapore.
A panel set to share personal experiences and advice includes Lili Jones from Wrexham Football Club, Begw Elain, sports reporter with Caernarfon Football Club, Team Wales Paralympic Athlete Mia Lloyd and powerlifter, Tahirah Ali.
The day will also feature practical workshops covering topics from sports injuries to boxing and calisthenics – providing a chance to build knowledge, skills and confidence. Attendees can also network and connect with representative from leading sports organisations and initiatives including Football Association Wales, Wales Rugby Union, Disability Sports Wales, Team Pebe, Period Dignity Wales and many more.
One who knows first-hand the importance of encouraging, supporting and empowering women in sports is #FelMerch 2025 Guest Speaker and Head Coach of the Welsh Football Team, Rhian Wilkinson.
“I am honoured to be a guest speaker at this year’s #FelMerch Conference,” said Rhian Wilkinson.
“The Football Association of Wales and the Urdd have had a great relationship for many years, and the Urdd has been a massive support for the Cymru women’s national team, especially during the women’s Euros finals in the summer.
“Qualifying for our first women’s major tournament was a huge step in the right direction for women’s football in Wales but there’s still a long way to go. With the help of organisations like the Urdd, I hope we’re able to continue to inspire and encourage women and girls across the country to play sports for many years to come.”
18-year-old Mia Lloyd from Cardigan, is an inspirational Team Wales para-athlete:
“At the age of 10 I was diagnosed with cancer, and as a result my leg was amputated. Looking back, this was the best outcome for me because I wanted to return to sport as soon as possible after treatment.
“I enjoy all kinds of sports, from athletics and wheelchair basketball to swimming, golf, climbing and more. I feel privileged to take part in this very important conference and am looking forward to sharing my story, to show other young women just how much can be achieved through sports, and how important it is to keep going and to take every opportunity in life.”
Since launching #FelMerch in 2021, the Urdd’s campaign to empower girls has provided a wealth of opportunities for young women across Wales. The campaign aims to inspire, support, and empower young women to keep fit and to break the barriers for female participation in sport.
Supported by Welsh Government's EURO 2025 fund, this will be the third #FelMerch Conference held by the Urdd. The first-ever #FelMerch Conference took place at Gwersyll Caerdydd, the Urdd’s Residential Centre in Cardiff in 2021.
#FelMerch Conference Contributors: Aisling Pigott, Begw Elain, Caryl Thomas, Dina Tokio, Ela Letton-Jones, Heledd Anna, Lili Jones, Mia Lloyd, Morgan Rogers, Rosie Eccles, Rhian Wilkinson, Steffi Studt & Eloise Kirby, Tahirah Ali.
