Surgeon launches new health festival in Wales to help and guide all women

Mrs Julie Cornish

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Senior Lecturer Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Founder of Everywoman Festival

Although women’s health has never been more in the spotlight, increasing waiting lists, maternity services under pressure and difficulty accessing specialists mean that women often turn to Dr Google for help. However, this is often unreliable.

The wealth of information available online can be confusing and doesn’t always direct women to the best treatments available. The Everywoman festival is a one-day women’s health event being held in Cardiff on Saturday 24^th June 2023. It aims to empower and educate women on common conditions that can be difficult to talk about but that can affect 90% of women at some point in their life.

Wide-ranging support for women at health festival

I decided to set up the festival as I keep seeing women in clinics who have suffered in silence with problems such as prolapse and incontinence that are related to their childbirth and menopause. What is most frustrating is that some of the problems could have been prevented or treated much more simply if people knew what was normal and where to seek help.

The festival combines more than 40 workshops and six themed seminar sessions in a fun relaxed environment with art workshops; creative markets; book readings from several authors; drop-in wellness stands; cookery demonstrations; food and drink; and live music. Themes are wide-ranging and include periods and endometriosis; pelvis pain and bladder; childbirth injury; menopause; and sexual well-being.

What is most frustrating is that some of the problems
could have been prevented or treated much
more simply if people knew what was
normal and where to seek help.

Fitness and mindfulness that’s accessible to all women

The Everywoman Festival will be held in the heart of Cardiff in the beautiful venue of Insole Court. It will feature a range of interactive workshops and talks from leading health experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about everything from nutrition and fitness to mindfulness through art.

For those who are looking for something a little more active, there will be a variety of fitness classes and workshops taking place throughout the day. From seated yoga, pilates to belly dancing or sustainable period products to gut microbiome, there’s something for everyone — regardless of age and fitness level.