Helen Garner was nominated for the Coach of the Year award after setting up a Mum and Me Netball Club at the East Hampshire District Council Sports Awards, held at Old Thorns.

Her unique club allows mums to train with their daughters, breaking the barrier of childcare, spending time together while developing netball skills.

Helen and co-founder Emma Thorne have been running three weekly netball sessions at Bohunt School since September 2016, after realising there were limited sports activities available for women and girls.

Helen, whose young daughter Poppy is a keen player, was praised by awards host Roger Black at the awards ceremony held again at Old Thorns Country Hotel, for her commitment and passion which has raised the profile of netball and participation of women and girls in sport.

Helen told The Herald: “For mums to participate in competitive sports is hard work and the first question is how committed can they be.

“At Mum and Me, I get to watch the joy on a five year old’s face when she watches her mummy play netball – fighting for the ball and trying her best to win – the joy of a 10 year old when her mummy is the one to score in the high post, and best of all, the 12-14 year olds who want their mummy to be on their team, and who share that adrenaline and joy of competing together.

“Mum and Me is more than coaching young girls to play and love netball – it is enabling us mums to show them we can do it, love it and work hard, and that really isn’t easy as a working mum these days.

“I am always so proud of our girls – but I also realise how proud of our mums I am.”

Mum and Me is running a fun day at Bohunt School, on Sunday, March 18, from 9.30-11.30am to raise funds for Surrey teenager Lizzi Jordan, who went blind after contracting E-coli and was diagnosed with a serious blood disorder Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

As a result Lizzi then suffered multi-organ failure including her heart, kidneys and entire respiratory tract.

•Mum and Me is running regular netball sessions on Monday nights for adults and kidss over 14, (7.15-8.15pm) costing £4.

Sunday morning session for adults and five to 10 year olds, (9.45-10.30am) are £2 per head, and adults and children over 10 (10.30-11.30am) cost £2.50 per head. For more information visit their Facebook page.