To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women.
Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.
Today we put the spotlight on Lydia Moore from The Wellbeing Hub.
Tell us about you and your work…
My name is Lydia Moore and my work has always come from a place of care, connection and community. I began my career in adult mental health, where I quickly recognised how powerful early help can be. After having my children, that understanding became even deeper and inspired me to change direction so I could support children and families earlier in life, helping to prevent mental health challenges from escalating and giving young people a brighter outlook for the future.
This journey led me to start African Dance workshops, which helped women in many festivals and parties, weddings and hen nights – and later on I was involved in opening The Wellbeing Hub, a welcoming community space that fosters early help.
It is a safe place where anyone can walk in for a chat, to feel supported or simply to feel safe. The Hub brings people together through wellbeing activities, connection, movement and creativity. We support confidence, emotional wellbeing and positive change, including encouraging women to believe in themselves and take brave steps towards starting something new. Everything we do is rooted in care, joy and the belief that wellbeing grows best in community.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my parents for raising me with strong values, kindness and good advice that continue to guide me every day. I am incredibly proud of my husband, whose love and support ground me and give me the strength to do the work I do. I am also deeply proud of my children, who inspire me to keep creating a world rooted in care, joy and wellbeing.
I am grateful to my husband’s family for welcoming me as if I had always belonged and for supporting me unconditionally. My seven siblings helped to shape who I am, teaching me compassion, resilience and the importance of lifting each other up. I am also proud of my friends, who are always my biggest cheerleaders, encouraging me, believing in me and celebrating me every step of the way.
How does it feel to be recognised as one of Swindon & Wiltshire’s Most Inspiring Women?
It feels like a dream. Being recognised for something that comes naturally to me made me pause and reflect. It reassured me that kindness, care and community truly matter. This recognition has given me renewed energy and motivation to keep going, knowing that support creates a ripple effect that reaches far beyond one person.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a celebration of women coming together in joy. It’s about sisterhood, laughter, movement and lifting one another up, creating spaces where women feel safe, supported and free to shine in their own rhythm.
This year’s IWD theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?
Growing up in a large family, supporting one another was simply part of life. Supporting my parents and brothers and sisters through everything became second nature, and that mindset followed me into my career and community life.
Since moving to England, I have built strong connections with people who feel the care, positivity and encouragement I offer. I have supported friends through incredibly difficult times, including domestic violence, by listening and being present. At The Wellbeing Hub, we support women by offering advice, encouragement and a safe space to help them build confidence and take steps towards starting something new. Seeing women grow and then support others in return is incredibly powerful.
What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?
Value every experience and opportunity because each one is building the foundation for where you are heading. Keep moving, keep dancing through life and never underestimate the power of joy.
This feature is sponsored by Goughs Solicitors. The team at Goughs believe in championing ambition, celebrating achievement and creating opportunities for women to connect, lead and thrive.
