How our PEBE partnership supports girls in sport 

“It wasn’t one big lightbulb moment; it was something I kept seeing repeatedly in my previous role in sports kit development. I was working with a group of girls at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and they told me they didn’t like the sports tops they had to wear. Instead, they’d often choose to wear hoodies because they felt more comfortable. The more time I spent with them, the more I realised the issue wasn’t the tops at all. It was that so many of them weren’t wearing sports bras because they either didn’t have one that fitted properly, didn’t feel comfortable wearing one, or simply didn’t know where to get one. 

I went away and started looking at what was available for teenage girls, and I was genuinely surprised. There was almost nothing designed specifically for them. Most products were only sold in three generic sizes (small, medium and large) and there was very little evidence to show they had been tested to prove they provided the level of support developing breast tissue needs. 

Once I saw that, I couldn’t unsee it. It became clear that this wasn’t just about creating another sports bra; it was about removing a barrier that was stopping girls from feeling confident and comfortable enough to enjoy sport. That’s when we knew we had to do something about it. We set out to design a sports bra specifically for teenage girls that is proven to provide the support they need, and that’s how PEBE began.” 

It’s a barrier we recognise too, and are continuously pushing again at Edwin Doran sports tours, wanting to make sports accessible to all girls. Many of the teams we take on tour are made up of exactly the girls PEBE first noticed: talented, committed, and quietly choosing a hoodie over a sports top rather than say why. 

“We chose to partner with Edwin Doran Sports Tours because of your genuine commitment to supporting girls’ sport. What sets you apart from other tour companies is that this isn’t just part of your offering – it’s clearly something you actively care about and invest in. That dedication to creating better opportunities and experiences for female athletes really stood out to us. It’s refreshing to work with a company that aligns with our values and is helping drive positive change in an area that is too often overlooked.“ 

“When girls feel supported to play, their confidence grows, their friendships strengthen, and their self-belief develops. The more they participate in that kind of environment, the more they focus on what they can do, showing up consistently, becoming willing to try, to fail, and to try again without fear of judgement. Sport also creates something unique through shared effort. Training together, winning, losing, and showing up on the tough days builds trust and a sense of belonging that’s hard to find anywhere else.” 

“We explain it by putting it in the same category as any other essential performance kit, like boots or trainers. A sports bra isn’t a “nice to have”; it directly affects how a girl moves, performs, and feels during sport. 

When a girl feels secure, she can move more efficiently – accelerating more freely, maintaining better posture, and extending her stride without holding back. Ultimately, if we accept that footwear is essential for performance and injury prevention, the same logic must apply to a sports bra. It should always be considered part of the standard kit, not an optional extra.” 

Depending on level of experience with sports tours, tour leaders may come to us with an exact itinerary in mind, or a few general ideas. Edwin Doran can accommodate both options. Chloe came to Edwin Doran with a rough outline of what she wanted her Holland hockey tour to achieve. Edwin Doran then supported Chloe by offering suggested specific excursions, such as canal cruises, theme parks, and club visits. The team then worked with Chloe, refining the itinerary together, and balancing hockey intensity with fun and recovery time. 

“In our school workshops, we create an open and safe environment where girls can learn about a part of their body that isn’t often talked about in a clear or easy way. We also give them the opportunity to ask questions freely and, importantly, to experience what real support feels like by trying products on for themselves. That practical element is something you don’t often see in wider conversations around girls’ sport. There are so many sports bras on the market that don’t deliver the support they promise, which can be confusing and frustrating, especially for young girls still learning about their bodies. It can be a difficult space to navigate as a woman with breast tissue, and even more so as a teenager just beginning to understand what comfort and support should feel like.” 

For every Edwin Doran sports tour booked, you can book in for a free bra fitting workshop with PEBE. This opportunity not only gets your team excited for their tour, but it opens discussion into the importance of supporting your bodies when on tour and competing in sport.

One of the moments that has really stayed with me came through the feedback we received after a school visit: 

“You created a warm, supportive and welcoming environment for our pupils, staff and parents from start to finish and our girls felt completely at ease in what we know for them is a sensitive experience.  It made a meaningful impact on our community, and we are incredibly grateful for the partnership.” 

This was a quote from a Male Director of Sport, and I feel it truly captures what we are striving to achieve. Knowing that we were able to create a space where girls felt comfortable, supported, and confident, while also positively impacting the wider school community, is exactly why this work matters. 

“I think the best place to start is by educating yourself. Building your own understanding and confidence around the topic makes it much easier to support your female athletes in a meaningful way. From there, it’s about creating an environment where these conversations feel normal and safe. That could be as simple as using the right language, acknowledging that things like breast support and periods are part of sport, and making it clear that girls can ask questions or raise concerns without feeling awkward. 

You don’t need to have all the answers straight away, but showing that you’re open, informed, and willing to learn goes a long way in helping girls feel supported and confident to stay in sport.” 

“The one message I’d want every decision-maker to understand is that girls don’t drop out of sport because they lack ability or interest, they drop out because the environment hasn’t been designed with them in mind. If we truly want girls to stay in sport, we must meet them where they are, understanding their needs, listening to their experiences, and treating things like proper support and education as essential, not optional. Because when girls feel comfortable and supported in their bodies, everything changes, they don’t just stay in sport, they thrive in it.” 

Invest in your girls. Create the time and space for them to engage with topics that will help them get more out of sport, whether that’s building confidence, understanding their bodies, or feeling comfortable in their environment. When you prioritise these conversations and experiences, you empower them not just to participate, but to truly thrive. 

Girls’ sport has always been part of our story. For decades, Edwin Doran has been trusted by schools and clubs to take teams away and look after every detail of the trip, and we know that confidence on the pitch starts with feeling properly supported off it. That’s why our partnership with PEBE isn’t a box to tick; it’s a genuine commitment to making sure every girl who travels with us feels ready, comfortable and free to focus on her game, not on her kit. Because taking care of the details is what we do best, and that includes making sure girls’ sport gets the same attention, investment and respect as every other team we take away. 

Want to learn more about how we support girls in sport? Read about Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ Schools sports tour to South Africa.