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TV six key messages for girls. Your looks are the most important thing about you Your physical characteristics (shape, weight, skin, hair, teeth, colour, smell) are NEVER EVER good enough Sex is primarily a currency that you exchange for love, attention & power
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TV six key messages for girls... • Your looks are the most important thing about you • Your physical characteristics (shape, weight, skin, hair, teeth, colour, smell) are NEVER EVER good enough • Sex is primarily a currency that you exchange for love, attention & power • It is normal to have sex with people you don’t even know or especially like • The world is a scary, lonely, dangerous & competitive place. Better get going – you might lose the race • The answer to all life’s problems is to buy something
the girls... • Ages 13-18 • Potential to achieve • Disengaged at crucial time • Danger of falling into NEET • Lack of positive role model at home • No history of higher education • Relationship challenges • Inability to articulate needs • Lack of ASPIRATION/S
A year long mentoring programme • 121 and group activities • Introducing the girls to role models (Big Sisters) • Influence helps change their attitudes, self-belief and life-plans • Helps them to acquire a more empowering mind-set • Broadens their aspirations • Encourages them to find their individual voice • Re-connects them to education • Helps them to make better life decisions
What we do • 20 Big Sisters • Volunteers from all walks of life – confident in who they are with knowledge & experience to share • GOL database – 1000+ women who want to get involved • Involvement questionnaire • Training (4 sessions including Safe Guarding) • On going training during the year (2 sessions) • CRB / references • 20 Girls • Criteria – to be decided with school (eg girls not reaching their potential – attitude to learning & attendance issues) • Match making
121 (minimum 10 sessions across the year) • After/during school • Open plan room – tea/coffee • Every 2/3 weeks – 1 hour • Agreement between the girls & Big Sisters • Goal setting • Monitored, reviewed, progressed...
Group (minimum 6 activities) • Launch • Personal Safety workshop • ‘outdoor’ – team building activities (MMU campus) • Creative work shop (during the summer hols) • ZUMBA • Crewe Alexander • Graduation
Girls – what they wanted from their Big Sister: • To help me • Build confidence • Someone to talk to • Help with career choice • Learn new things • Learn more about life & how it works
Pilot outcomes • CONFIDENCE – pivotal to long term success • Attendance – 62.5% improvement • Attitude to learning – 75% improvement • 15 girls graduated • Reduction in exclusions • All progressing to college/army • No pregnancies “our girls have significantly grown in confidence over the last 7 months” “I used to be in trouble in school and out of school – I’m not going back to that life” “I’m more confident and I am aiming higher than I would have done” “Someone to talk to – she has helped me with my CV – told me things I didn’t know about”
After graduation: • Invited to join own girls/big sisters website/facebook community • Ongoing communication • News, tips, events, comment.. • Follow up meetings at college • Relationships encouraged – girls/big sisters to continue informally • Track girls progress Big Sisters....
Big Sister • Crewe 2 • Salford • Oldham • STARDOM • Discovery Day • Role Mole Relay
Why GOL • Track record – it works... • Quality of Big Sisters (volunteers) • Year long programme – time to make a difference long term • Power & support of the group (20 girls & 20 Big Sisters) • Combination of 121 & group activities • GOL business & educational background – • GOL brand & professionalism
What next? • More pilots • Build up more evidence • Make a noise! • Roll out UK & beyond…