Some of Manchester’s most successful women have joined forces following their experience as ‘Big Sister’ mentors with Girls Out Loud, a social enterprise that focuses on raising the aspirations of teenage girls across the North West.
There are over 620 women in the alumni network, all of which have been or currently are ‘Big Sisters’ on Girls Out Loud’s core mentoring programme. Having seen the benefits of supporting teenage girls first-hand, these women will now be supporting each other.
The launch event was held at Co-op’s head office at One Angel Square and saw women, all at different stages of their lives and careers, come together to empower one another.
Jane Kenyon, founder and CEO of Girls Out Loud, said: “I’ve met so many successful and awesome women since setting up Girls Out Loud in 2009, so I thought it was about time I brought them all together.
“While we still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality, both in and outside the workplace, I believe this network will be a powerful force in the movement.”
A quarterly event will be held for members of the network to attend. These same members can also vote on which topics they would like to cover, which activities they would like to participate in and which guest speakers they would like to listen to.
Jo Whitfield, CEO of Co-op Food said: “It was amazing to open up our doors to so many incredible women. There are serious benefits to being part of a women-only network; by learning and sharing with one another, women develop other women. I am so excited to see what will come of this inspiring network and I’m extremely proud to be part of it.”
Aside from events, an online group has been set up to further connect the network of women and enable them to communicate with one another on a more regular basis.
“I’m a massive advocate for women coming together, who all share the same beliefs and values. The time is now for female empowerment and groups like this are enabling it” said Katy Hankins, Head of Equity at Pizza Hut. “Not only does it help us build the confidence to progress in our careers, but it also supports the personal development of every single member.”
Gina Armstrong, who took part in Girls Out Loud’s first ever intervention programme as a teenager and is now a qualified teacher working in further education, said: “We need to see more groups like this, that bring together successful women from all walks of life. It’s true what they say, empowered women empower women, and that’s what we’re doing.”
If you would like to get involved with Girls Out Loud and subsequently become part of this exclusive network, please visit www.girlsoutloud.org.uk
Many of these women will be attending Girls Out Loud’s black-tie Shining Stars fundraising ball on Wednesday 2nd October at The Hilton, Deansgate. There are a limited number of tickets left, which can be purchased by clicking here.
