In 2013 two secondary school teachers in London witnessed the multiple barriers facing girls in their classrooms – including pressure to conform to ideals, lack of confidence and a lack of professional role models, Based on research showing that conversations and personal relationships could have a big impact on challenging stereotypes and expectations, they established a mentoring scheme. The Girls’ Network was soon in high demand and now operates in London, Greater Manchester and across the south coast.
Our Programme Action Officer, Val, spoke at our November meeting about her experiences as a mentor with the charity over the past year. She told members about the ideals of the charity, how the Club came to hear about it through a friend of President Barbara and deciding to volunteer. Val went on to talk about the training evening and the excitement of the matching event where mentees ‘hot seat’ to ask questions of the mentors. The practicalities of the mentoring sessions for the cohort was also highlighted as well as her retrospective feelings on the whole process.