Young people ’ s reactions to PoW events say it all about record year
INSPIRING
Educating – PoW ’ s Jane Armitage , Katrina Morley , Claire Preston , Sophie McKenna and Caroline Theobald .
Young people ’ s reactions to PoW events say it all about record year
WORDS : SARAH WALKER
‘ Best day ever !’
People say your schooldays are the best days of your life . So , when a young person tells you your organisation has given them their “ best day at school ever ”, that ’ s something pretty special to hear .
Yet this is a common reaction to the many inspirational Power of Women ( PoW ) events that have taken place across 24 primary schools , three secondary schools and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College , Darlington , in the past year and have reached more than 1,500 young people . The academic year 2023 to 2024 was hugely successful for PoW , which has taken its mission to build confidence and shape the next generation of leaders through its successful ambassador programme to a record number of schools and young people .
But with the support of businesses and organisations working alongside PoW , the project is just getting started – and it hopes to work with more and more schools and young people every year .
“ The fact we have reached 1,500 young people in the past year is testament to the success of the programme and how well embedded it is within the schools we work with today ,” says
Sophie McKenna , PoW ’ s campaign manager . “ We retain 99 % of our schools year on year , which shows how effective our programmes are and the importance teachers and school leaders place on our sessions .
“ However , it ’ s the positive feedback we get from young people that really demonstrates how impactful Power of Women is – and gives us the determination to extend our reach across the Tees Valley , with the support of the businesses who continue to work with us and those who might come on board in the future .”
PoW started out working only withprimary schools , where research shows that children begin to develop limiting beliefs about their future possibilities at the age of just four .
However , in the past year , it has also enjoyed supporting young people in secondary schools and sixth form colleges .
The organisation ’ s Aim Highevents led to more than 60 % of the young people who took part saying they felt more confident about meeting new people and introducing themselves .
One student said : “ I came away with new insight into what it means to be empowered , and I feel grateful to the organisation for championing successful women in my local area .”
80 | Tees Business