Launching a Big Sister programme always fills the Girls Out Loud team with excitement. On the morning of the launch at Albion Academy, it’s safe to say everyone was filled with nerves. It’s a big deal for a teenage girl to agree to open up to someone, especially to a relative stranger. It wasn’t just the Little Sisters that were nervous though, our Big Sisters were eagerly anticipating meeting the teenage girl that they’d be mentoring over the next twelve months.
Being able to watch each pair bond with one another was a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to see the outcome of this year’s programme.
Being a teenage girl, especially for this generation, is extremely tough. The Big Sister programme really makes a difference to young girls, allowing them to engage with smart and successful women who have been there and got the t-shirt. And although our Big Sisters may all follow the same programme, each of their experiences is different. Their relationship is rich and non-judgemental, and this makes all the difference. The team at Albion really get this and we share a passion to empower girls and help them find their voice. It’s an amazing opportunity for the girls, who are paired up with an inspirational female role model that will guide, support and heighten their aspirations over the next year.
The Big Sisters working with Albion Academy come from diverse backgrounds themselves and work in a variety of industries, including organisations such as Co-Op, the University of Manchester, Slater and Gordon LLP, Enterprise Rent A Car and Pladis Global. We’re extremely grateful to be working with such a fantastic team, who all have different stories to tell and different advice to give. We’re also chuffed to have long-time supporter of Girls Out Loud, DJ and Key 103 presenter Hattie Pearson as one of our cohort of Big Sisters.
To make the day even more memorable, each Little Sister was given a goodie bag filled with gifts from the Big Sisters, as well as a ‘Make Herstory’ slogan t-shirt from Missguided. For those of you who don’t know, Missguided launched a fashion line in collaboration with Girls Out Loud last month in aid of International Women’s Day, and the support the campaign received was phenomenal.
Let’s continue to rock our way through 2018
