We’re so excited to share the results of our very first young women’s group at Esteem!

Over ten weeks, a small group of young women came together to try new activities, make friends, and build confidence in a safe and welcoming space. From tie-dye and pottery painting to baking, sewing, and a summer picnic, the sessions were filled with fun, creativity and plenty of laughs.

A key ingredient in the project’s success was its participatory approach — with the young women helping shape the sessions, choose activities, and even decide the name.

The group gave young people the chance to feel comfortable, supported, and connected. Every single participant told us they grew in confidence, made new friendships, and felt better able to take on life’s challenges. One young person summed it up beautifully:

“The group helped me feel safe, listened to and wanted in a space that wasn’t my home.”

We also want to share a big shout out and thanks to Lis at https://aproncreative.org/ for supporting our final celebration session in Shoreham Community Garden.

What’s next?

The success of this pilot means we’re not stopping here! We’ve already launched a second Girls Allowed group 🎊 and are now exploring starting a group for boys and gender-questioning young people too.

At Esteem, we believe every young person deserves a space where they feel they belong — and we can’t wait to see what comes next. 💜

👉 You can read the full Girls Allowed Project Report [download here].