ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION EMPOWERMENT
OUR 23/24 IMPACT REPORT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED OVER THE PAST ACADEMIC YEAR.
It includes a summary of our achievements, key highlights, and quotes from those we've supported. The review showcases the ongoing impact we have on the lives of girls and women from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds.
As a small community organisation, we depend on the generous support of our amazing business sponsors, volunteers, donors, partners, schools and individuals who contribute their time, networks, financial resources, and practical help to our programmes. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our work this year and share our vision of a future where every girl and young woman can reach her full potential, no matter her background.
OUR VISION:
To create a fairer society delivering equality of opportunity for all.
OUR MISSION:
Leading from the Tees Valley we deliver gender equality through the POWer of engagement, education, and empowerment.
WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT
WHAT
WE DO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH 24 PRIMARY SCHOOLS
POW is committed to advancing gender equality through engagement, education, and empowerment. We inspire and uplift through a range of programmes, believing that no girl or woman’s future should be limited by her background, gender, or postcode. Our efforts are focused on Tees Valley and County Durham, regions that face severe deprivation. The standard of living and prospects for many individuals and families in County Durham and Tees Valley are significantly impacted by economic and social inequalities, resulting in increased poverty, poorer health outcomes, reduced life expectancy, and greater marginalisation. According to the
OUR PROGRAMMES
Primary School Programme (Ages 9-11):
This programme provides children with the chance to meet inspiring employers, explore different career paths, and understand the skills needed for their future.
recent report “Woman of the North: Inequality, Health and Work,” women in the North of England experience lower healthy life expectancy, have fewer qualifications, suffer from poorer mental health, and are at a higher risk of domestic violence and involvement in the criminal justice system compared to their counterparts elsewhere in England.
We have established successful partnerships with 24 primary schools across Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington, County Durham, and Sunderland supporting over 1,500 young people each year. We’ve also worked in secondary schools and sixth forms across the area.
Launching in the Autumn term, we focus on inequality, diversity, and life choices. Children explore their strengths, receive support in writing simple CVs or applications, and participate in a selection process to become POW Ambassadors. From the selected interviewees, 4 Ambassadors (typically 2 boys and 2 girls) are appointed.
Throughout the Spring and Summer terms, Ambassadors attend Inspiration and Development Days, featuring local business role models who promote skills in networking, confidence, leadership, and more. Students document their journeys and share their experiences with peers.
This year included visits to PD Ports, AV Dawson, Hartlepool College, Tees Valley Business Summit, Teesside Airport, Ampleforth College, Intelect, and Cambridge University.
OUR PROGRAMMES
Skills Workshops (Secondary and FE Education):
These workshops, aimed at girls, build practical skills to support their futures. Partnering with businesses and community leaders, we offer networking training and confidence-building sessions, tailored to the needs of students and schools.
Safer Streets Project:
This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat crime, anti-social behaviour, and violence against women and girls in targeted areas around Stockton town centre and involves education, training and support for intergenerational groups.
POW has been focused on supporting this project by empowering women and girls to reach their full potential. This involves young people from this area becoming POW ambassadors and unique adult mentoring sessions supporting women in the community to build their confidence, develop networking and communication skills, and advocate for safety and equality amongst their peers.
Widening Horizons Programme:
In collaboration with Assist Women’s Network and MFC Foundation, we introduce female professionals from the Tees Valley into secondary schools, challenging stereotypes and expanding career horizons for young people.
WHY WE DO IT
Inspired by Plan International UK's 2016 report identifying Middlesbrough as the 'Worst Place to Grow Up a Girl,' we recognise that several years later, many girls and women are still facing significant barriers.
To break the cycle of disadvantage and inequality, we must engage, educate and empower by:
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD
TEACHING THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY AND BUILDING CONNECTIONS
Our approach aims to deliver the following outcomes:
BRIDGING THE GAP
SHAPING FUTURE ASPIRATIONS
Research shows that many girls feel their education isn’t adequately preparing them for the future, leaving them unprepared and disadvantaged compared to boys. Just 54% of girls agree that their education has, or is, preparing them well for their future. (Plan International UK, State of Girl’s Rights, 2024)
Our programmes address this gap by helping girls explore career paths and understand different professional environments, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Experience in the world of work helps children understand how what they learn in school connects to various careers, expanding their horizons and inspiring them to aim high.
The goal is to encourage children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to understand the opportunities available and gain a better understanding of the diverse job opportunities available.
Starting as early as age 4, children begin to form limiting beliefs about their future possibilities. By ages 5 and 6, they start to restrict their options based on gender, and by age 10, many have already made decisions that could limit their future career choices.
Research indicates that gender stereotypes have significant effects on children’s career aspirations and academic performance. By the age of six, girls tend to avoid subjects they perceive as requiring exceptional intelligence, leading to lower participation in STEM fields later in life.
Additionally, girls’ anxiety about mathematics stems from beliefs influenced by gender stereotypes. At a young age, boys are four times more likely than girls to express interest in becoming engineers, illustrating the impact of these stereotypes on career choices. (Fawcett Society, Unlimited Potential,2020)
YOU CAN’T BE WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE
SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
We believe that “you can’t be what you can’t see,” which is why we help girls build their aspirations and self-confidence through engagement with inspirational role models. Through our network of local and national women, who participate in our events and share their experiences, we demonstrate what is possible and provide valuable career advice, knowledge and encouragement - empowering young women to realise their unlimited potential. Research shows that role models matter, especially for women and girls.
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
Our programmes foster confidence by developing communication and networking skills. Ambassadors gain valuable experience meeting and connecting with a range of positive role models and professional adults who dedicate their time to support and engage with them at our events in a variety of inspirational or educational settings.
RESEARCH INDICATES THAT GENDER STEREOTYPES HAVE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON CHILDREN’S CAREER ASPIRATIONS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
WHY WE WORK WITH BOYS AND YOUNG MEN
We include boys and young men in our programmes because they have the power to change the way society views gender and masculinity. By becoming allies and collaborating with girls and women, they can help challenge the beliefs, practices, and systems that create inequality. We believe that male allyship and working together are key to driving the change needed for a more equal society.
MALE ALLYSHIP AND WORKING TOGETHER ARE KEY TO DRIVING THE CHANGE NEEDED FOR A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY.
WHY WE HOST POWWOW NETWORKING EVENTS
Research shows that adolescents with positive role models have higher self-esteem, better academic performance, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviours.
150 role models engaged at our inspiring events
10
networking events - bringing together 450 like-minded women
Yet, many young people lack such figures in their lives. Our PoWwow networking events bring together inspiring women from the Tees Valley region and beyond, each with unique backgrounds, skills, and experiences, all sharing a spirit of determination.
These events support our work with schools by providing young people with relatable role models who can show them what’s possible. Furthermore, role models are important at every stage of life; 86% of women report being more encouraged to pursue leadership when they see other women in those roles, reinforcing the idea that “If I can see it, I can be it.”
By hosting these events, we create a space for women to connect, support one another, and inspire future generations, helping them to envision and achieve success.
SCHOOLS
4
Hartlepool FE College AV Dawson Yarm School Teesside Uni 6 PD Ports Intelect Stargazing Teesside Airport in collaboration with Teesside University Aviation Ampleforth College Cambridge Uni
DEVELOPMENT DAYS INSPIRATION DAYS
30 BUSINESS ROLE MODELS VISITED OUR 24 SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POW AMBASSADOR INTERVIEW PANELS
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Osborne and What Art Exhibition
Our North Shore Academy students showed what it means to be a teenager today as part of the nationwide Coming of Age digital project.
Through digital art workshops, students reflected on their experiences, exploring how they find happiness and safety in their daily lives, and representing their journey to adulthood. The powerful pieces they create may even be showcased in a national exhibition alongside work from young women and non-binary people across the country.
This initiative is part of POW’s ongoing efforts to raise aspirations and promote equality with Cleveland's Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner through the Safer Streets programme.
NAWIC
Working alongside NAWIC and Middlesbrough College, we have been supporting the ‘Future Female Leaders Programme’ to support construction and engineering students with their studies.
SUPPORTING OVER 40 YOUNG GIRLS,
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP INTO 2024-2025.
British Science Week
During British Science Week 2023, 3M welcomed our Aycliffe Village Primary school students and delivered a new workshop, The Crime Lab. This workshop introduced the primary school pupils to forensic science, giving them the chance to understand the principles of observation and creative thinking and experiment with fingerprint analysis and DNA.
International Women’s Day
Our POW ambassadors from St. Bede’s and Eldon Grove had an incredible opportunity to participate in business panels at Wynyard Hall. St. Bede’s ambassadors joined the International Women’s Day celebrations, where they shared their experiences with the POW programme and their views on equality. Meanwhile, Eldon Grove students took part in a panel for Tees Business, contributing their insights and perspectives. We are so proud of how confidently and articulately our ambassadors represented themselves and the POW programme.
National Careers Week
As part of National Careers Week 2023, our POW role models visited schools to share insights from their career journeys. Among them was Katie Eltringham from BTS Fabrications, who won the Champion Skills Apprenticeship for County Durham and even visited Downing Street, where she met Gillian Keegan. Katie visited Cleves Cross School and captivated the students with her inspiring stories and experiences.
SAFER STREETS AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES
In October 2023, POW embarked on a new partnership with Stockton Borough Council (SBC), following a successful collaborative bid and subsequent Home Office funding allocated through Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Round Five of the Safer Streets Fund (established to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour.
In addition to Safer Streets funding being used to prevent neighbourhood crime, resources were allocated to this innovative POW/SBC initiative, specifically dedicated to advancing equality, aspiration, and safety in the Portrack area of Stockton, through bespoke POW empowering educational programmes.
This initiative has enabled POW to extend our offer and work with different groups in line with our campaign aims and purpose, as well as increase participation in our core educational activity in schools across the region.
With a focus on intergenerational engagement within two school communities, the project engages and connects diverse age groups through four targeted elements which aim to challenge existing perspectives and norms, influence personal growth and safety and enable change, both for the existing and future generations:
Tilery School Primary Ambassador Programme - Providing whole year group and Ambassadorial educational activities and experiences throughout the school year
Tilery Primary School Mums’ Peer Mentoring and Support Group - Establishing a multicultural Mums’ support group, empowering, coaching and training female mentors
North Shore Academy Yr 7 Ambassador Programme - Extending POW’s School Programme to include unique teaching and aspirational opportunities for students
North Shore Academy Yr 9 - Delivery of confidence-building and career awareness sessions and coaching, including engagement and networking with local role models, both in and outside school.
The intergenerational approach enriches and promotes growth and community bonds, as participants of all ages gain skills, role models and confidence, while volunteer adult mentors develop communication, empathy, leadership and support skills. Together, these activities are laying foundations for a more supportive community network, raise aspirations, and cultivate a healthier, safer, more equitable and connected Portrack for generations to come.
WHAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS SAY:
Ofsted quote - Thorntree OFSTED Report April 24
“Pupils have a keen sense of equality and tolerance. They understand that discrimination of any sort is unacceptable. The ‘Power of Women’ ambassadors spoke with enthusiasm about the role they play in school. They visit local businesses and enjoy opportunities such as stargazing. This helps to further widen pupils’ horizons.”
Feedback from the English Martyrs ‘Aim High’ event-
“IT TAUGHT ME TO KEEP MY OPTIONS OPEN AND ALWAYS WORK HARD TO GET WHERE YOU NEED TO BE IN LIFE.”
“It has taught me to always have faith and confidence in the things I do in life. Always be proud of myself and my achievements.”
Feedback from role modes:
“It was wonderful to be a part of such an inspiring afternoon and see the enthusiasm in the young people ready to take on the world! Thank you for having me be a part of it - three cheers for POW” -
- Sarah Pike
“Thank you Power Of Women - what a great afternoon spent with such wonderful women. All the women were such an inspiration, great role models. Thank you for having me on the panel, it was great to share my experiences from IdealPa with everyone”
- Sunny Chatha
“WHAT A GREAT AFTERNOON AND FANTASTIC WAY TO INSPIRE THE STUDENTS (AND US!)”
- Hollie Ball
“Really grateful to have been a part of this afternoon, you could really see the difference with the students from the first networking task to the speed networking and the growth in their confidence!”
- Martha Rea
“What an unbelievable afternoon! I feel so inspired just by being with those ladies! What a great bunch we have”
- Nicole Collins
“IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO NETWORK WITH SUCH FABULOUS STUDENTS AND REGIONAL INSPIRING FEMALES”
- Lucie Burton
Feedback from QE ‘Aim High’ event:
Following the event, over 60% of the students reported feeling more confident in meeting new people and introducing themselves.
‘I came away with new insight on what it means to be empowered, and I feel grateful to the organisation for championing successful women in my local area, I feel as though I’ve gained some really useful skills for the future.’
- STUDENT
“A big thank you to POW and all the incredible women that came in today. Never felt more empowered and appreciated by such an amazing group of women!!”
- STUDENT
Quote from our POW ambassadors:
We asked: Tell us some of the things you have enjoyed most about POW:
ALL OF THE COOL THINGS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT EQUALITY AND JOBS!
I ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT JOBS YOU CAN DO, AND ALSO HOW WOMEN AND MEN ARE PAID DIFFERENTLY
THE CONFIDENCE OF OTHER AMBASSADORS
EXPRESSING MY FEELINGS ABOUT EQUALITY
NETWORKING WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE
THE FACT THAT ALL IDEAS ARE HEARD ALL OF THE LEADERSHIP WORK WE HAVE DONE
TEAMWORK
ALL OF IT
SHARING YOUR ANSWERS AND THERE IS NO WRONG ANSWER
MEETING NEW PEOPLE
LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW WOMEN AND MEN ARE THE SAME AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY
KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO WOMEN
THAT IT’S BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE
What teachers say:
“The networking sessions have been impactful. Especially repeating the experience each development day as this has helped the children to build on their confidence to speak with others. At the beginning the children were very nervous about speaking with someone new and on the last day they stood on the stage in front of everyone and gave a presentation. Networking has also given them a real sense of future aspirations.”
“WE LOVED THE WHOLE PROCESS - OUR AMBASSADORS HAVE JUST BLOOMED!”
“OUR AMBASSADORS FEEL VALUED AND BEING GIVEN A ‘VOICE’ HAS BEEN SO IMPACTFUL.”
THANK YOU
Thank you to our sponsors and partners — your support makes all of this possible. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for girls and women.
We give thanks to our funders who have supported POW during 23/24 including .....
ST JAMES' PLACE
NORTON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
REDCAR HYDROGEN FUND
STOCKTON BOROUGH COUNCIL AND THE OFFICE OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CLEVELAND