Building Confidence Through Youth Social Action

Current situation

Young females from low-income backgrounds face intersecting structural barriers to employment. Across the UK, 987,000 young people are not in education, employment of training.

In Brighton and Hove youth unemployment is 16%, much higher than the city average. Many lack key skills, with over half reporting poor communication and low confidence.

There is also a 'skills gap' with unequal access to education to prepare them for work. For Young Females this hits harder. They are three times less likely to join extracurricular activities, limiting their opportunities to build life skills.

In our survey we found 69% of young females want to create change, but most feel unable to act. Lacking confidence and not knowing where to start. This shows a clear need to build skills, confidence, and pathways into leadership and social action.

OUr approach

We have developed Project Inspire. A fully funded 16-week programme for 60 young females aged 11-19, delivered in a youth-led community setting.

Participants meet weekly to choose and lead projects on social issues they care about. The strongest ideas receiving £2,000 to deliver events in the community.

Young females learn to work within a trauma-informed organisation. They develop skills to deliver workshops and community events about topics they care about.

Our specialist team support them in an inclusive environment to meet different needs. The programme builds confidence, leadership, and practical skills such as public speaking, budgeting, and teamwork.

By leading projects, participants see the impact of their work, feel empowered, and develop a strong sense of agency. Previous results show increased confidence, empowerment, and ability to create change.

Driving Meaningful Change

As part of Project Inspire young females get to:

    • Choose the themes of the projects

    • Contribute to the research by sharing thoughts and feelings

    • Express authentic voice by identifying what needs to change

    • Linking the output to social action in the real world

    • Identifying what do they want to be different

  • Being a member of a dance company

    Develop meaningful relationships with other young females

    Build trust with safe adults

    Be a part of a supportive community

    Create change within the community

    Build a sense of responsibility for other young females in the community

    Give and receive mutual respect from each other and for ourselves.

    • Develop skills for using creative methods for expressing social issues and what needs to change

    • Grow in confidence

    • Improved communication

    • Develop team working skills

    • Learn to problem solving both creatively and socially

    • Build resilience by completing the projec

    • Learn about choreographic skills and how to build movement from emotions

What Sets Us Apart

Unlocking Potential

Youth voice is central to everything we do, from our co‑creative programmes to our Youth Advisory Board. We are committed to empowering young females to express themselves with confidence and to amplify their voices, from the studio to the stage.

Creating Connection

Our community of over 300 young females is built through small, group‑based projects that support trust and connection. Participants form meaningful relationships with peers and safe adults, and can stay involved for as long as it feels right for them.

Driving Change

Young females build confidence and practical skills by using creative approaches to explore and call for social change. Through this, they develop communication, teamwork, problem‑solving skills, and stronger mental wellbeing.

Our impact

  • 100% said they had an improved sense of agency to make changes within their communities

  • 92% report greater mental health and wellbeing

  • 88% report greater confidence and agency in settings outside of Project Female

  • 72% said being part of Project Female made them feel like a strong, valuable young female.

Increased autonomy

  • 94% feel able to express their thoughts as part of the creative process

  • 84% said they valued how supportive everyone at Project Female is.

  • 73% have grown in confidence during their time at Project Female

  • 72% said it gave them something to look forward to each week

Improved sense of belonging

  • 94% said their social action project had benefit for their community.

  • 68% said it was really important to be in a space exclusively for young females.

Increase competancy to affect change