Youth organising for young females

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

How we support young females in youth organising

    • Self‑nominate to take part in the project

    • Identify community issues they want to address

    • Decide how best to highlight their call for social action

    • Make decisions about the project budget and priorities

    • Design all activity through the lens of young females

    • Choose roles and responsibilities within the project

    • Decide who needs to hear their message and who to invite

    • Create targeted marketing materials for both young females and invited audiences

    • Work as part of a team towards shared goals

    • Plan and deliver an event for the wider community

    • Build strong connections within the Youth Panel, Project Female team and invited stakeholders

    • Unite around a shared cause and collective voice

    • Experience the power of coming together to challenge issues and call for change

    • Feel empowered through connection, solidarity and community action

    • Lead the planning and delivery of an event from start to finish

    • Develop clear communication within a youth‑led team

    • Build professional communication skills with external stakeholders

    • Strengthen problem‑solving skills, both practical and strategic

    • Develop effective teamwork and collaboration skills

    • Increase confidence in public speaking and presenting ideas

    • Build skills in inclusive and accessible event planning

    • Gain experience in budget management and decision‑making

    • Network with key decision‑makers and professionals from partner organisations

What Sets Us Apart

Youth‑Led Action

Project Female Social Action Events are designed and developed by panels of young females through an open, self‑selecting process. We remove barriers to participation by providing travel bursaries, healthy food and access adaptations, ensuring all young females can take part and shape work that reflects their needs.

Collective Voice

Social action themes are identified by young females, empowering communities to name the change they want to see. Youth Panel members take pride in bringing young females and decision‑makers together, creating respectful spaces where voices are heard and valued.

Skills in Action

Young females develop practical skills including planning, communication, teamwork and self‑belief, alongside safe and inclusive practice. Participants gain real‑world experience by planning and delivering a live event, supported by partnerships that open pathways into volunteering, social action and work experience.

Our impact

  • 100% said that taking part in a Project Inspire event increased their sense of agency to make change in their community

  • 96% said Project Protect helped them explore their thoughts and feelings.

  • 96% said Youth Organising Projects are important for young females

  • 93% of young females felt their voice was heard at the Project Protect event

  • 89% said Project Inspire allows a space for people to come together and do the things that they love

  • 68% said one of the most important things is that the space is exclusively for young females.

Young females leading change

  • 94% said the Project Inspire workshops benefit their community

  • 84% said the event brought them together to meet new people and make new connections

  • 79% of young females at the Project Protect event said they felt part of something important

  • 72% said they felt the event brought together a community of like-minded people

  • 62% said Project Inspire events are important as they help young females to feel less lonely

Connection through collective action

  • 100% said attending the Project Inspire workshop improved their confidence

    83% said the Project Inspire event challenged them to do something outside of their comfort zone

  • 82% of young females said they felt they know more about how to make change happen after attending the Project Proect event

  • 78% said Project Inspire events helped them try new things

  • 78% said it boost confidence

Skills for Effective Youth Leadership