Women from across Devon are being invited to volunteer as mentors to help year nine schoolgirls build confidence, raise aspirations and explore future career opportunities.
The Empowering Girls programme, supported by the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Careers Hub, connects secondary schoolgirl students with female role models from a wide range of business sectors. The aim is to create meaningful one to one mentoring relationships that can have a lasting impact on both mentor and mentee.
The programme’s latest impact report has revealed that over the past three years, the number of schools taking part has risen by 82%, reflecting growing demand across the region. The number of girls receiving mentoring has grown by 90%, while the mentor network has increased by an impressive 144%.
For the students taking part, the results speak for themselves. The majority of the mentees said:
• They enjoyed the programme and were glad they took part;
• Found mentoring helpful or very helpful;
• Felt confident that their skills could help them achieve their future goals;
• Finished the programme with a clear or reasonable idea of their future career direction.
Many students reported feeling more confident, more willing to speak up and better able to recognise their own strengths. Others said the programme helped them explore careers they had never previously considered, from accountancy and law to marketing, veterinary science and astrophysics.
The impact of the programme isn’t limited to the students. Mentors consistently describe the experience as rewarding, with many reporting increased confidence, improved communication skills and a real sense of purpose. One mentor described it as “the best hour of my week”, while another said seeing their mentee grow in confidence had given them a renewed sense of purpose.
Councillor Simon Clist, Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources, said:
“The name of this programme says it all – empowering girls. This scheme is a great way to inspire young women to think about their future careers.
“With the help of mentors, more girls across Devon can develop the confidence, skills and self-belief to achieve their ambitions. Mentors can help a young person discover their strengths, challenge stereotypes and realise that their future is full of possibilities. You don’t need previous mentoring experience. What matters most is a willingness to listen, encourage and share your journey.
“Whether you work in business, healthcare, education, engineering, finance, marketing, construction, the public sector or any other field, your experiences could help shape the ambitions of a young woman in Devon.”
Mentors are asked to volunteer one hour a week for six weeks at their allocated school during school hours.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Find out more about the Empowering Girls programme and how to get involved at https://www.dptcareershub.co.uk/projects/empowering-girls/
Complete the registration form for mentors here or email: Empoweringgirls@devon.gov.uk
