No Label No Limit for young women in Devon schools
A Heart of the South West (HotSW) Careers Hub* programme has been launched across 14 schools in Devon to help raise the confidence and aspirations of 500 young women.
The No Label No Limit programme is a personal development programme, inspiring and empowering young women in year nine and 10 to reach their potential.
Funded by The Careers & Enterprise Company, No Label No Limit will explore whether tailored personal development and careers support significantly improves self-belief, social and emotional capabilities, attendance, application to learning, behaviour and aspirations.
No Label No Limit is being delivered by Emily McGuirk from Small Steps Big Vision, coordinated by Anne Blackburn from the HotSW Careers Hub and supported by 75 professional female business leaders who have signed up to be No Label No Limit champions.
Workshops will cover a range of topics including self-worth and confidence, wellbeing, raising aspiration, managing emotions, resilience and kindness, as well as goal setting and personal branding. In addition, there will be question time events, lunchtime clubs and youth voice sessions.
Every young person taking part will record their developing skills, values, goals, plans, and positive affirmations in a reflection journal, along with ideas for further self-taught actions.
The following schools will be taking part in this project**:
• Torquay Academy
• Heles School
• Plympton Academy
• Coombe Dean
• Marine Academy
• Sidmouth College
• Ilfracombe Academy
• Park Community School
• Paignton Academy
• Great Torrington School
• Braunton Academy
• Stoke Damerel Community College
• Scott Medical College
• Teign School
Jo Skeel, Heart of the South West Careers Hub Manager, said: "We are thrilled to have been given the funding and investment to deliver this for the young women of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.
"The programme aims to help overcome social, emotional and mental health barriers, all of which impact on education and career choices. We hope that the young women involved complete the programme feeling better equipped to tackle barriers and achieve future success. Gaining the confidence to ask questions alongside having the skills, tools and support mechanisms in place to be successful and pursue their career ambitions is the ultimate goal.
"A heartfelt thank you to all of the schools and employers working with us to provide such a fantastic opportunity for these young women.”
Small Steps Big Vision empowers young people to build confidence and believe in their own potential, giving them the right tools
Emily McGuirk, Founder of Small Steps Big Vision, said: “We are here to champion all young people to know they can create change. I believe, when given the right strategies all young people can live a happy and fulfilled life. It all starts with a foundation of liking and accepting who we are at our very core.
“Everyone I work with will know that their voice matters and will develop the confidence to not only say yes to opportunities, but to have the resilience to make a success of them. Everything I teach, is what I wish I had known sooner; ways to boost confidence build resilience and return to joy when things get tough.”
John Yarham, Deputy CEO of the Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Helping every young person to find their best next step from education into the world of work couldn’t be more important.
"Inspiring and empowering young women to reach their full potential is vital to breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes and delivering inclusive careers support. This innovative new project from the Heart of the South West Careers Hub, supported by women business leaders, will provide positive role models, personal support and help to build confidence and fire aspiration.
“We look forward to seeing the impact of this project on the young women engaged in the programme and see how the learnings that emerge can be applied elsewhere across our national network of Careers Hubs.”
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “It's encouraging to see this project supporting the aspirations of school aged young women in Devon. Local education leaders have reported that girls often set limitations on their career goals and, in rural areas, access and exposure to inspiring female role models is limited. This programme will show them more of what the world has to offer, and the variety of industries available in Devon.”
Find out more about the Careers Hub, Small Steps Big Vision and the CEC The Careers & Enterprise Company.
