Issue 12
Issue 11 - Winter 2016 1
March 2017
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Welcome
to your Aspire Foundation Magazine What ’s inside ...
Welcome to the March issue of your Aspire Foundation News.
4 Top tips for self-love
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be wondering how it’s possible that we’re in March already! March is Women’s History Month and the month of International Women’s Day (8th March), this year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange. I love this theme, it’s reminiscent of Harriet Minter’s message to ‘Proceed Until Apprehended’ - don’t ask for permission to act on the great ideas you have, just give them a try! If you’re pledging to be bold for change, let us know on our social media channels, or drop me an email!
It’s great that March gives us lots of opportunity to focus on and support our fellow women, but it’s important to remember to focus on and support yourself too. Our Executive Director spent some time thinking about the things she loves about herself. If you’ve never done it, give it a try. It’s nice to focus on the good stuff!
I really hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter. I’d love to know what you think! You can email me here.
Emma Aspire Newsletter Editor
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6 Oh How I Love Me… 8 Partnership for Young London 10 International Women’s Day 12 Aspire M.A.D. Leadership for Girls event
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It’s great to show love for others, but we think it’s also good to show yourself a little love. Here are our top tips that, unlike that box of Valentine’s chocolates, will last all year…
♥ Don’t compare yourself to others. “Comparison is the death of joy” (Mark Twain) ♥ Say “no” when you need to ♥ “Love yourself first and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world” (Lucille Ball) ♥ Practise gratitude ♥ Keep a note of all the positive feedback and comments you receive to look back on when you doubt yourself ♥ Talk to yourself as though you’re you own best friend. You would never tell a friend she was rubbish at her job or needed to lose weight, so why say it to yourself? “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others” (Christopher Garner, mindfulness practitioner) ♥ Ask for help if you need it ♥ Try making time for yourself, even if it’s just 10 minutes of reflection on the day before you go to sleep ♥ Stop worrying about other people’s opinions. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind (Dr Seuss) ♥ Do something you love, like pursue a hobby you’ve always wanted to try ♥ Treat yourself. Buy yourself the box of chocolates and enjoy them! ♥ Surround yourself with people who treat you with kindness and respect
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Oh How I Love Me... Our Executive Director Jane recently shared on Facebook the things she loves about herself. Have you ever sat and thought about all the amazing things that make you, you? If not, why not give it a go?!
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Visit our website
Complete the mentor application
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Attend on-line orientation training
Chose your mentee based on our passion and their needs
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Have an informal chat first by phone and then get matched
Start your 6 month virtual mentoring programme
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Partnership for Young London
Partnership for Young London (PYL) is a regional youth policy unit that brings together professionals from the voluntary, community and statutory sectors to improve services for young people. This is done through a range of different services including policy briefings, campaigning initiatives, developing reports, creating resources and delivering training. PYL recently held a networking session with the aim of exploring how service providers could increase access to training and employment opportunities for young women. Presentations were made by three speakers; Mark Gale of the Young Women’s Trust, Yvonne Field CEO of Ubele and Samantha Rennie CEO of Rosa, the UK fund for women and girls.
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Attendees were asked to share what they felt were the key barriers to young women gaining access to training and employment. Key points raised included concern that young women and men were generally ill-prepared to enter the jobs market; schools needed to review the model for work experience to make it meaningful. Young people required more support with skills like writing C.Vs, applying for jobs and presenting themselves well in interviews. Teachers and careers advisors needed to work more closely with young women to develop confidence, build resilience and raise self-esteem by taking an asset-based approach rather than focusing on the ‘deficit’. They also reported that young women from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic groups (BAME) asserted they experienced discrimination on the grounds of their race as well as their gender and that not enough young women were opting for STEM based professions (Science Technology Engineering and Maths); continuing to steer towards the stereotypical Health and Social Care professions. This may, in part, be because more young women than men take responsibilities for child care and/or care of another family member such as a sibling or parent. Everyone present was invited to make a commitment to link up with at least two other people at the event, with the intention of working in partnership in the near future and Partnership for Young London pledged to maintain an online network of organisations engaged in this field of work. The evidence from colleagues at the coalface reminded us that, as well as continuing to challenge institutional inequality, making relatively straightforward improvements to our own current working practices could radically improve outcomes for girls and young women. This in turn would boost their personal confidence and productivity thereby, feeding the economy and benefitting us all. For further information about the organisations mentioned please visit:
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International Women’s Day 2017
8th March is the date that International Women’s Day is celebrated globally. This year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange. We’re all being asked to consider what would happen if the world truly stepped up to take bold action that would drive the greatest change for women. All of us - women, men and non-binary people - can join forces and become leaders in our spheres of influence and accelerate gender parity. We can help women advance and unleash their potential across the world. And we all know that when women succeed, their success is felt by their families and communities.
We’d love to hear whether you’re pledging any bold actions! Connect with us on social media and tell us all about how you’re being bold for change!
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“Ships are safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are made for” Grace Hopper - “Amazing Grace” US Navy Admiral and computer scientist who recently received a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Introducing our first ever Aspire M.A.D. (Making A Difference) Leadership for Girls event..!
March is Women’s History Month, so it’s fitting that, on the 25th March, we start looking to our future female leaders and role models with our first ever Aspire M.A.D. Leadership for Girls event! With over 17 years' experience of inspiring and empowering women leaders from global corporations, charities and small businesses, now is the time for Aspire to focus specifically on young women as they prepare to enter the workforce, community and wider world as young leaders. This one day conference will bring together 100 young women aged 11 to 17 years from all over the UK and beyond.
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Some of Our Speakers...
Sara Fernandez Schmidt, 14. Student, St Francis College.
Destiny Manning-Wong, 16. Deputy Head Girl, Stockport Academy High School and winner of two Princess Diana Awards.
Kamilah Francis, Founder of R.E.D. Butterfly. Mentor, activist and youth and community worker.
Sophia Zahra, 19. Young Carers Support Worker, YMCA and Digital Marketing Manager, Young Scientists Journal.
Caitlin Moore, 16. Girlguiding Delegate, British Youth Council.
Hania Sulaiman, 14. Youth Councillor, Trafford Youth Cabinet and pupil at Altrincham Girls Grammar School 14
The aim of the day is to give young women the time, space and support to: Learn from inspiring young M.A.D. leaders who have all achieved great things against the odds. Develop your leadership to have positive and sustainable impact at school and in your career. Hear career tips and advice on how to thrive as a young leader in the world. Increase your knowledge and awareness of the global issues for girls and how you can make a difference. Gain tools to increase your confidence, resilience and overcome any challenges in your life. Know how to focus on your strengths and your unique qualities as a young woman. Participate in a ‘M.A.D.’ project about a cause that is important to you. Meet other like minded young women and develop your network from an early age. The style of the day will be relaxed and informal with the opportunity to work in small groups, participate in interactive learning exercises and listen to inspiring speakers. We are also partnering with the charity Global Girl Project and developing links during the conference with young girl leaders in Brazil, India, Sierra Leone and Haiti. Spaces for this year’s event are all taken, however you will be able to follow the event on-line and we’ll feature highlights in a future issue of The Aspire Foundation magazine.
Let’s
Talk
We would love to hear from attendees of this event for future issues of The Aspire Foundation Magazine. If you’d like to be featured, get in touch!
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