Fourteen young people have graduated from the inaugural Empower Her programme, a new initiative delivered by PACT’s Alana House women’s centre to support vulnerable girls at a critical stage in their education.
The celebration, held at the University of Reading, brought together the students and Alana House staff for a special graduation event recognising the girls’ achievements. The event opened with a creative workshop led by a University of Reading artist and educator, giving participants the opportunity to express their experiences through art before they were presented with their certificates.
The Empower Her programme has been developed as a gender-specific, school-based initiative designed to meet the social and emotional needs of vulnerable girls aged 12–13. Drawing on research that highlights the strong link between poor school attainment and increased vulnerability to crime, exploitation, victimisation and domestic abuse, the programme aims to intervene early and create positive change.
To ensure the content was meaningful and relevant, the programme was shaped with valuable insight from women supported by Alana House and those living at Elizabeth Fry Approved Premises. Their experiences helped inform sessions focused on building confidence, strengthening self-esteem and encouraging positive engagement with education – key factors in reducing vulnerability and improving long-term life chances.
The girls who took part were identified as being at risk of exclusion due to high levels of absenteeism and behavioural challenges, and many were not reaching their expected academic potential. Despite these barriers, their commitment to the programme has been exceptional.
Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of the girls reported increased confidence and self-belief, as well as the opportunity to form new friendships in a supportive environment. Their reflections will play an important role in shaping the next phase of the programme as PACT seeks to expand and secure funding for future delivery.
The graduation event marked not just the completion of the programme, but a significant milestone in each young person’s journey. Through Empower Her, PACT aims to help girls recognise their potential, build resilience and feel empowered to make positive choices about their futures.
Planning is already underway for the next phase of Empower Her, with the ambition to reach more young people and continue to make a lasting impact in the community.
