WHY CHANGE A GIRL'S LIFE?

In the UK today, over a million young people aged 16-24 are not in education, work or training.

The King’s Trust set up Change a Girl’s Life in 2019 to give young women who are facing adversity the help they need to get back on their feet and into work. Through the transformative support The Trust offers, they have helped over 3,000 young women over the past five years, with 79% going on to further education, training, or work.

We are raising funds for The King’s Trust to help Change a Girl's Life this International Women’s Day.

MEET THE YOUNG WOMEN

GEORGIA'S STORY

Inspired by her mother’s sewing, Georgia transforms offcuts and discarded garments into vibrant, sustainable clothing with a story. Through her brand, Coconut Palm, she celebrates creativity, resilience, and giving forgotten fabrics a second life.

I wanted to do something with my time and the things I’d made, so I called up the young woman I’d met at the market previously. I asked her loads of questions about business, and she pointed me in the direction of The King’s Trust. ‘They will answer all your questions,’ she said, and she was right. The Enterprise course was great and they have been so helpful ever since.

USHER'S STORY

Usher came across The King’s Trust, at a crossroads in her life. Recently withdrawn from education and unsure what her next step should be, she was searching online for opportunities and support for young people when she came across The Trust.

As the programme progressed, Usher’s confidence began to grow. With the support of The Trust, she secured her first retail job, gaining hands-on experience and becoming financially independent for the first time.

JODIE'S STORY

When Jodie joined the Team programme with The King’s Trust, she was navigating one of the most difficult periods of her life. Having recently lost her job, she found herself without a stable income, facing housing issues, and struggling with her mental health. For Jodie, The King’s Trust was more than just a programme - it was a turning point.

Throughout the 12-week personal development course, Jodie began to rediscover her confidence and sense of purpose. She particularly enjoyed the work experience placement with beauty brand Elemis, where she was able to contribute ideas and work on live projects. 

THE NEED

MONEY WORRIES

  • For the majority of young women, the cost of living is weighing heavily on their minds, with 60 per cent of young women fearing that the rising cost of living means they will never be financially secure (versus 45 per cent of young men).
  • The cost of living is making almost half of young women (47 per cent) feel anxious on a daily basis, compared to 39 per cent of young men.

CONFIDENCE IS KEY

  • More young women than young men feel a lack of confidence is holding them back from achieving their career goals (40 per cent of young women versus 32 per cent of young men).

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

  • More young women than young men said that their mental health has caused problems with their concentration at school or work, and even that they have missed school or work in the last twelve months as a result of their mental health.

  • A quarter of young women (25 per cent) said their mental health was holding them back from achieving their career goals (compared to 20 per cent of young men).

Testimonials

Getting an interview felt huge. After so many rejections and failed applications, I was determined to give it everything I had. These programmes didn’t just teach me skills - they helped me believe I belonged in this industry and equipped me with everything I needed to succeed.

Sharifa

The main idea behind it is to empower people into their own healing journey. I want to give people the tools to understand their own minds better and improve their own mental wellbeing.

Cybele

I was on social media and found The King’s Trust. The Enterprise programme popped up, but I wasn’t sure whether my idea was good enough, but The Trust helped me to realise that it was.

Shauna