Teenagers at a Stockton school have found out about the power of kindness, thanks to a PCC-backed project
Year nine pupils from North Shore Academy took part in a charity lunch for business women across the Tees Valley.
Taking part in the event formed part of a Power of Women coaching project aimed at raising aspiration and promoting equality.
Keynote speaker was author and social campaigner Nahla Summers. Her ethos is that businesses should foster a culture of kindness and create zero harm to the communities, in which they work.
In the spirit of her beliefs, Nahla gave each of the teenagers a copy of her book The Accidental Adventurer; Just How Far Can Kindness Take You?
Now the girls, who attended the lunch at Hardwick Hall Hotel, want to show they’ve taken on board what Nahla had to say.
They are organising a heart shaped walk around Stockton with Power of Women’s Claire Preston to share the message of kindness.
Pupil ambassadors from Tilery Primary School and North Shore Academy and Nahla have been invited to take part.
A significant event
Claire Preston, of Power of Women, said: “The day was amazing! The girls were blown away by the venue, the people they met and the overall experience.
“This was a really significant event for the girls – one which I think will stay with them for a long time to come.
They were welcomed by 200 professional women and many further opportunities for career insight and work experience will result.
“One girl said, as we walked into the hotel, “People from Roseworh don’t come to places like this”.
“Obviously, this experience has proved to her not only that they do, but they also belong. The aspiration and interest this has provoked is incredible and potentially life changing. “
The lunch gave the girls plenty of business contacts to follow up. It has already led to a visit to LevelQ office space, in Stockton. The group met with a wide range of businesses and find out what they do during the visit.
Power of Women
Both the North Shore Academy coaching project and the two schools’ ambassadors’ programmes are run by community interest company Power of Women.
POW aims to raise aspiration, promote equality and challenge gender stereotypes.
The three pupil groups are also supported by the PCC-led Safer Streets 5 programme.
Funded by the Home Office, Safer Streets 5 in Stockton aims to address violence against women and girl, curb antisocial behaviour and reduce neighbourhood crime.
Work in Stockton is part an overall Safer Streets programme of almost £1m across Cleveland. SS5 runs for 18 months until March 2025.