A Plymouth-based social enterprise is helping young girls and their carers to deal with the challenges of puberty changes.
Big Sis CIC is a community interest company set up by creative educator Friedel Fink. Formed at the end of 2019, Big Sis aims to provide emotional and educational support to empower girls with a deep understanding of their body, mind and emotions. In turn this supports their participation as confident, resilient young people in their families and communities.
After raising nearly £19,000 through Crowdfunding – which was match funded by Plymouth City Council, Natwest, Nudge Community Builders and iMayflower – a ‘Girl Mentoring Programme’ was launched in the first months of the pandemic.
Meanwhile a girl empowerment curriculum was finally launched in three Plymouth primary schools in September this year supporting 50 girls aged 10 and 11.
The ‘Big Sisters’ – eight women who are students of psychology and mental health or mothers of pre-teens are volunteering their time to deliver the 12 week curriculum featuring themes such as emotions and feelings, puberty changes, menstrual cycle experiences and body image.
A key aspect of the curriculum is a question and answer time for girl’s questions about puberty. With the impacts of the COVID crisis being felt all over the UK, founder Friedel Fink knew that the Big Sis Mentoring Programme would be vital in helping young girls through their increased stress and anxiety.
Friedel said:
“The central questions for Big Sis as an organisation are how can we create positive narratives for our girls and how can we empower them to grow into confident and resilient people?
“Equally we found it important to support carers in finding their voices and confidence in supporting girls. In our community, carers most frequently report having received negative, fragmented, or no education at all about puberty-related topics.”
Taila, a coach and aunt said:
“I can’t wait for more girls to have a different education, so they don’t have to grow up with the shame that I did!
“I would like my child to be supported by more people than just me, trying my best to make it a positive experience against my own upbringing, family attitudes and general society‚“, said a survey participant.
Through their work, Big Sis have understood, that parents find it hard to approach these conversations with their daughters. So in 2020, Big Sis established a monthly interactive webinar addressing the basics of puberty preparation for carers ‘Preparing Girls For Puberty.
Cara, a mum of two said:
“You have filled me with confidence to suss out the next part of life with my daughter.”
Since 2020 Big Sis have reached 40 parents and carers who support 50 girls ages from seven to 13. Parents are being empowered to better support the young girls in their care.
Big Sis involves mental health and well-being experts, holistic practitioners and teachers to develop and deliver their materials and programmes.
A close collaboration with Plymouth University and Marjon University is important for them. Big Sis have worked with four student interns in the development of the ‘Girl Mentoring Programme’ giving them the opportunity to develop themselves professionally.
Find out more, become a volunteer or help us raise funds visit www.big-sis.co.uk
