GFS Pittington turns 20

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This week marks 20 years of GFS Pittington, and 20 years with their outstanding group leader, Jaci Dooley. Jaci has been built a positive environment, in which she also maintains great relationships with the girls and their parents alike.

Jaci always does her best to stay connected to the girls of Pittington, even running remote sessions over Zoom throughout lockdown. During that time she told us how much she missed the girls, also saying, ‘being part of GFS, for me, also means being part of the fun and supportive’.

Jaci and her team of volunteers have built a supporting environment, encouraging all of their girls to be themselves and proud of who they are. We’re so grateful to have her leading the way in Pittington, and we know the girls are too.

Last year, Isla of GFS Pittington, told us that taking part in GFS activities has really helped her confidence. So much so that she was able to submit her artwork for our 2021 International Day of the Girl campaign, Girls Say. We loved her expression of girlhood so much, we even picked her artwork for the cover.

“The thing about GFS is you don’t have to be just one way. When I went to some other clubs, I felt like they wanted us to be a certain way and do “girl stuff”, like sewing. But at GFS, you can be a tomboy and do activities that girls wouldn’t usually do. At GFS, everyone can choose to be who they are.”

 

-Isla, Girls’ Stories

As you may know from Isla’s story in our 2022 Girls’ Story campaign, GFS Pittington has made a huge difference in her life, but she isn’t the only one. The other girls parents tell the volunteer team how much their daughters love coming along every week, as well.

Many girls love GFS Pittington so much that they stay as they grow up. In fact, Group Coordinator, Erin Convery, has been a part of GFS since she was a GFS girl herself! Today, Erin works to support group leaders, like Jaci in Pittington, who have known her since she was a young girl herself.

“It is truly magical to be working with them to recreate some of the most exciting parts of my childhood, with our current GFS members.”

 

-Erin, Group Coordinator for Chester-le-Street, Pittington, and Eldon

We can’t wait to see how today’s GFS Pittington girls impact the girls of tomorrow too.

Happy 20th birthday GFS Pittington!

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