Last year our Annual Report told us GFS girls were more unhappy with school than the national average. For our 22/23 Annual report, we found that, that’s still true. But we also found that GFS girls are more likely to be happy with their lives overall than girls on the national average.
When girls are free to be themselves without worrying about competing with other, fitting in or being judged, they are happier.
GFS girls are less likely to be unhappy with their mental health compared to other girls their age and more likely to be happy with their lives overall. In fact, three out of four GFS girls told us they’re happy with their lives overall compared to two out of three girls nationally.
Parents and carers of GFS girls reported seeing positive changes in their children’s lives too. 87% of parents and carers say their child is able to be herself at group because GFS treats girls as individuals, while 72% of parents and carers say their child is happier because of coming to GFS, and 52% say GFS has helped their child deal with personal challenges.
“She was previously in a behavioural plan… Since attending GFS she has been able to control how she behaves and is able to talk about why she’s upset, and easily resolve problems before they escalate.”
-GFS parent
And it isn’t just adults noticing a difference – the girls themselves are reporting improvements too. In 2022, 50% of girls said they had got better at trying again when they had a setback since joining GFS. In 2023, this rose to 72% of girls, following core programme sessions on resilience.
This tells us the power and importance of the GFS model and core programme. Our early intervention approach focuses on working with girls from a young age.
Girls tell us that they are under pressure from the world around them and facing challenges. It could be feeling unsafe, social media, peer pressure, bullying and loneliness. Many are starting to talk about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and we know that so many struggle with exam pressure, period poverty and lack of support… and more.
As girls enter their teenage years, their confidence and self-esteem can start to drop in a way that isn’t commonly seen for boys, leaving them more vulnerable to harm and less likely to engage in the things they enjoy or that benefit them.
Around 80% of our active girls are between five and 11 years of age, because we know that it’s vital to equip girls with the tools they need to tackle life’s challenges sooner rather than later. This helps address girls’ confidence gap before they reach a crisis point.
“GFS makes me feel like a rainbow. It makes me a positive person on the outside.”
-GFS girl
GFS provides a unique service where girls are able to participate in a welcoming group environment without the pressure of competition or performance, which other after-school services are often structured around. Through our groups and the women delivery teams, we foster inclusive settings where girls are supported and accepted for who they are – as individuals.
Read our Annual Report in full here. We look forward to sharing how GFS girls continue to grow over the next year.
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