New charity offers girls help with low self esteem due to pressures of social media - The Leamington Observer

New charity offers girls help with low self esteem due to pressures of social media

Leamington Editorial 3rd Dec, 2018   0

A CHARITY has been launched to support girls suffering low self esteem due to the pressures of social media.

Kerstin Friend and Charlotte Bevan began Leamington-based Flourish in a bid to support girls aged 11 to 18 and help boost confidence and self-worth.

It was after the pair kept hearing stories of girls struggling with anxiety due to pressures caused by social media. Some cases even resulted in self harm.

And the duo felt they were up to the job of offering help, with backgrounds in teaching, youth and charity work.




Director Kerstin said: “Flourish has been made available to provide community support in light of so many recent news articles about the mental health of girls and the pressures young women face.

“We could see self-esteem and wellbeing in girls was deteriorating as pressures that girls face are intensified, in particular through social media. We have seen an increasing number of girls struggling with issues of self-harm or anxiety.


“We could see a gap in provision for early intervention, and problems escalating until they are much harder to help.

“Unhappy with this status quo, we decided to set up a charity uniquely for girls to help them be supported and educated in tackling the everyday issues an pressures they face and understand their true value and worth.”

And the new service has been well-received locally, with five secondary schools signing up since it launched in recent months.

The charity – which is run by a team of 20 volunteers from local churches – also helps girls after support is requested by parents.

Kerstin added: “We have had a delighted reaction from local schools and parents often talk to us about their concerns and request our mentoring when they couldn’t find support elsewhere.

“The girls have really engaged with our programmes, they have told us how much the work has boosted their confidence and self-worth as well as being empowered with tools to cope with challenges. We use a lot of creativity, craft and innovative games and activities which make the support enjoyable and fun.”

Visit www.youcanflourish.co.uk for further details.

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