Community Group of the Year nomination – Every Girl Does Count

Community Group of the Year nomination – Every Girl Does Count

The Every Girl Does Count programme was set up by Port Vale Foundation to support girls struggling with serious mental illness.

The programme has worked with more than 30 girls so far this year, supporting their wellbeing at what can be a very challenging time of their lives.

Will Turner, Director of Community and CSR at Port Vale Football Club, said: “Our outreach community work ensures that our services reach the whole community. We worked with Excellence Academy, an Islamic girls-only school in Stoke-on-Trent. According to a 2022 study by Public Health England, South Asian women are 1.5 times more likely to suffer from common mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, but only 13% accessed mental health services compared to 25% of white British women.

“Every Girl Does Count gave a group of girls that had been selected by the school a chance to participate in a programme to support their health and wellbeing and work on building confidence and supporting their own mental wellbeing.

“We worked closely with Kreative foundations who delivered workshops at the beginning and the end of the programme around confidence to show the participants their own journey throughout the 12 weeks.

Kirsty from Kreative Foundations said: “I had the pleasure of delivering a session with Port Vale Foundation as part of their incredible Every Girl Does Count project — a truly inspiring initiative that empowers participants and builds their confidence.”

Will Turner added: “The programme has supported girls to change their outlook on life. Without Port Vale Foundation’s Every Girls Does Count programme many girls would be left behind, lacking confidence, aspiration and hope.”

Every Girl Does Count has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.