As part of Levelling the Playing Field’s Women and Girls month in October, we visit the Sisterhood project which is run by our specialist partners Reach Up Youth in South Yorkshire.
Sisterhood engages 12-21-year-old females in the ethnically diverse area of Burngreave in Sheffield using sport, art, volunteering, leadership opportunities and much more.
Sisterhood and its equivalent project for young males, Big Brother Burngreave, are run completely by their participants. Children and young people have ownership over each project’s week-to-week content, with young leaders arranging activities based on local need, addressing issues like mental health, first aid, knife crime, identity, racism, self-esteem and the dangers of gang culture.
For girls in the Sisterhood programme, they discuss issues such as body image, forced marriage, hair and beauty, teamwork and self-empowerment.
In September, the Sisterhood group was visited by the Sheffield branch of the charity Mind who donated canvasses and paint for the girls to do their own art projects around the subject of mental health.
In their designated Levelling the Playing Field sports session the following Saturday, the girls started with two hours of basketball, then used the leftover art materials to make more creations around the subject of identity.
Conversation in the session moved on to starting a campaign to support girls who are victims of violence. After the basketball session, the girls compiled a questionnaire for members of the public to ask their views and experiences and signpost people to further support.
With help from Bonnie, the Community Champion of a local branch of Tesco, the girls will now visit the store on a Saturday to ask shoppers about violence against girls, share views and resources.
“They want to open up uncomfortable conversations and discuss violence against girls across the genders and generations,” explained Safiya Saeed, founder of Reach Up Youth, hugely influential local resident and mother of five.
“I like to put the kids on the front line like this. The girls get such a buzz by the end of the day. They feel professional, they feel like they’ve been seen and we’ve had a few parents break down and cry because they are so proud.”
Safiya added: “It’s through this type of activity that I can identify the future young leaders of Sisterhood. Also, it’s a chance for those who are shy and anxious to come out of their shells.
“I can’t wait to see the impact they have in the community and the circles in which they operate in. The area will always benefit from young people being proactive like this.”