A schools chaplain in Witney is reaching teenaged girls in her community in a new way.
Laverne Williams, who works in the Benefice of Witney, is running the Know Your Worth course for groups of young people at Henry Box School after being part of the pilot scheme. The eight-week course, which aims to increase the self-esteem of teenaged girls, encourages them to create a supportive community, getting involved in craft activities, meditative practice, mindful drawing and food!
Laverne said the girls come away from the course with a boost of confidence and tools to understand what they can and can’t control.
She added: “I think the introduction of social media and the way things have changed so quickly. Young girls do not have a chance to form their identity before these ideals are in their face. They have this device all the time before they have even found out who they are.
“This course gets the girls to slow things right down and they realise they are not alone, other people feel the same way they do. It helps them to think about what is reality and what is not and what you need to focus on. It is also about letting girls know they are treasured and they are fearfully and wonderfully made. And on top of all this they have puberty to deal with!”
Find out more about work with children and young people across the diocese.