Girl-led enrichment project, Bradford
A girl-led programme giving 200+ girls the chance to design and lead their own workshops, events and residentials. Girls built confidence, leadership skills and meaningful experience, with outcomes including a student-run Rainbows after-school club.
More than 200 sixth-form girls across 2 Bradford schools took part in a series of girl-led experiences designed around what mattered most to them.
Funded by NCS Trust between 2023 and 2025, the programme brought together workshops, events and residential experiences that gave girls the space to explore their ideas, connect with one another and shape activities themselves. 2 residential weekends were so popular that more than 90% of sixth form girls at one school took part.
Every activity was built with girls, not just for them. From deciding what topics to explore to shaping the experiences themselves, girls' voices were at the centre throughout. The result was high levels of participation, strong engagement and valuable insight into how schools can create spaces where girls feel heard, connected and confident.
Helping girls make a difference in their communities with the Rainbows after-school club
A standout element of the project was the creation of a Rainbows after‑school club, run by sixth‑form girls aged 16-17 for younger children from local primary schools. This club gave the girls the chance to:
- Build their leadership and teamwork skills.
- Grow their confidence in a real‑world setting.
- Take responsibility for creating a safe, fun and inclusive environment for the younger girls.
- Gain experience that could be relevant to future goals and interests such as education, childcare, youth work or community roles.
These sixth-form students took part to gain experience for their future careers, but many stayed because it was so much fun!
Outcomes and impact: a student's story
For 1 sixth‑form student in particular, the project was genuinely transformative. Initially unsure of her abilities, she quickly found her confidence when she started taking part in the Rainbows after-school club.
Within just 3 weeks, she’d grown into a natural leader, taking the lead on activities and helping younger girls feel welcome and included.
Her development had an impact on everyone involved in the project. She became a role model within the club, demonstrating kindness, patience and responsibility for both her peers and the younger girls.
Her story reflects the impact of projects like these: when girls are trusted, supported and given opportunities to take the lead, their confidence and abilities can flourish.
'[The student] got stuck into the Rainbows club straight away, working well with the smaller groups of girls. In only the third week of the club, she confidently took the lead in a game and made it fun and enjoyable for the girls.' - Teacher
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