Following my move back to England it feels only right to also give a huge shout out to Girls Who Walk Bangor. An amazing initiative in Northern Ireland to help connect women of all ages and backgrounds and bring a sense of community that got lost during the pandemic.
The solo move to Northern Ireland was daunting as there were no societies or clubs for me to join like at university. Instead, I was heading into a 9-to-5 job and was unsure how to make friends outside of that environment. Lo and behold a few months after my move I found a Girls Who Walk group that was NI-based. I quickly joined the chat and got talking to the Co-founder Rachel Craig, with plenty in common we hit it off immediately and began chatting about our backgrounds in fundraising. Fast forward a few weeks and the girls were asking for volunteers to help support their walks and events at which I jumped at the chance.
I attended my first walk as a volunteer and met so many amazing women. Everyone was so easy to chat to and it was so great to meet people who were in similar positions as myself. Some had moved back home after uni but found that a lot of their friends had moved away or were at different stages in their lives. Others were new mums who were trying to reclaim their own time and meet people whom they could connect with. It was so amazing that all of these strangers could (unbeknown to them at the time) become great and close friends.
When the new year came I was asked to be the Co-Ordinator for the group and have more responsibilities, a great opportunity that I couldn’t say no to. I have learned so much from this experience and have loved every moment. As a team, we have put on numerous successful events that have not only brought people together but allowed us to raise money for the great cause that is Glow NI.
Glow NI is a charity that focuses on empowering women and girls. GLOW challenges the status quo in order to break the vicious cycle of these issues by equipping women and young girls with tools and techniques to build their confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and life skills. When looking for a cause that GWWB could support I stumbled across Glow NI, and their values and mission were exactly why GWWB was set up. It was a no-brainer, Rachel reached out and so began a great partnership.
Although I am no longer in NI, I hope to continue my work with Girls Who Walk Bangor and see the amazing work they can do along with Glow NI to encourage women to build their confidence, tackle loneliness, and become the best versions of themselves. I am forever grateful for the time I got to spend at GWWB, but am most grateful for the friendships I gained from it.
A special shout-out to Rachel Craig who quite literally became a best friend overnight and without whom I would have missed out on so many amazing experiences. All the best for the future to you and all our girls