Young Women’s Advisory Panel

What is the Advisory Panel?

The Young Women’s Trust Advisory Panel is a group of 30 women aged 18 to 30 who are living across England and Wales. Our panel gives power to young women. They are at the heart of Young Women’s Trust: leading, designing and participating.

They guide Young Women’s Trust’s work by taking part in discussions, interviewing new staff, talking to the media and writing for our blog. The panel join Young Women’s Trust training and events and they meet up at residential weekends twice a year.

Each young woman on our panel can be a member for 2 years, giving them a chance to form lasting friendships with the group.

Who is on the panel?

Our Advisory Panel welcomes women with experience of living on low or no pay or those who are not in full time education. This could mean being unemployed, in low-paid work or insecure work.

Women on the panel might also be young mums, have caring responsibilities, not have many qualifications, be a care leaver, disabled or struggling with mental health issues. They might have faced other barriers to work, such as sexual harassment, substance abuse, violence or have experience of the criminal justice system.

Shanice takes a selfie at the top of Mount Snowdon. She is sitting on a rock in a gre zip up hoodie.

Meet Shanice

Being on the panel has been the first step for me in creating a life where I am in control, my voice is heard and I am becoming a strong role model for my daughter to look up to.

I am passionate about making a change and speaking up about issues that need to be spoken about. It is a privilege to be in a position where my voice and opinion matter.

Being on the Advisory Panel has given me the opportunity to do this and more. To build my own skill set and confidence but to also help other women build theirs, as a sisterhood.

Benefits of being on our Advisory Panel

Panel members are offered different opportunities each month and they can choose which ones they get involved in.

Opportunities include

Meet twice a year at residential weekends
Contribute to workshops and meetings about the charity’s work
Training on public speaking, campaigning and social media
Join events to campaign for change
Write blogs to share their experiences
Interview new members of staff
Meet MPs and decision makers
Network and make new friends

We pay for travel, accommodation, meals and childcare for the activities panel members want to take part in. We can also provide technology and internet access for online events if needed. On occasion, our panel members are paid and/or given vouchers for high street stores to thank them for getting involved.

At the end of their time, our panel members get a reference and a certificate from Young Women’s Trust.

Chat to us about the panel

If you would like to find out more, or you are interested in joining our Advisory Panel, you can chat to Eleanor from our Participation team:

WhatsApp or text 0781 608 6760
Email eleanor.davieslawley@youngwomenstrust.org
Phone 020 7837 2019

More ways to get support and get involved

Online community

Connect with other young women online and share your experiences.

Campaign with us

Campaign with Young Women's Trust and together we can build a fairer working future for young women.