A CRUSADING campaigner who raises the aspirations of young girls has received two prestigious accolades.

Jane Kenyon, from Knutsford, is celebrating a duo of award wins at the I Love MCR and Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards.

The founder of Girls Out Loud received the Emmeline Pankhurst Award.

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This social enterprise is dedicated to raising the aspirations of teenage girls in the UK, inspiring them to harness their self-belief, find their voice and maximise their potential.

Knutsford Guardian: Knutsford female champion Jane Kenyon with the Social impact of the Year award Knutsford female champion Jane Kenyon with the Social impact of the Year award (Image: Girls Out Loud)

The award, presented by Emma McBeath, heritage manager at the Pankhurst Centre, is given to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to advancing gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment throughout the Greater Manchester area and beyond.

Girls Out Loud was also shortlisted for Most Loved Charity at the awards at DieCast Manchester, which brought together over 750 individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the largest awards event the city has ever seen.

Jane also received national recognition for Girls Out Loud, winning the Social Impact of the Year award at the Forward Ladies Leadership Summit in London in November.

This award is designed to honour women who have created or delivered programmes or services for positive social impact, and who are changing lives and transforming the UK’s communities.

The Forward Ladies awards honour the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in business.

It offers a platform to showcase the achievements of women breaking barriers across the public and private sectors, and in turn inspiring the next generation of ladies.

Jane Kenyon said: “We’re thrilled to have won two awards at this year’s I Love MCR Awards and Forward Ladies Leadership Summit and Awards.

“It’s great to be recognised for our much needed work with teenage girls.

“We constantly strive to empower young girls to find their voice and create real aspiration and change, and our award wins against such prestigious competition are a testament to our passion and resilience “Almost 15 years later, it’s incredible to see our work to support teenage girls make a real difference.

“Now more than ever, it’s time to spread the word and get more people on board, so we can inspire and empower teenage girls to believe in themselves and make the right life choices.”

A successful entrepreneur, coach, author and campaigner, Jane founded Girls Out Loud on the back of her work inspiring and supporting women to step up and into their power via The Well Heeled Divas, a personal development company.

She believes women and girls share the same imposter syndrome, low confidence, unrealistic perfectionism and often hide their light.

Moving to work with girls was a natural next step for Jane.

After facilitating a pilot programme in 2009 with a group of vulnerable girls from Blackpool, Jane made the decision to dedicate the rest of her life to teenage girls.

Now, 14 years on, she has harnessed many businesses and organisations to fund their work and also changing the lives of more than 25,000 girls.

To help change the lives of teenage girls, people can register as a volunteer or apply to be a Big Sister at girlsoutloud.org.uk/volunteer-as-a-role-model/

Donations towards the Stardom programme, which helps to make a positive difference to the vulnerable, at risk and disengaged teenage girls by connecting them to a professional coach for 12 months can be made at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/girls-out-loud-stardom

Girls Out Loud’s Big Sister mentoring programme trains women to be mentors to young teenage girls in schools across the north west to help inspire, engage and support girls as they attempt to navigate a challenging landscape.