Zinc Arts Girls Inspired
Empowering Girls Through Movement and Mindset
Zinc Arts delivered a mental‑health‑focused Girls Inspired programme for young girls referred by Ongar Academy, through a combined approach of structured physical activity, principally non‑contact boxing, and dedicated mental wellbeing sessions.
Using the Smart Course discussion cards, the programme provided a safe and supportive environment in which participants could examine themes such as relationships, resilience, self‑belief, and confidence. This integrated model enabled young girls to develop both physical competence and emotional awareness through guided movement and facilitated discussion.
Active Essex Foundation (AEF) played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the programme, contributing not only financial support, but also practical and strategic guidance throughout planning and implementation.
AEF supplied Girls Inspired resources, including journals, and provided team hoodies to help strengthen group identity and cohesion. In addition, AEF offered regular check‑ins and advisory support to ensure the programme remained fully aligned with Girls Inspired objectives, while also delivering free, relevant training to enhance the skills of the delivery team.
Zinc Arts commended the partnership for bringing structure, clarity, and consistent support, all of which contributed significantly to the quality and overall impact of the programme.
Impact
Feedback and surveys highlight clear improvements in both wellbeing and physical confidence:
- Participants reported greater enjoyment and confidence in physical activity
- All surveyed young girls felt better in themselves due to being more active
- Two thirds said they felt more able to mix with others
- All participants felt capable of trying something new
- Most reported feeling happier since starting the programme
Strong local collaboration was fundamental to the delivery of the programme, with Zinc Arts acting as the lead delivery partner, supported by Youth Service Buildings through the provision of space and on‑site assistance, and Ongar Academy fulfilling the role of referral partner.
This coordinated, multi‑agency approach ensured that the young people who most needed targeted wellbeing support were identified early and connected to an intervention that could meaningfully address their needs.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Building trust
Girls needed weeks to open up beyond expected adult answers
School liaison processes
Safeguarding and admin challenges led Zinc to improve documentation
Demand for support for young people experiencing anxiety, neurodiversity, long‑term absence, or poor mental health became increasingly evident during the programme. In response, Zinc Arts is developing an alternative provision model using arts, drama, and physical activity to help young people re‑engage with education or training, a direct ripple effect of AEF investment.
Zinc Arts plans to continue expanding Girls Inspired and similar wellbeing‑focused interventions, recognising the growing need for programmes that address mental health challenges in both young women and men across the district.
