Meet Ruth, Lead Facilitator for The Juno Project
The Juno Project works with schools across West Sussex to empower vulnerable teenage girls to develop a more positive self-image and achieve their goals in spite of their challenges. Here we talk with Ruth, their Lead Facilitator…
Can you tell us in a nutshell Ruth what you do at The Juno Project?
That’s a tough one as we cover so much ground! But in a nutshell, we seek to encourage, enthuse and empower teenage girls so that we can open their eyes to what they are capable of. We work with girls who are struggling with their mental health, engaging in risky behaviours, avoiding school, or dealing with challenging home backgrounds or situations and give them a non-judgemental space in which they can talk about those challenges and how they might overcome them.
What format do your workshops take?
We currently work with around 11 schools across West Sussex and in each of those we work with groups of around six to eight Year 10 and 11 girls over an intensive eight to 12 week period. Our workshops are informal but structured. We give the girls space to talk about their challenges, to hear from one another and we address all kinds of issues like unhealthy relationships, self-esteem and recognising harmful behaviour patterns.
We also offer them tools and coping strategies that they can use during challenging times for example breathing techniques, journalling and naming their emotions.
What do the girls you work with seem to find most helpful?
So many of them say that the biggest revelation is learning that they’re not alone – that there are other girls facing similar challenges. Discovering that can be a huge first step. We also give them lots of simple strategies that they can take forward with them. We start a lot of our workshops by writing down a simple affirmation and while lots of the girls start off sceptical about the benefits of doing this, many come to really appreciate this positive routine and incorporate it into their day-to-day lives.
What have you found most surprising about the work you do?
I’m always surprised at how many of the girls feel so isolated and alone. Despite the vastly improved societal dialogue around mental health, each girl feels that they are the only one in the world who is going through what they’re going through, or feeling the way they feel. They are so relieved to find out that everyone feels the same.
I’m also constantly surprised by how quickly the girls tend to open up. It just goes to show how hungry they are for a non-judgemental space in which they can talk openly – it’s a real need we’re answering for them.
And what do you find most rewarding about the work you do?
It’s just such a privilege to be allowed into these girls’ lives and to be allowed to get to know them. They constantly teach me things about being a woman and a parent. It’s an ever-giving circle and we all learn from each other.
It’s also seeing the small changes – the girl who has been a school avoider who comes to three of our workshops in a row, the girl who refuses to write an affirmation in the first session but then comes to embrace the routine. These small wins are huge as they are often real turning points.
One of the aims of the programme is to help girls see that their actions have consequences and that they can take charge of their situation one small step at a time.
What do you think is unique about what you do?
I think we’re very lucky to be able to work with girls over a sustained period of time. It enables us to build trust and to make significant progress. We become part of their routine and when many are leading chaotic, fractured lives that is important in itself.
The other key thing is that although each of our team of facilitators come from different backgrounds – teachers, counsellors and coaches – all have lived experience of dealing with their own challenges in teenage years.
And what does the future hold for The Juno Project? Have you got any exciting plans on the horizon?
We’re hoping to start a Youth Advisory Board with girls who have completed the programme, helping to shape the future programme. We’re really excited about this – both in terms of how it will enrich the programme and in terms of the employability skills and confidence boost it will give the girls who are on the Board.
Another key thing we’re looking at is extending our workshops to work with younger girls in Years 8 ad 9. So many of the girls we see say that’s when their issues started emerging and so we want to reach them before behaviours and thought processes get entrenched.
We’d love to expand the number of schools we work in, because we really believe in the work we do and know that there are a lot of schools in the wider Sussex region that would greatly benefit from the support we can provide.
And finally, what one piece of advice would you give any girl who is currently struggling?
Believe in yourself. It might not feel like it now, but you have so much more to offer than you know now. Take small steps and they can build to bigger ones. For today, find one thing you like about yourself and build from there.
The Juno Project was one of seven local community organisations that benefited from the Sussex Learning Network Community Fund. To find out more about how the fund helped their work and the work of other local charities click here.