Man City's Etihad Stadium set to host empowerment summit to inspire young girls

Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is set to host the UK’s REACH Next Generation empowerment summit on Saturday, July 15, a programme set up to inspire young girls in sports and other industries.

The programme is designed to advise, inform and empower girls aged 11-15, helping them through their early teenage years in a modern world full of unique challenges.

The influence of social media can lead to heightened scrutiny and self-esteem issues, and the summit aims to combat such problems by running 12 interactive sessions. The Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Desiree Henry, a GB Olympic sprinter, are part of the initiative as they try to challenge the way young girls view such issues.

Underrepresented communities and children's charities will reserve 20 per cent of the 90 places for girls.

Barclays Bank - the sponsors of the Women’s Super League and Championship since 2019 - are at the forefront of the drive for inclusivity in sport. They have pledged to invest £30 million in the top two tiers of women's football over a three-year period.

Hannah Awonuga, Global Head of Colleague Engagement DEI of Barclays, said: “I am thrilled to be sponsoring this year's REACH Next Generation Summit for the second year in a row, it is truly inspirational to see the impact the summit has on the young girls and we are proud to take part.

“We are committed to supporting organisations that aim to inspire the next generation of talent and amplify diverse voices from access to different sectors. By showcasing diverse leaders, we challenge the narrative of ‘I don’t see people who come from my background in senior positions’ and create inspiration and motivation for the young women coming behind us.

“The REACH Summit is a fantastic