We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Words for Work: Women in Leadership programme, in partnership with Lancôme, which aims to tackle employment inequalities for young women in the UK by helping them develop the literacy and leadership skills they need to achieve their potential.
To celebrate the launch of the programme, Fiona Evans, our Head of Schools Programmes, hosted an event in London with a panel of inspiring women who are leaders in their field, including Oscar-winning actress and Lancôme ambassador, Kate Winslet, award-winning blogger and author, Chidera Eggerue, and Lancôme International General Manager, Francoise Lehmann.
In the first year of the programme, we will work with young women aged 16-20 in schools in London, Manchester and Nottingham to promote workplace literacy through teacher-led workshops on areas including writing a CV, writing and delivering a speech, and exploring what leadership looks like to women; a visit to Lancôme’s offices; and talks from a panel of inspiring women in leadership roles.
Reflecting on the partnership, Fiona Evans said: “Thousands of young women leave school every year without the literacy skills they need to succeed. As a result, these young women will find it hard to get a job and will be more likely to live in poverty. We are thrilled to be working with Lancôme to transform the futures of hundreds of young women by giving them the literacy skills, confidence and inspiration they need to achieve their potential in the workplace.”
Kate Winslet said: “Reading and writing, for most of us, is as natural as breathing. But for one out of every seven women in the UK it is not. Lancôme and the National Literacy Trust want to help disadvantaged women to be able to communicate effectively, and help them to secure their first jobs. This is one of the reasons why I appreciate the relationship I have with Lancôme as, together, we share a deep-rooted desire to support women in being able to fulfil their hopes and dreams, and their individuality. This is our shared vision of empowerment.”
The programme forms part of Lancôme’s global campaign, Write Her Future, which aims to tackle the literacy crisis affecting the lives of 58 million young women around the world.