Nearly half of young women feel 'hopeless about the future'
Ahead of International Women's Day we're seeing how it's possible to Change A Girl's Life
Last updated 4th Mar 2025
Hits Radio have teamed up with The Kings Trust for international women’s day to support their Change a Girl's Life campaign.
Fleur East sits down with Frankie Bridge, Melissa Hemsley and Lydia Bright to chat about challenges they have faced as a woman from pressures of how they look, growing businesses and single parenting. We also hear from women who have been directly supported by The King's Trust and their inspirational stories.
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Change A Girl's Life Campaign
Ahead of International Women's Day, new data shows how mental health issues are having a huge impact on how women and girls are progressing in life.
Stats, seen by Hits Radio from The King’s Trust's Change A Girl's Life campaign found:
- 35% of young women were unhappy with their mental health, compared to 26 per cent of young men
- 45% of young women feel hopeless about the future
- 68% of young women always or often feel stressed
- 3/5 always or often feel anxious.
Worrying female mental health statistics
Young women are significantly more likely than young men to say their mental health has caused them to avoid seeing friends or family, struggle to concentrate at school, miss school or work and struggle to concentrate at work over the past 12 months.
One in five women says mental health challenges caused them problems in this way, while more than a third are worried it'll have long term impacts on their career goals.
Young women are also significantly more likely than young men to disagree that they feel confident discussing their mental health, with nearly a third (31%) feeling this way according to The King's Trust with TK Maxx.
Carrissa's story
Carrissa grew up in West Yorkshire, and experienced poverty and homelessness as a child.
During the pandemic, she experienced burnout, and turned to food to help herself cope and gained six stone in weight. Her mental health hit "rock bottom" and she was hospitalised.
She told us: "I had lost my career, my home and my life as I knew it. As I began to rebuild my life from scratch, I realised that if I wanted to live the life I dreamed of, I would have to start my own business. I felt this could work from a financial perspective but also from the standpoint of making a real positive impact on people’s lives – I wanted to serve others in a way that felt right to me.
“Luckily for me, I came across The King’s Trust Enterprise programme and successfully applied."
Carrissa now runs Keep Me Curvy, a fitness and nutrition business that helps women lose weight, keep their curves, while also dealing with long term trauma.
“Growing up, my family and I always needed people to support us. Now I’m in a good position where I can help others, I want to help those who need it and give back.“
Sarah's story
After struggling with poor mental health and misdiagnosis throughout school, Sarah was diagnosed as having ADHD in her early 20s.
Between school and getting that diagnosis, Sarah raced through more than 25 jobs, but struggled to stay in a role for long.
Sarah said: “Being diagnosed as having ADHD was obviously a shock, but I’ve learned to use the way my brain works to my advantage. Rather than let it hold me back I want to use it to help me achieve what I want to achieve, and I want other wee girls with ADHD to feel the same way.”
She went through The Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme in 2022, building up a successful cake baking business, Cake ‘n Bake.
Sarah also uses the little spare time she does have to be an advocate for women and girls with ADHD, both through her large social media following and speaking at events.
Sarah said: “Sometimes I can’t believe the things I’m doing. I know that when I was in school, I would have never thought it possible that I’d be standing up in front of rooms full of people or in a classroom inspiring other girls like me. I am proud of myself, but I know there’s still more to come.”
Shannon's story
Shannon, 23, from Dundee was under the care and supervision of Action for Children from age 16, and lived independently from a young age.
She fell into drinking and became pregnant shortly after leaving school.
Her second son has long term health difficulties, but an advert she saw for The King's Trust's Get into Healthcare programme while in a hospital waiting room saw her move towards a path that lead to a career working in the NHS.
Shannon said: "Whatever job you want to do, you can do it if you put your mind to it.
“I’m so happy to be able to be doing a job I love and I’m passionate about, helping other families like mine at the same hospital my little boy was in.
"I don’t think I would have had the opportunities I’ve had if it wasn’t for the support from The King’s Trust. They have helped me throughout this journey.”
Asia's story
Asia is from London, and enjoyed sport and drama as a child, but the death of her grandfather lead to her suffering from depression and anxiety.
Lockdown then hit, and impacted her ability to achieve the GCSE grades she needed to pursue her career.
Asia told us : "It felt like a waste of five years, but I pushed through because I always wanted to be a midwife."
Asia came across The King’s Trust Get into Health and Social Care programme. and after securing her dream job as a Maternity Support Worker she hasn’t looked back since.
“I took the leap of faith and applied! Two hours after attending the interview, I was told I had secured the role. If you have a goal and a vision you can definitely achieve it."
About Change A Girl's Life
To mark International Women’s Day, The King’s Trust has launched its annual campaign, Change a Girl’s Life, which aims to give young women in the UK a working future.
Research from The King’s Trust shows that 45 per cent of young women feel hopeless about their future, and almost half feel anxious on a daily basis due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Over a third of young women feel lack of self-confidence is the biggest barrier to achieving their career goals.