CEO MESSAGE: #ThisLittleGirlIsMe

I was born into a working class family, my dad was a miner, my mum worked in Wilkos.

My earliest memories are when I was about 5 years old. I would follow my dad around the local pubs, drinking orangina and eating pork scratchings and then the family caravan holidays.

My mum and I would visit my grandparents during the summer. But this one year was different, we weren’t going home.

My parents separated when I was 9 years old leaving my dad behind in Nottingham.

I started a new school, with no friends and painfully shy. My parents were told that this would mean I wouldn’t achieve much in life.

I shared a room with my mum until we moved until council housing.

My bed would fold off the wall each night and be folded back again in the morning. The room we shared was only big enough for two make shift beds.

Our first council house had a coal fire for heating. Our second house had no heating upstairs and only single pane windows. Our pipes would freeze in the winter and we’d have no water and no heating.

At the age of 12, I supported my mum through an abusive relationship whilst she was pregnant with my brother until she found the courage to tell her partner to leave.

I stepped up to ensure my new baby brother was cared for whilst mum worked at the local chip shop.

I got my first job at 14 working in a cafe grating kilograms of cheese for £2.50 per hour. I would juggle school and my cafe job, taking all the hours going. In the summer I’d work 40+ hour weeks.

I came out as gay at 17 years old. My dad refused to accept it and stopped speaking to me for a while.

At 18, I started self harming and having suicidal thoughts after my first relationship turned toxic.

I completed 6th form & chose to get a job in Boots before heading off to uni to be with my new girlfriend.

Her mum called me a home wrecker, how could I turn her daughter into a ‘filthy gay’. I brought shame to the family.

After uni, I drifted between jobs; bar work, a sandwich shop, I even sold samurai swords for a year.

At 24, I landed an admin job in London for Mental Health First Aid England, raising mental health awareness up and down the country.

I quickly progressed into other roles such as influencing business operations and providing mental health workplace strategies to the likes of BBC, EY and Barclays.

I’ve constantly been told I wasn’t good enough or worthy enough and if it’s not someone else then my imposter syndrome will certainly fill the gap!

But here I am now at 34, the CEO of Re-Balance.org where I get to work on projects that diminish global inequalities, I’m re-discovering my own gender identity and getting married next year with both my parents present.

70% of young girls feel more confident about their futures after hearing about female role models so I hope my story can inspire.

And to all the girls, you are worthy, no matter how your journey started, where you are now and whatever anyone else tells you. You are worthy.

Love,

Emma x

*#ThisLittleGirlIsMe is campaign launched by Inspiring Girls International an organisation dedicated to raising the aspirations of young girls around the world by connecting them with female role models.