Libby Bellmore (The Teen Project), Tracy Reis (Sleek Events), Emily Verardi (The Teen Project)
We often talk about confidence as something people either have or don't have. Confidence is often shaped by opportunity. By the people who encourage us, the experiences we're exposed to and the moments that help us see a future we may not have imagined for ourselves.
For many young people, those opportunities aren't always easy to access. That's why the work being done by The Teen Project matters.
The charity supports teenage girls to build confidence, develop life skills and gain greater insight into future education and career opportunities. Earlier this year, we welcomed The Teen Project as the charity partner for Sleek Academy, our annual learning and development event, where we had the opportunity to learn more about the impact they're creating and the challenges they're helping to address.
Which led to thoughtful discussions about confidence; opportunity and the role businesses can play in helping young people realise their potential.
Confidence doesn't happen in isolation
When people look back on their careers, there is often a moment, conversation or experience that helped them see what was possible.
Sometimes it’s a mentor. Sometimes it’s meeting someone in a field they never knew existed. Sometimes it’s having someone believe in them and finding the confidence to recognise their own potential.
For many young women, access to professional networks and first-hand insight into different careers isn’t guaranteed. Creating opportunities to meet people from a range of backgrounds, ask questions and explore unfamiliar paths can make the world of work feel more visible and accessible.
Tracy Reis, Sleek’s Head of People & Culture, explains:
"One of the things we're most passionate about at Sleek is creating opportunities for people to grow, whether that's within our own business or in the communities around us. The Teen Project shares that belief. Their work is helping young women build confidence, expand their horizons and see possibilities they may not have considered before. We're proud to support that journey."
Turning belief into action
Through our partnership, Sleek is supporting the delivery of The Teen Project's six-week Confidence Course across three local schools in Merton, a local organisation to Sleek HQ.
The programme is designed to help young women build confidence, strengthen life skills and develop the self-belief needed to make informed decisions about their futures.
Alongside this, we're exploring opportunities to connect participants with career insights, role models and experiences that can help bring potential career paths to life.
Not because every young person needs to know exactly what they want to do next, but because everyone deserves the opportunity to discover what might be possible.
The Teen Project team shared:
"What stood out from our first conversations with Sleek was the genuine alignment in values. We share a belief in creating opportunities, building confidence and helping people realise their potential. Through this partnership, we're excited to connect more young women with the skills, insights and experiences that can help shape their futures."
The power of seeing a different future
As a founder in the events industry, Jennifer Davidson understands the impact that opportunity can have on someone's journey. She says:
"I’ve always believed there is more talent and potential in people than they often see in themselves. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how much can change when someone is given an opportunity, encouraged to think bigger or supported to take a step they may not have taken alone. For me, one of the greatest measures of success is seeing other people grow in confidence and achieve things they once thought were beyond them. That’s why creating opportunities for young women matters so much. Sometimes, one conversation, one experience or one person believing in you can change the course of what comes next"
That idea sits at the heart of why this partnership feels so important. It's not about providing answers or telling young people what path they should follow. It’s about helping them recognise that the path ahead is theirs to shape.
Investing in people
At Sleek, we believe people achieve more when they're given the support, encouragement and opportunity to grow.
Whether that's within our own teams, through our Sleek Academy Learning & Development program or through coaching and access to experts' programmes, or through the partnerships we build in our communities, the principle is the same.
People's potential shouldn't be limited by a lack of access, visibility or confidence.
By supporting organisations like The Teen Project, we hope to play a small part in helping more young women build the confidence to back themselves, explore new opportunities and discover where their abilities could take them.
What begins in the classroom could shape a decision, an ambition or an entire career.