Group continues to do their part for equality

An East Kilbride group is doing its bit to promote gender equality.

Working directly within the community, Share Alike is at the heart of issues facing the people it works with.

Listening and being responsive to emerging problems facing their community has allowed the volunteer-led organisation to identify a gap in support for young people’s gender-related challenges.

When young volunteers expressed their concerns about the lack of opportunity to come together in a safe environment to discuss the gender-based challenges they face, Share Alike decided to act.

At their community hub in East Kilbride, the organisation has created a dedicated space for the group to meet and lead on their own peer to peer support network.

The Gender Equality Group meet weekly and are beginning to build awareness across the area about the support they offer. They pride themselves on providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming space where young people can freely discuss the topic and work together to find solutions.

Project Manager Anne Marie Campbell said:“We didn’t create this group, like all our services the need within our community was the driving force.

“We were encountering many young people who were fighting their own mental health struggles and a closer look found the majority could be stripped back to simply accepting and being accepted for who they are. And so the group evolved.”

The South Lanarkshire Community Planning Partnership is determined to combat gender bias, which it says“is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us”.

A statement on the partnership’s website added:“It is not just a human rights issue, it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential.

“By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens.

“Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.”