Ambassador Madeleine shares some of the experiences that shaped her growing up in one of the most deprived regions in the UK, and how having a mentor helped her build the confidence needed to reach for her dreams.

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A bit of background

I was born in Hartlepool and have for the most part, grown up there and therefore have first-hand experience of what it’s like growing up in one of the most deprived areas of the UK.

That’s not to say that I did not have a good experience growing up. I have an amazing family and amazing friends and we definitely did all we could to immerse ourselves in the good parts of growing up there. 

I spent countless days at the seafront. That’s one of the things I feel very lucky for, that I’ve only ever been ten minutes away from the sea, as I now, since moving to London, have met quite a few people who have only seen the sea a handful of times. Now that’s something I could never imagine!  

There are good parts of living in the area that I come from, but there are also bad, and sometimes that’s very difficult to look past. For me, one of the “bad” things that bothers me the most is the education in my town. 

My Education

Navigating through my educational journey was a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows. 

During my secondary schooling I encountered difficulties. Teaching standards had slipped due to the lack of funding schools faced. Academically, I faced hurdles as I found myself in lower sets despite performing well in assessments. 

But certain teachers demonstrated unwavering dedication and support, particularly one teacher who played a pivotal role during my toughest times. Despite the hurdles, I persevered, and my hard work culminated in success in my GCSEs. 

The steadfast support I received, especially from certain teachers, made all the difference, shaping me into who I am today.

Sixth Form

Sixth Form brought a significant improvement to my educational journey. From childhood, I've been driven by the dream of attending a prestigious university. The idea of earning a degree from a top-notch institution has been a powerful motivator, spurring me to excel academically. However, my optimism waned when it was time to submit UCAS applications.

Despite initial setbacks, I refused to let go of my dreams. I was determined to defy expectations and secure a place at a top university, paving the way for a career in the creative industries. 

And I did. 

I finished A Levels and secured a place at Royal Holloway, University of London.  Again, I had to work. I had to fight. I had to prove myself. All because I wanted to do something that statistically speaking is the norm for people from more affluent areas of the UK. 

I had to prove that just because I’m from the North of England, it doesn’t mean that I’ll settle for less.

The Girls' Network

It was at the end of my first year of sixth form that I found out about The Girls' Network and that they were accepting applications for girls to become mentees.

I jumped at the chance of course! It was at this point during my journey that I’d realised I couldn’t rely on other people for my success and that I couldn’t expect opportunities to be handed to me. I had to create my own opportunities and grab the very few that came to me. That’s one of the things about going to school and college in the North East, opportunities that get presented to other people don’t get presented to us, sometimes it feels like we’re forgotten, relegated to be working small jobs in our small towns for the rest of our lives, never to aspire to anything bigger. 

The Girls' Network has opened up my world in a way I never could have dreamed. 

When I was a mentee, my mentor showed me what was possible if I was brave enough to step out of my comfort zone. She showed me that we can achieve big things without losing our regional identity, and that being proud of where we’re from can even make the things we’ve achieved even more worthwhile. 

Thank you to my mentor Ellie Rees, winner of the Tees Business Awards, for showing me what’s possible! 

University 

My journey through University could be a whole other essay. It’s definitely been a rocky but amazing ride. There’s been good times, and there’s been quite bad times. 

Many people have been surprised that I came down here for University. There have been comments about my accent, or misconceptions about where we’re from (people thinking I’d never seen a Pret before…we do have them…just not that many!). 

Where I am now…

Currently I’m in my fourth and final year of University, having completed a year in industry last year. 

I managed to secure a marketing placement at Ecovis Wingrave Yeats last year, an accountancy firm in Soho, London and I loved every minute of it. The environment was so welcoming and I learned so much from my wonderful manager, Kathy Innes who helped me develop both professionally and personally so much over the year. 

Where I want to go

I’ve always said, from being a little kid, that my dream is to work in the media industry, specifically film and TV. 

The escapism that comes with it is something I’ve always loved. There are so many stories I want to help tell, both fantastical and more down-to-earth. Whether this be on the more production side of things or in the post-production marketing side of things, I haven’t quite worked out yet. I just know it’s a world I’ve been burning to be involved in. 

Just look at the notes app on my phone, there are several scrawled notes of film and TV projects I’d bring to life if I could, how I’d do it, who I’d cast, where I’d film it. 

My dream is to add my name to the list of successful people from the North East and I thank The Girls' Network for being a huge part of that journey!

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Huge thanks to Madeleine for sharing her inspirational story. We are so pleased that she was able to join our mentoring programme in sixth form and we feel very proud of the active, passionate Ambassador she has now become. Madeleine is now part of our Ambassador Advisory board, helping to shape the direction of this community and she has also spoken at some of our events helping us to share the impact that mentoring can make with our supporters.

If you could help a girl like Madeleine to build her confidence and belief in the future, apply to be a mentor. To help us reach more girls and young women, please consider making a donation to our cause.