On Friday 6th March, we had the privilege of bringing together a wonderful group of women for our NE Youth International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea at 3Sixty. 

From the moment the first guests arrived, it was clear this was going to be an afternoon filled with laughter, connection and honest conversation. Women greeted each other warmly, sharing stories over glasses of fizz while acoustic live music created a relaxed and uplifting atmosphere.

Inside, the room felt warm and welcoming, while outside, grey clouds hung over the Newcastle skyline through 3Sixty’s panoramic windows. The contrast only added to the cosy atmosphere as conversations began to flow and connections quickly formed.

The afternoon began with an introduction from NE Youth’s Toni Hamill, who welcomed guests and shared what the afternoon had in store before proudly passing the microphone to NE Youth’s, Youth Voice Trainee, Penny Rosemond.

Penny delivered a powerful and personal speech, sharing her experiences of growing up as a young girl and the pressures that often come with it.

She spoke openly about the challenges many young women face, from navigating confidence in the ever-growing pressurised world, to the expectations placed upon them and finding their voice during their teenage years. Drawing from her own lived experience, Penny reflected on how youth work and supportive spaces helped shape her confidence and direction. Now working with young people herself, she spoke about how important it is to provide the same support and guidance for the next generation of girls.

“I think as a woman, we are judged and there are certain pressures I know I’ve definitely felt. Coming into high school, or secondary school, there’s this new consciousness of how you look, how you are and how people treat you and being able to support these young girls I think is so necessary and I’m a young worker myself, I work with young girls and we’re able to talk about it and it really wasn’t that long ago I was their age”.

Whenever Penny speaks, her words resonate deeply with everyone in the room, reminding us just how vital mentors, safe spaces and trusted adults can be for young women finding their way. She is certainly a young woman we are incredibly proud to have representing the voices of young people at NE Youth.

Following Penny’s speech, the room filled with an emotional round of applause before guests made their way to beautifully decorated tables to enjoy afternoon tea with an array of delicious treats served throughout the room. A good few classics; scones, cream and jam, as well as some unique handcrafted treats.

We are incredibly grateful to Kyrie Cunningham and the team at 3Sixty for hosting us so generously and helping create such a beautiful space for connection. Their support helped create an environment where meaningful conversations could happen, new relationships could form, and shared ideas could grow.

Empower Her Future

This event forms part of our #GiveToGain: Empower Her Future campaign, raising funds to support mentoring, safe spaces and trusted adults for girls and young women across our region.

But beyond fundraising, the afternoon was about something even more powerful – building a community of women who want to use their voices, influence and networks to create opportunities for the next generation.

To everyone who joined us: thank you. We truly appreciate your time, your support and your commitment to young people.

If you would like to support the campaign or explore how you or your organisation could work with NE Youth to support girls and young women, we would love to hear from you.

Help us empower her future and donate today: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/givetogainneyouth?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CL

Together, we can help ensure every girl has the confidence, support and opportunity to shape her future.