Make Space for Girls

Which are all great things - but based on use of the spaces for ‘teenagers’ it’s discrimination and unfair gender budgeting. So come on Norwich- how are you meeting the needs of teenage girls and none sporty teens (as being active is more than just sport).

Girls' use of parks drops after the age of 11. At a time when they should be gaining independence, many girls start to avoid parks.

Why? They feel that parks aren’t for them - there is nothing to do. Also, many state they don’t feel safe.

Look around parks - who is missing?

Teenage girls are systemically designed out of parks and public spaces. We campaign to design them in.

It’s just 5 days to go until the Big Give campaign starts.
Donate to Make Space for Girls between 8-15 October and every donation is doubled.

What’s been going on at Make Space for Girls and how you can help us Make Space for Girls works to ensure parks and public spaces are designed to include and empower teenage girls. Through community engagement, advocacy, and our new three-year strategy, we aim to influ...

Parks don’t work for teenage girls – and we’re changing that.

We’ve launched a new 3-year strategy and this Oct 8–15 every donation to us is DOUBLED via the Big Give Women & Girls Fund.

Read more on our new blog:
www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk/blog/whats-b...

In spring 2025, girls aged 10-18 shared their thoughts and experiences of Rowntree Park in York, and other public parks more broadly. Their voices highlight what makes these spaces feel welcoming - and what could be improved. Part of a local project to raise awareness and improve things.

Make Space for Girls are taking part in the Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund (8–15 October).

Every pound donated to our charity during that week will be doubled - meaning your support goes twice as far.

Could your workplace, school or organisation fundraise for us?

Such important support - thank you!

We are thrilled to be involved 8-15 October. Every donation received in this time is doubled!

The Big Give #WGMF helps charities, like ours, empower Women and Girls Match Fund. We hope you will support us!

In spring 2025, girls aged 10-18 shared their thoughts and experiences of Rowntree Park in York, and other public parks more broadly. Their voices highlight what makes these spaces feel welcoming - and what could be improved. Part of a local project to raise awareness and improve things.

Lancaster West Young Ambassadors Project Young women from Lancaster West Estate co-designed proposals for a more inclusive community, highlighting the power of deep engagement to amplify their voices and shape future housing and design conve...

Girls’ voices are too often missing from decisions about where they live & play. At Lancaster West Estate, we worked with Social Place and young women to share views for a more inclusive space. Their ideas show why girls must be heard. Read more:
www.makespaceforgirls.co.uk/blog/lancast...

A fantastic and important campaign

We're excited to launch a major #SaferParks: #StandUpAgainstStreetHarassment campaign in partnership with @suzylamplughtrust.bsky.social @keepbritaintidy.bsky.social #GreenFlagAward to build a community of active bystanders and make our parks safer, more inclusive spaces for all

In spring 2025, girls aged 10-18 shared their thoughts and experiences of Rowntree Park in York, and other public parks more broadly. Their voices highlight what makes these spaces feel welcoming - and what could be improved. Part of a local project to raise awareness and improve things.

Yes!

Fantastic to see Erect Architecture & Waltham Forest council putting girls at the heart of park design in Memorial Park, Waltham Forest with a co-design process inspired by our work at Make Space for Girls!

erectarchitecture.co.uk/what-do-teen...

Such a great project - well done Make Space York @rowntreepark.bsky.social

Our Public Spaces Are Failing Teen Girls Op-ed: Adolescent girls are missing from parks, playgrounds — and our gender-blind urban planning. So let’s ask them what they need.

Great to see the conversation in the US around how gender-blind design leaves girls out of parks.

Also great to see Brickfield Park in Bath mentioned – co-created with teenage girls, alongside inspiring examples from Vienna. Awareness is growing!

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Bradford project produces ‘outstanding’ rise in children’s physical activity JU:MP programme included co-design of play spaces, exercise in faith settings and interventions in schools

The positive impact of involving young people in designing their own play spaces.
Bradford's JU:MP programme, significantly increased children's physical activity.
Part of the project included co designing a park area with teenage girls in Fagley in 2023.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Yes a fantastic project! One of the first ever play spaces co designed with teenage girls in the UK was part of all this.

Student-designed social area, Our Place, opens in Central Park | City Life A new social seating area, designed by students from The Boswells School in Chelmsford, has opened in Central Park.

A brand new space built around what girls’, young women & gender diverse young people want - more social seating, better lighting and natural surroundings. Great to work alongside @chelmsfordcityfc.bsky.social Social Place & Boswell School on this project.
citylife.chelmsford.gov.uk/posts/studen...

Group involved from Stockholm’s Bredäng suburb and Nivå Landskapsarkitektur

Totally with you!

Currently limited choices in UK but basket swings (available from many) and communal swings popular (these were just added at Brickfield Park

And why work by organisations such as @makespaceforgirls.bsky.social is so important.

A pioneering initiative in Stockholm involved teenage girls in redesigning parks led to a park that focused on spontaneous dance, play and free sports. A response to the fact that the site had been dominated by a football pitch used mainly by boys and men for organised sports.

If your company/organisation is interested in CPD sessions with Make Space for Girls, get in touch.

In person or online- drop us a line for more info:
Makespaceforgirls@gmail.com

Amazing news!

Super evening. Using evidence on @makespaceforgirls.bsky.social brilliant website I pitched an alternative to the planned £200k spend on a fenced in football pitch (somehow referred to as a multi use games area).

Amazing. We’d love to hear more. It’s amazing what that kind of money can do to get more people using a space that is often overlooked.

Teenage girls are overlooked in planning. There isn’t enough data on how they use, or don’t use, existing parks.

Our ParkWatch Report in 2023 set out to start to change this, but more data is still needed.