Scottish council 'one of worst' places to grow up as a girl in UK

A Scottish council has been named as “one of the worst” places for a girl to grow up in the UK.

A report from charity Plan International UK, which surveyed nearly 3,000 girls and young women, found that only 5% feel completely safe in public spaces due to violence against women.

Clackmannanshire scored in the top three worst performing local authorities on general health, school attainment, and healthy life expectancy for girls.

Blackpool, Barrow-in-Furness (recently merged into Westmorland and Furness council), Rochdale and Knowsley, all in England, follow North East Lincolnshire as the top five toughest places.

The research found that North East Lincolnshire, which includes seaside towns Grimsby and Cleethorpes, ranks as the toughest local authority to be a girl after examining participation in education, employment and training, STEM uptake at A-Level, gender pay gap, and healthy life expectancy.

The report also found that six in ten girls and young women say they don’t trust politicians to protect their rights at all.

Only half those surveyed felt they had the same educational and employment opportunities as boys or men their age.

Plan International said the study highlights how British girls feel “uncertain about their futures and let down by the lack of progress on gender equality that society has promised them”.

They added that the evidence shows that no matter where girls live, they are being let down by a lack of progress on gender equality.

Clackmannanshire council leader Ellen Forson, chair of the Clackmannanshire Alliance, said: Improving the outcomes for women and girls living in Clackmannanshire has been and will continue to be a priority for Community Planning Partners.

“The findings of this report are obviously concerning and will be something for all partners to consider carefully.

“Clackmannanshire Council and our community planning partners are taking innovative steps to reform how public services are designed and delivered to communities.

“Our Family Wellbeing Partnership is working with third sector organisations and community groups to reshape the services that people want and need.

“This collaborative approach aims to make it easier for families to access the support they need, when they need it, to help families out of poverty and improve family wellbeing and outcomes.

“In addition to our Child Wellbeing Partnership, The Family Wellbeing Partnership’s work streams of Community Around the School, Employability and STRIVE (Safeguarding for Rapid Intervention – including early intervention) and our involvement in the Planet Youth prevention programme means that our teams are making a real impact for communities throughout Clackmannanshire.”