A SURVEY has been launched to help identify the service needs of girls and young women in North Wales.

The project is looking at the experiences of 11 to 25-year-olds in a bid to understand support available as well as identifying gaps in service requirements..

Gender equality charity Chwarae Teg is conducting the research on behalf of Plan International UK.

The anonymous survey will help guide and develop the work of the Champions of Wales programme.

The initiative aims to change perceptions and attitudes towards girls, to promote gender equality, to create a girls' rights movement, and ensure that Wales is a place where girls are heard and feel empowered.

The survey seeks to find out about the everyday challenges and problems faced by girls and young women in Denbighshire, Anglesey, Conwy, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham,from stereotyping and discrimination, to online bullying, body image and more.

Available in English and Welsh, online and as a hard copy, the survey is being promoted through youth services, education authorities and universities and other organisations.

Emma Tamplin, Collaboration Partner, Chwarae Teg, said: “This is a very important piece of work as it’s vital that girls and young women are given every opportunity to reach their full potential.

"It’s only through research like this that we will be able to find out where the real needs are, and where supporting is lacking, so that relevant and effective services can be provided in future.”

Nikki Giant, UK Girls' Rights Strategy and Development Manager, Plan International UK, said: “Plan International UK is delighted to bring our global girls’ rights programming to Wales.

"It is crucial to ensure girls’ voices shape the development of the Champions of Wales programme, and we learn about the barriers that are holding girls back from realising their rights.

"By working with Chwarae Teg we will hear the views and opinions of girls and young women in North Wales to enable us to target our work where it is needed most.”

Anyone who identifies as a girl or young women living in North Wales can take part in the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GirlsNorthWales