Owning Our Lives in a World That Tells Girls Not To

Hannah Shead writes about joining the Own My Life as we develop a girls course! We shared the news about securing funding for that HERE.

Hannah Shead writes about becoming part of the Team Own My Life ✊🏼

I first heard about Own My life in 2023, when I was CEO of a women’s charity. One of my Trustees (the fabulous Sarah Dangar) met Natalie somewhat randomly at the baggage carousel in London Heathrow airport…they had both just been to the European conference on Domestic Violence in Reykjavik. They hit it off immediately, and Sarah was quick to contact me, wanting to connect me with Natalie.

Life is busy, but sooner or later, I got in touch with Natalie, and sooner or later, one of the managers in my women’s centre did the Own My Life facilitator training….

Fast forward 18 months, and I kept hearing this buzz in the women’s centre about Own My Life. Women were queuing up to do the course, and staff were asking to do the facilitator training. I was told about the number of women successfully completing the course…and the changes that they were making in their lives as a result. I was keen to know more.

So, I asked the manager to tell me about it…she went to her office and came back waving the Own My Life WoManual (yes, not manual, but womanual),

I soon saw why it was making such an impact.

The WoManual, and indeed Own My Life more broadly, is a powerful mix of feminist consciousness raising, with practical tools for self-help and empowerment, a hearty dollop of good old-fashioned solidarity building, all topped off with a sprinkle of joy.

What felt radically different from other domestic abuse courses was a sharp focus upon women’s strength and resilience, as opposed to just the behaviours of the perpetrator.

No wonder women were describing this as ‘life changing’.

I soon became an Own My Life Pollinator (self-appointed!) I love to tell people about this programme, and the difference that it makes for women. One of my other roles at the moment is Treasurer for UK Feminista, an organisation doing fantastic work in schools…I have heard from their school lead about the experience of young women…the ways in which misogyny is becoming normalised, and how this plays out within intimate relationships.  

I am also the mum of teenagers…and I see firsthand how a porn culture has crept insidiously into their worlds. They are swimming against the tidal wave…I stay hopeful, but the bigger picture sometimes feels pretty bleak. Like so many right now, I wonder how we got ever here…and where we might go next?

Thankfully, there are reasons to be encouraged, and one of those is the arrival of Inspired to…Own My Life. This is a new programme for girls, aged 14+, designed to meet the needs of adolescent girls, navigating teenage life. It is due to be piloted across a number of sites who already deliver Own My Life, and I am beyond delighted to be given the opportunity to support its roll out and evaluation.

In a world that can feel bleak and overwhelming for our young people, I am heartened to think of the next generation of young women discovering the power of female solidarity.

I am encouraged to know that they will have the chance to do this course…to feel empowered, to believe in themselves and ultimately, to experience what it says on the tin…be inspired to own their lives.

If that can’t offer a bit of cheer for January 2026, I don’t know what can.