Barrow one of toughest areas for girls to grow up in - report

The town was ranked the third worst place in the country for girls growing up by charity Plan International.

It scored low on an index based on 12 indicators including life expectancy, general health,  child poverty and crime. 

North East Lincolnshire and Blackpool were the only areas ranked lower on the list.

The top performing local authorities were East Dunbartonshire, Sutton, Isle of Anglesey, Lisburn and Castlereagh and South Oxfordshire.  

The index also looked at teenage pregnancy, participation in education, employment or training, STEM uptake, attainment at KS4, pay data, feelings of safety at night, sexual assault and voter turnout. 

As part of data collection for report - the State of Girls’ Rights in the UK - the charity says surveyed nearly 3,000 girls and young women aged 12 to 21 across the UK.

Rose Caldwell, the chief executive of Plan International UK, said:  “Our report finds that no matter where in the UK girls are, they are not experiencing the progress on gender equality that they've been promised and still face barriers to leading healthy lives, obtaining a well-rounded education, and feeling safe and protected. 

“Society has been increasingly telling girls they can be and do anything, but they are still held back by outdated stereotypes and unfair expectations.

"Growing up in a cost-of-living crisis and a climate emergency, girls feel uncertain and anxious about their own future and the future of the world. 

“We know gender equality is long overdue. Tired of empty words of empowerment, girls want to see real tangible change in their lives. There is room for all communities to better support girls’ rights but they need urgent support from the Government to deliver better outcomes for girls. 

“Our report should sound the alarm for all politicians and leaders. Girls want to have their voices heard. The new UK Government must do more to create meaningful change that tackles inequality and ends discrimination for girls.”