Girls who climb: a vision turned reality!

Girls Who Climb is a flagship event created, designed and led by Melissa Peake, Head of English at Dixons Fazakerley Academy. What began as an idea developed entirely from her own vision has grown into a powerful annual event dedicated to inspiring young women and expanding their sense of possibility.

Now in its second year, Girls Who Climb stands as a reflection of Melissa’s commitment to ensuring that every student can see a future beyond perceived barriers. Built from the ground up, the event has been independently conceptualised, organised and delivered to provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage with real women, real journeys and real success.

At its core, Girls Who Climb is about aspiration, confidence and choice. It challenges the idea that success follows a single path and reinforces the belief that gender, background or starting point should never define what a young person can achieve.

This year’s event brought together an exceptional panel of women from a wide range of industries, each offering honest insight into their journeys:

• Natasha Dowie – Professional footballer
• Poems By Em – Liverpool poet and performer
• Anna Eager – DJ
• Kirsty Snaith – Police Officer
• Sophie Delaney – Dentist
• Holly Braithwaite – Founder of Pow8r
• Charl & Molly – Founders of The Doll’s House Cosmetics
• Jo Robinson Howarth – Founder of The Happiness Club

A particularly powerful moment of the evening came from Rhiannon Zeqaj, a published young author who, while still studying at university, has already established herself through her poetry collection The Words That Gave Me Wings. Rhiannon spoke to students about her personal journey and performed an original poem written exclusively for Girls Who Climb, capturing the emotional realities of growing into womanhood. Her performance was a moving reminder that voice, creativity and ambition have no age limit.

Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, live performances and networking opportunities, students were able to hear first-hand about resilience, risk-taking and the realities of building a successful career in different fields.

Melissa Peake, founder of Girls Who Climb, opened the evening by reflecting on the purpose behind the event:

“What started as an idea in my head has grown into something I am incredibly proud of; an event that brings together powerful role models, honest conversations and real inspiration for our students. It feels like a legacy project, something that reflects my belief that our girls deserve to see what is possible, not just be told about it.”

The event concluded with a powerful reminder that success is not linear, and that confidence and belief are just as important as talent. Students were encouraged to continue conversations with speakers, ask questions and begin to shape their own ambitions.

Girls Who Climb is more than an event, it is a growing platform, created and led by Melissa Peake, that is actively shaping the futures of young women.