A young woman from Taunton led a discussion on the issues affecting girls and young women in the UK at the Conservative Party Conference last week.

Olivia Hardacre, 24, sat alongside Maggie Throup MP and Sunday Times journalist Sian Griffiths on the panel of the Girlguiding event, entitled Supporting Girls and Building Resilience.

The event explored findings from the 2015 Girls’ Attitudes Survey, Girlguiding’s annual report into the lives of girls and young women.

Olivia, who is Assistant Leader with 1st Galmington Guides, said: “I’m really interested in politics, and was fascinated to see what happens at events like this. It was great to have the opportunity to talk about issues that are important to me on such a public platform.”

The 2015 Girls’ Attitudes Survey gives a stark insight into the many pressures girls face today, from everyday sexism and gender stereotyping to violence against women and girls.

Worryingly this year’s report found that the maelstrom of pressures facing girls is taking its toll on their mental wellbeing and resilience.

Almost half of girls aged 17 to 21 (46 per cent) have personally needed help with their mental health, while 62 per cent of girls aged 11 to 21 know a girl or young woman who has experienced a mental health problem.

As part of the conference, Olivia also participated in a special session on youth issues, getting the opportunity to speak to parliamentarians such as Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, and her own MP, Rebecca Pow.

Olivia said: “If we at Girlguiding want to make a difference to the policies that govern the lives of girls and young women, then we need to talk to the people who are making these policies. Because of this, it’s so important that we attend events like this.”

Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane, said: “I was so impressed with Olivia, and with the hard work and intuition that she put highlighting this report, which raises some really serious issues about girls and young women in society.

“I am very pleased that Girlguiding is being so proactive in pushing this agenda forward to try and improve matters for girls and young women across the UK.”

Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey – now in its seventh year - is the largest survey of its kind into the lives of girls and young women in the UK.

The Conservative Party Conference was held in Manchester from 4 – 7 October.