How City Girl Network Became the UK’s Largest Women’s Community - And Why It Needs Your Support Now
In 2015, I was living the dream I’d planned for since my teenage years - a little flat in Brighton, a marketing job just off Church Road in Hove, and a whole coastline of possibility ahead of me. I’d grown up in Luton and Milton Keynes, studied songwriting at BIMM and journalism at the University of Sheffield, but Brighton was always the goal - pebbled beach lunches, indie coffee shops, bohemian decor, and the kind of creative community I craved.
But eight months in, I realised something no one warns you about when you move to a new city as an adult: it’s really hard to feel like you belong.
It was a cold October afternoon when I took a solo walk along Hove Promenade. I spotted a girl standing alone, looking out at the sea. She reminded me of a friend - or maybe just my longing for one. I wondered if she felt as lonely as I did. That was the moment I had the idea: Brighton Girl, a community to help women find connection, culture, and real friendships in their city.
I launched a simple blog. Within months, we were hosting events - from coffee meetups and yoga classes to walks and wine nights. Seventeen women came to the first one. Some had lived in the city their whole lives, some had moved the week before. What they had in common was disconnection - and a hunger to find people.
From that first Brighton meetup came rapid growth. Within just six months, Brighton Girl members who had moved to Edinburgh and Berlin reached out, asking if they could launch their own versions. And so, the City Girl Network was born - a connected network of women-led communities helping each other find belonging in the places they live.
Pippa - CEO & Founder of the City Girl Network
How We Became the UK’s Largest Women’s Network
We grew rapidly, becoming an integral guide to women all over the country. They didn’t just find friends through CGN, they found housemates, properties to buy, vets, hairdressers, new jobs, relationship advice, and just about everything they need to live a fulfilling life.
Where they went, we went with them. Quite literally. We expanded out of cities and into commuter belts, starting with Rural Sussex Girl in 2023. This was created by Jas, our reigning Community Manager, who formerly volunteered at the monthly Brighton Girl Clothes Swaps before the pandemic. She moved out of the city and into the countryside, but wanted the spirit of Brighton Girl to be there for her too.
From the very beginning, we’ve grown an amazing community of volunteers, who have made friends, learned new skills, pivoted their careers and grown their confidence. Without them, we simply wouldn’t exist.
One of the thousands of volunteers who’s worked with us over the years is Steph Clarke, a Bristol Girl volunteer turned Head of UK Communities, working with me full time.
She brought with her a background in event production, community strategy and partnership building that proved the perfect match for our mission. Her leadership has helped our local teams flourish - and under her guidance, Bristol Girl became our fastest-growing and most connected community to date.
“I first joined City Girl Network as a volunteer in 2020 and was immediately drawn to its heart-led mission. I was delighted to bring my skills into a paid role and help scale something I truly believe in. It’s a rare and powerful thing - a network that’s genuinely changing lives, one local connection at a time.”
Over nine years later, City Girl Network is the UK’s largest women’s network, with over 200,000 members in 26 communities (and counting) — from Brighton to Bristol and Cardiff, Manchester to London and Perth (Scotland).
We’ve been featured in the Top 100 UK Female Entrepreneurs, and recently launched our own deals and discounts app, partnering with some of the biggest brands in the country.
But we’re still built on the same principle that started it all: one woman feeling lonely, creating something to help others feel less so.
Who We Are
We’re a community & women-led movement helping people feel connected, supported and inspired in the cities they live in. Whether someone’s looking for friends, housemates, travel buddies, a new job, a Pilates studio or an ethical hairdresser - City Girl Network is their first port of call.
But we’re more than just a series of Facebook groups. We’ve helped thousands of women escape vulnerable situations, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and exploitation. We’ve connected founders to clients, freelancers to agencies, and isolated newcomers to lifelong friends.
Our members - average age 25–45 - are highly engaged and community-minded. And they trust us deeply. We’ve become the big sister they turn to for guidance on everything from beauty salons to business coaches, birth prep to brunch spots.
Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. Our communities are open to all women, non-binary people and trans femmes, and we work constantly to ensure our spaces are welcoming, safe and empowering.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of City Girl Network. Over the years, we’ve worked with thousands of them. Many have gone on to receive job promotions, pivot their careers, and find renewed confidence through their involvement with us.
Worthing Girl Wine & Vinyl Night
Don’t Believe Us?
Here’s what our members say in our second-largest community, Bristol Girl (34,000+ members):
“The best for recommendations on food, beauty treatments, events - everything! It’s my go-to whenever I need something local.”
“Women support women, and it’s at the very core of Bristol Girl. Whether you need a hairdresser, an accountant, or just a friend - this is the place.”
“Networking, community events, funny stories - I’d honestly be lost without Bristol Girl.”
“I’m starting a business selling second-hand records and used the City Girl Network to find my graphic designer (Feral & Proud). I’m now looking for an accountant through the group too — meaning the fundamentals of my proud, female-owned business have all come via Bristol Girl, which really matters to me.”
How We’ll Survive
Our network has been run largely on passion, volunteer hours, and goodwill. But to keep it thriving, we need a model that honours our impact and sustains our growth.
Business memberships are the core of that future. They allow us to:
Continue running low-cost events
Keep our communities safe, moderated and inclusive
Create more opportunities for local partnerships and upskilling
Build out national campaigns that amplify marginalised voices
We’ve proven the concept. Now we’re building the foundation to keep it going - and scale it even further.
Photo by Tamara Lawrence
Why Support Now?
Because this kind of network should exist in every city - and we’re on our way to making that happen.
Because in a post-pandemic, cost-of-living, socially-disconnected world, we need more spaces where women can be vulnerable, brave, creative, and supported.
Because connection shouldn’t be a luxury.
Because loneliness is an epidemic - and we already have the cure.
We’re not just nice-to-have. We’re infrastructure.
And if you’ve ever thought, “I love what you do,” - this is the moment to act on it.
What Businesses Get Out of It
When your business joins the City Girl Network Business Directory, you’re not just getting visibility - you're gaining trust, loyalty, and a local community that’s ready to support you.
As a member, you’ll get:
A live profile on our Business Directory (Starter, Promote or Premium)
Promotion across our Facebook groups, newsletters, blogs and events
Opportunities to host events, collaborate or offer discounts
Access to our engaged audience - many of whom are decision-makers in their households and industries
Social proof and word-of-mouth amplification through a trusted, safe platform
This isn’t just advertising. It’s alignment with a movement that has influenced buying decisions, house moves, friendship groups and careers. When City Girl recommends a business, people listen.
We also celebrate and elevate our local business heroes through initiatives like the Brighton Girl Awards, which will expand to other cities in the coming years to shine a light on outstanding community-minded brands.
Join the Movement
Whether you’re a local business, a national brand, or a solo founder looking to get in front of the right people - this is your sign.
>> Become a Business Member Today: https://citygirlnetwork.com/join-the-business-connections-membership
Get 20% off a yearly membership with us until the 31st July with the discount code SUPPORTER
Support women. Grow your business. Power a movement.