A charitable fund set up to tackle the stereotyping of Essex girls has raised £38,000 six months after its inception.

The Essex Women’s Advisory Group (EWAG) describes its aims as to "empower girls who live in Essex to broaden their vision, self-worth and belief, and hopefully to inspire them to reach further, higher and live the dream of an enhanced future regardless of stereotyping".

It has been set up as an endowment fund within the Essex Community Foundation.

Project leader Daphne Field, 70, said she established the group after becoming aware that girls from the Essex area - such as X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon (pictured) - suffered from the 'Essex girl' stereotype.  She told Civil Society she wanted to challenge the inaccurate public perception.

"It's a shame because there are so many successful people in Essex but many are labelled as dumb because of where they come from," Field said. "When, in reality, there are 'Essex girls' in every county in the country."

The group has already raised £38,000 which is benefiting women’s refuges in Essex, Essex Girlguiding and girls in the local Prince’s Trust. It raised half from a fundraising banquet and the other half was matched by the Community Foundation's grassroots grants scheme.

The group also plans to attract Essex businesswomen and artists to advise and mentor girls in the area.

It is planning a 'Day for the Girls of Essex' at Hylands Park in July.