♀️Bath and Somerset’s Most Inspiring Women 2026 | Ruth Keily

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Bath & North East Somerset’s most inspiring women.

Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.

Today we put the spotlight on Ruth Keily, CEO of Mentoring Plus.

Tell us about you and your work:

I’m CEO of Mentoring Plus, a brilliant youth charity supporting young people with one-to-one mentoring and group activities across B&NES. Over 200 children, teens and young adults per year who are struggling in education, with family difficulties and mental wellbeing benefit from one-to-one support, focused on getting out and about and pursuing positive interests. It transforms their outlook, aspirations and self-belief.

What are you most proud of?

I lead an amazing team of professionals who help deliver this impactful work and keep it safe. I’m really proud of them and the professional reputation we have built, and for keeping the charity going in a very challenging funding environment.

How does it feel to be recognised as one of Bath’s Most Inspiring Women?

I was delighted to learn that my team and Trustees had collaborated on my nomination. It means a lot!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I like working as a woman and working with women. I enjoy how women often value collaboration and connection over personal gains, but I’ve also seen how this can disadvantage female colleagues. It’s easy to let perfectionism and ‘what others think’ rule our thinking, which can make us unnecessarily risk-averse. Celebrating women should make us think about valuing our courage and conviction without losing kindness and consensus.

This year’s IWD theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?

I see it every day with young women and girls offered attention, positive regard and the chance to make positive choices by their female mentors. We need about 60 adult volunteers for one of our mentoring projects every year, and women outnumber men as volunteers about two to one. It’s often the mentor’s own personal journey which makes them a great role model, and seeing the impact they can make on a younger woman is hugely meaningful for them too.

What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?

Worry a lot less about what other people are thinking – they are usually thinking about themselves! Have courage and remember, difficult things can also be good things.

This feature is sponsored by Milsted Langdon accountants. Milsted Langdon are supporting this activity for a fourth consecutive year as they are passionate about supporting women in business and helping local communities thrive through their work with business owners, charities and not-for-profits.