Supporting Women in Social Enterprise

Women changemakers share stories and frustrations around Women's Safety in Greater Manchester.

Our 14th Podcast came about when students from MMU approached to to create and facilitate this conversation - so why are we still talking about women's safety in 2023?

With a live recording of the panel discussion, chaired by the students of MMU and hosted by The Old Abbey Taphouse - the podcast features an incredible panel of women including :-

Rachele Evaroa - Rachele is co-founder of The Old Abbey Taphouse, a passionate advocate and supporter of STEAM, equality and community - she works to bring the realms of academia, business and community together. With a breadth of experience and knowledge on all things community and how important it is to create safe and inclusive spaces, drawing on her background in events and venue management; Rachele brings great insights to the conversations surrounding the safety of women in Greater Manchester.

This is particularly relevant when we look at the motivations for creating this conversation, the MMU students noted the following areas of concern for women in Greater Manchester :-

This data prompted the students from MMU, in partnership with Flourish to consider whether the borough is a hotspot for gender-based violence - and how we mitigate and address this through community action and conversation.

Sharlene Small, founder of Manchester's Got Talent Youth talks all things online safety and how in a digital age, girls and women's safety in more important than ever - particularly when there is a more dominant community focus on gang crime through a male lense. Sharlene shares her own experiences relative to how safety translates online to real life and what the consequences of this can be.

Dee Sheehan, who has campaigned extensively in the women's equality and safety arena for many years, working in recent years to progress the Womens Equality Party policies and having garnered significant support in challenging the opening of a Hooters branch in Salford, talks openly about the sticking points and stagnation of effective safety policies and procedures across Greater Manchester.

Dee is the co-lead on Women's Safety for GM 4 Women 2028

The panel is joined by Sam, who describes herself as a feminist activist and shares personal and impactful commentary on her own experiences and challenges regarding women's safety in Greater Manchester.

The questions posed by MMU students addressed the key areas of concern regarding women's safety in Greater Manchester and highlighted the gaps in the current policies and policing in and around the city - reflected and reiterated through our panels ruminations and frustrations.

We hope that this podcast adds another voice to the dialogue driving forward the conversation and more importantly, the actions in facilitating a safer Manchester for all women.

Women changemakers share their experience on how they feel about Financial Resilience and we hear anecdotes, examples and tips on ways to find it.

Women changemakers share their experience on how they feel about the term Imposter Syndrome, whether they have experienced it and we hear anecdotes, examples and tips on ways to tackle it.

In this episode we talk to women led ventures who have run crowdfunding to hear about the highs, lows and opportunities.

Women with lived experience share views and insights on how to improve services to better meet their needs and help budget holders to Commission with Compassion & Conviction

Women changemakers share hints, tips and experience on how they are securing funding and investment.

In our 8th Episode we take a look at Problem Solving in challenging times. We interview a range of inspiring women changemakers who are tackling social issues through their ventures providing holistic, practical solutions with a people first approach. 

First up we have Rachele Evaroa from The Old Abbey Taphouse, an independent community hub in a Pub based in Hulme. Nestled amongst the Manchester Science Park on the Greenheys Estate, @Old_Abbey_MSP was founded with just £2k and has developed into a thriving, innovative and much loved community hub in Hulme, bringing residents, the community and organisations together to serve the needs of the local community in a holistic way.

You’ll hear how The Old Abbey Taphouse’s innovative approach to problem solving has resulted in creative, grassroots solutions to the issues affecting communities as a result of COVID-19, from partnering up with @AcornManchesterto provide meals to local residents struggling to make ends meet through their pay-as-you-feel meal scheme to setting up a community radio to provide a platform for local residents. 

Rachele shares her journey and the range of challenges they have faced from threat of eviction to funding worries, and the importance of thinking creatively when it comes to problem solving. She shares her top tips on developing solutions to problems and highlights the importance of resilience, positive mindset and the vital part that a good support network plays especially as a social entrepreneur!

Next we hear from TV Producer turned Property Developer @SallyLister on her venture H.A.V.E Homes CIC, an innovative property development social enterprise passionate about ensuring community, sustainability and values are at the heart of the property process. Taking a holistic approach to the property development process, Sally has incorporated Health, Aspiration, Value and Education into her business, with a people first approach. Sally shares her journey on why she started H.A.V.E Homes due to the lack of quality housing especially in the rental market in North Manchester and her determination to create more sustainability in communities by only selling to owner-occupiers, not landlords – putting people before profit. 

Not only is Sally passionate about creating homes that are innovative and sustainable, she shares her views on how she provided valuable career opportunities to apprentices through @TheMcrCollege, utilising local talent and giving young people the experience they needed to kickstart their career. 

Sally’s multi-faceted approach to problem solving has resulted in an inspiring, innovative business with real heart. She shares her insights on the importance of research when decision making and utilising different techniques to come up with the best solution. You’ll hear how COVID-19 has created a platform for more open minded conversations on the need for a more holistic approach towards housing and Sally’s hope that more property developers will mirror her H.A.V.E Homes model 

She ends with her hope for a change in the profit-first approach to property development and how COVID-19 has created a platform for more open minded conversations on the need for a more holistic approach towards housing with a people first mentality. 

We also look at how challenging personal experiences can equip you with the skills and mindset required to cope with challenges more effectively. And the barriers that can arise when trying to solve issues from investment challenges which have been aggravated due to COVID-19 creating more of a grant dependant culture to getting noticed in the media as a woman changemaker. 

Finally, we end the episode with some insights from a range of women changemakers sharing their thoughts on problem solving, from tips on how to approach an issue to practical steps you can take when you’re facing a challenge. 

We hear from Fi @FiBeginnings who’s had a whirlwind few months since setting up her new venture New Beginnings Manchester  which provides health and wellbeing support through events, meditation and other holistic methods. Having set up just before lockdown, Fi shares her journey on how she quickly adapted her services online developing innovative solutions to those looking for health and wellbeing support building up a membership of 500 in just a few weeks!

Next we have Hannah @hannahjskinner1 from @MilkHoneyMCR sharing some practical tips on problem solving. From the importance of focusing on your vision to get you through tough times to dreaming big and thinking outside the box to develop creative solutions. 

Problem solving is an evolving process, we hope this episode gives you some new insights, tips and tools you can incorporate into your own process when you’re next faced with a challenge!

 

Rachele Evaroa @Old_Abbey_MSP, Sally Lister @SallyListerfrom H.A.V.E Homes CIC, Fi @FiBeginningsfrom New Beginnings Manchester, Hannah Skinner @hannahjskinner1 from Milk and Honey Café @MilkHoneyMCR, Jane Greystone from City of Sanctuary @ManchesterCoS

 

For more info on our upcoming events, visit our eventbrite page. 

To find out more about the amazing work of The Old Abbey Taphouse and to sample their new vegan burger visit http://www.theoldabbeytaphouse.co.uk/

For more info on the range of support on offer from New Beginnings Manchester visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/585297935405602/?ref=share

For more info on City of Sanctuary visit https://manchester.cityofsanctuary.org

Supporting Women in Social Enterprise is a MIC Media Production @MICmediaUK and is produced and edited by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull @SilentVic

We know it’s a challenging time at the moment, so we’re delving deep with a bumper episode with 10 awesome women changemakers putting health and wellbeing on the map! With our 7th episode our very first virtually recorded podcast, we haven’t let the COVID-19 lockdown stop us getting our podcast out there, so tune in to this jam-packed episode!

 

As social entrepreneurs, juggling multiple plates is a given! And as much as you'd like, your self-care probably isn’t at the top of your priorities list. So we’ve decided to dedicate this month to the value of self-care, health and wellbeing. We’ll share insights from women changemakers who have set up health and wellbeing ventures to support the community from innovative modest wear for those with dementia to a support network for new mums. 

 

First of all, we hear from a diverse range of inspiring women working and living in Salford providing valuable insights on why health and wellbeing is paramount for their social enterprises and the challenges that emerge. With Jasmin Bakhre @WomenWithWings3on why a tailored approach is vital when working with diverse communities, to the inspiring Michaela Parnell @MAParnellHS on why she set up HS Action Together @HsAction to provide valuable advice and support to sufferers of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) where none was available, from creating a community for sufferers to share their views to raising the profile of HS on a national and international scale. We also hear from the award winning Kimberley Bond from Visit from the Stork @VFTSeditor, on why she set up her social enterprise to support new mums and how B.O.O.B.S (Be Open On Breastfeeding in Salford) was born!

 

We’ve got the amazing Natasha Anand Boojihawan from @YourEarthClinic, with her inspiring story from burnout to rejuvenating health and the birth of Your Earth Clinic.  And how creating a holistic social enterprise has allowed her to achieve a work-life balance whilst fulfilling her life purpose.

 

You’ll get some health and wellbeing tips from female changemakers who are providing grassroots support to communities in the fields of brain injury, dementia, mental health and more! And finally we’ll end with some top health and wellbeing tips from how channelling your inner creativity can be a great medium to better health to the benefits of singing and mindfulness! So tune in to this bumper episode, definitely not one to be missed!

 

 

 

Natasha Anand Boojihawan @YourEarthClinic, Heather Henry @HeatherHenry4 from  @BreathChamps, Kimberley Bond  from Visit from the Stork @VFTSeditor, 

Michaela Parnell @MAParnellHS from HS Action Together @HsAction, Jasmin Bakhre from Women with Wings @WomenWithWings3, Barbara Lewis from Limon Attire @LimonAttire, Rachel from Plastic Shed @Plastic_Shed, Emma Lenihan from Calm Connections @calmcic and Karen Howarth from Brain Health Breakthrough @brainhealthCIC, 

 

For more info on our upcoming events, visit our eventbrite page. 

 

For more info on Calm Connections and their family mindfulness support visit www.calmconnections.org/

 

For advice and support for new mums and breastfeeding mums in Salford from Visit from the Stork http://www.visitfromthestork.co.uk

 

For creative ideas on how to upcycle your plastic – a great lockdown activity, visit www.plasticshed.org/save-plastic-from-the-bin

 

 

Supporting Women in Social Enterprise is a MIC Media Production @MICmediaUK and is produced and edited by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull @SilentVic

You’re in for a treat with our jam-packed 6th podcast where we take a deep dive into Funding and Income Generation Plans for your social enterprise. We explore some of the diverse ways you can generate income, with inspiration from a range of community changemakers at different stages of their socent journey, a panel of inspiring women social entrepreneurs with innovative approaches to income generation and wise words from our co-founder @Nickala5 on the 5 elements of an income generation cocktail! 

Ensuring you have a sustainable income stream is vital for any business, and with the majority of social enterprises heavily reliant on grant funding this can be a constant challenge, especially in the current climate. Thankfully, we picked the brains of our co-founder @Nickala5 on the diverse ways to generate income from selling a product and services to funding and fundraising – everyone has a unique income generation cocktail! 

We interview a panel of fabulous female social entrepreneurs and find out the challenges they’ve experienced with funding and generating income, and the innovative ways they’ve diversified to grow their business. We hear from the inspiring community changemaker Lindsay @ReddyLane Market Garden on how she got her business up and running, the alternative methods to raising finance from Laura and Rachel @careauxofficial and contributions from Kelly @_H_E_A_R_T__, Natasha @YourEarthClinicand Yvonne @ Sawa BBQ. 

Finally we share some vital lessons from community changemakers at different stages of their social enterprise journey – from what type of income stream they’ve decided to chose and why to where they get the vital support they need to build a sustainable business.

Some of the resources mentioned included the free Adapt and Thrive virtual summit:  https://shareimpact.org/adaptthrivewelcome

and Yvonne mentioned support from GMCVO: https://www.gmcvo.org.uk/gmsocinvest 

And if the podcast wasn’t enough – we’ve got just the top-up you need with our Income Generation Strategies event on Wed 29th April where we’ll explore top tips on how to diversify your income with sustainability in mind.  We’ll also share resources and other support available in light of Covid-19 to ensure you have the toolkit you need to get your business moving. 

For more info on our upcoming events, visit our eventbrite page. 

Thanks to all our fab contributors involved in this podcast! 

Lindsay @@reddylane Market Garden, Laura and Rachel @careauxofficial, Yvonne @ Sawa BBQ, Kelly @ @_H_E_A_R_T__, Natasha @@YourEarthClinic, Emma @Calmcic, Saima @ Amazeballs, Rachel @One Small Step, Gemma Grattan @ The Bee Thrive

 

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