Flourish Together

Investing in women as a force for social change

Flourish Together Team

CHANGEMAKER OF THE MONTH – September✨

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This month Flourish is proud to celebrate Kirsty Galloway, founder of Yellow Beacon CIC, bringing mindfulness to underserved communities in Greater Manchester to aid mental health and wellbeing. 

Kirsty participated in our 2022 Time to Grow programme to help consolidate her business ideas and get started with her social enterprise. After participating in the end of programme Mentorathon, Kirsty was awarded seed funding from Flourish, which she used for professional development and training with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. With the help of Flourish’s one-to-one support, she was successful in securing start-up funding from UnLtd. 

Since 2022, Yellow Beacon CIC has continued to grow, supporting over 100 people through their bespoke trauma-informed mindfulness programmes, workshops, and one-to-one sessions. Their work supports a wide variety of people, including  those who have experienced trauma, adults in areas of socio-economic deprovation, autistic adults, and parents and carers of neurodivergent children. More recently, their work has evolved to offer wellbeing support to neurodivergent social entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Manchester Social Economy Alliance and Manchester Social Entrepreneurs. 

Kirsty started Yellow Beacon CIC after a decade working in the charity sector, where she noticed a gap in the market for trauma informed and accessible mindfulness provision in the mental health sector. This became more evident at the start of her own trauma recovery journey and her own experiences of adverse effects in meditation. Lived and professional experience are at the heart of Yellow Beacon CIC and Kirsty and her team are excited to see what comes next!

Find out more at: https://yellowbeacon.org

CHANGEMAKER OF THE MONTH – AUGUST✨

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This month, Flourish Together is proud to celebrate Sanam Iqbal, founder of The Art of Joy Project and in-house therapist at Flourish CIC, whose work continues to inspire and uplift communities across Greater Manchester.

Sanam’s story highlights the transformative power of creativity, compassion, and courage, and the role organisations like Flourish play in enabling that change. To date, Flourish has supported over 600 women changemakers and helped develop more than 3,000 social ventures, offering mentoring, investment, and peer learning opportunities. Her journey is a powerful illustration to what becomes possible when women are given the tools and support to lead with purpose.

Sanam first connected with Flourish in 2020 with an idea and a passion to make a difference. Through our Time to Grow programme, she gained the tools, confidence, and community she needed to bring The Art of Joy Project to life. From podcasting workshops to networking support, Flourish helped her navigate the social impact sector and build a sustainable organisation rooted in healing and joy. As Sanam shared, “They really opened my eyes to the way the sector works… it has really helped me learn the things I need to help me grow my organisation”.

Since then, Sanam has supported women, and now men, through trauma-informed sessions, one-to-one support, and domestic abuse programmes. Her work is deeply personal, shaped by her own lived experiences and a fierce commitment to helping others find safety, strength, and self-worth. She’s even expanded her impact through a cake business that helps fund her initiatives, with customers including Flourish and Manchester City Council.

From stepping into public speaking to planning school sessions on healthy relationships, Sanam is constantly evolving, always with the goal of creating spaces where people feel seen and supported. Her presence at Flourish events, including a live chat for the council, has left a lasting impression, and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of her journey.

This September, Sanam is facilitating a powerful two-part workshop titled “Empowerment Within”, designed to help women explore their self-beliefs, internal narratives, and personal boundaries. Held at Flourish Hub in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, the sessions take place on 24th September and 1st October, from 10am to 12:30pm. The workshop offers a safe, inspiring space for open dialogue and creative expression, culminating in the creation of personal vision boards.

Sanam is also offering a “Youth Vision Board Workshop”, which will be held on 14th and 28th September, from 11am to 1:30pm, and invites young women aged 16-25 to explore their beliefs, aspirations, and goals in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Both workshops are free to attend, with refreshments and materials provided, and are funded by the UK Government, WEA (Adult Learning Within Reach), and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority).

📞 Contact Sanam at 07849 028906 for more info.
📸 Follow her work on Instagram: @theartofjoyproject / @Sanam_thetherapist

You can also follow her on Facebook at The Art of Joy Project

Pop-up Spa Updates and Appreciation!

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As we take a short summer pause, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our pop-up spa so far. Your visits, kind words, and continued encouragement mean the world to us.

Over this past year, our team of 10 dedicated therapists has seen a high volume of bookings for affordable treatments.

Whether you stopped by for a treatment, shared our services with friends, or simply cheered us on from afar, we are so grateful to be part of your wellness journey.

We can’t wait to welcome you back from September 7, 2025 to help you relax, recharge, and flourish.

Whether you’re craving a calming massage or a rejuvenating facial, you can now pre-book your September appointments today via Treatwell. Book us here or email info@flourishtogether.org.uk for more details! 

Meanwhile, if you are interested in potential earlier bookings outside of our pop-up spas, please contact some of your favourite therapists below!

Tamara (Reflexology) – tami_bana@yahoo.com / 07852749590

Soniya – healnthriivetherapies@gmail.com / 07349518543 | thedivinehub.com/massage
The Divine Hub
8 Ward Street
Didsbury
Manchester
M20 6TJ

If you are interested in arranging your own holistic health event with us, please email us at info@flourishtogether.org.uk.

CHANGEMAKER OF THE MONTH – JULY✨

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At Flourish Together, we love spotlighting individuals who are driving real change in their communities—and this July, we’re thrilled to celebrate Beth Collins, the visionary founder of PIE (Pursuing Individual Excellence).

Flourish has supported Beth during her start-up phase and have been pleased to have PIE as a core member based at our Flourish Hub in Stockport.

PIE is a social enterprise that helps young people become “future ready” by equipping individuals with the tools, experiences, and confidence to pursue the futures they truly want. From communication workshops and mentoring to digital skills and community action projects, PIE’s programmes are designed to meet young people where they are and help them thrive.

Beth launched PIE in 2017 after a decade in teaching, where she worked as an English teacher, Pupil Premium Co-ordinator, and manager of a Social Inclusion Centre. Her experience with vulnerable and disengaged young people inspired her to create a platform that could reach beyond the classroom walls.

Beth’s impact goes far beyond the programmes she runs. She’s cultivating a culture of resilience, creativity, and empowerment, and her work is helping shape a generation of changemakers. Whether it’s through the L!STEN Youth Alliance or partnerships with organisations like Community Computers, Beth is making sure young people have the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

We’re proud to honour Beth Collins as our Changemaker of the Month. Her dedication to pursuing individual excellence is a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, we unlock futures full of possibility. We are currently collaborating to pilot a new enterprise and social action bootcamp for 16 to 25 year olds and look forward to showcasing the impact of this work together.

Want to learn more about PIE and support their work? Visit PIE’s official website.

The Enrichment Effect | Spotify

(@pieuksocial) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook

MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2025!

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Over the last few months, the team of staff and board of directors at Flourish Together has quickly evolved! Merging the skillsets of multi-media, social enterprise, housing associations and health and wellbeing, the new additions to the team promise an exciting future ahead! So, introducing…

Lizbeth Sepulveda – Flourish Administration and Hub Coordinator

“I moved to the UK from the USA in May this year and come from an extensive background in advocating and fighting to make a positive impact in the world and in people’s lives, whether that be through social change or personal development. I believe that one person can cause a ripple effect and move so many others. Coming from a background that has endured suppression and undue hardships, I strive to place my time where it matters. Flourish has given me the opportunity to carry on those values into the UK and I am excited for what is to come!”

What’s Next? 

“I want to continue growing and also making a difference in the world. I don’t feel fulfilled if I am not working towards what I believe in. I want others to be able to reach their full potential while I also push for my own.” 

Random fact

“I earned my commercial pilot’s license during Covid lockdown times and I like to play the Ukulele during my spare time.”

Have your say on the future of IVF in Greater Manchester!

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IVF is both a challenging and wonderful topic and one which has impacted many women and families across our networks.

Given we work with so many women and women’s support organisations, we are pleased offer the chance for our networks to voice their views, experiences, needs and suggestions to help improve options, pathways and support in future, backed by the NHS and run by sensitive professionals at Greater Manchester Integrated Health Care Partnership.

Focus groups on:

  • 16th July 2025, 4.30 – 6pm – Altrincham Flourish Hub – Platform 4 Altrincham Interchange, Stamford New Road, Altrincham WA14 1EN. 
  • 11th July 2025, 4.30 – 6pm – Heaton Chapel Flourish Hub (above the station) 2 Tatton Road, Heaton Chapel, SK4 4RL

Find out more and register for the focus group happening 4.30 – 6pm, Wednesday 16th July at our Altrincham Hub on Platform 4 of Altrincham Interchange (accessible by tram, train, bus and car) by emailing the organising team gmhscp.engagement@nhs.net with the reference Flourish Altrincham.

Also the public consultation runs from 18th June – 29th July and you can complete a survey or join wider events and find out more via this link:

https://getinvolved.gmintegratedcare.org.uk/en-GB/projects/ivf-consultation

Please get involved if you feel able and share with your networks. Follow up with the organising team mentioned above directly for further details.