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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…

Ayisatu Emore – Enterprise and Learning Manager

As a British Yoruba woman, I have a great deal of pride, empathy and entrepreneurship embedded in me. This very much led me to setting up a CIC idaraya-life.org – Feel Good, Your Way! in 2020 to provide access to free health and wellbeing activities to support women of the African Diaspora to have a safe space to explore physically activity and creativity. That was 4 years ago and it evolved rapidly while I gained experience and confidence in hosting residential events, teaching textiles crafts, outdoor activities and managing the business needs of a Social Enterprise.

I’m naturally curious and get a deep joy from seeing people believe in themselves, have revelations and understand something that once alluded them. I get to do this in spades at Flourish Together with my broad range of work experience ranging from corporate communications, project management, textiles craft and as a health and wellbeing practitioner. I get to spend time helping Social Entepreneurs who are often running on skeleton crews or 1-woman bands, to build their business strategy, organise their thinking, practically plan next steps and most importantly, think of ways to ensure there is a balance between their work and personal needs. I am the most generalist person I know, which means I can support with most curiosities clients come to us with and couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my time supporting women.

What’s Next?

Delivering 1:1 enterprising coaching and facilitating sessions for our current enterprise development programmes running till February 2025, develop our internal digital infrastructure and refreshing our digital resources such as our website and developing our suite of self-paced accessible paid-for online content to support people outside of when we are running funded projects.

Interesting Fact

I had attended 7 high-schools across 3 countries by the time I was in Year 10. It meant that I repeated Year 7 three times as each country had a different schooling system. But I got really good at making quick friends and endearing myself to new people! 😉

Connect with Ayisatu

Ayisatu (ah-yee-shah-too) is based at the Flourish Hub during the week and is available to answer any queries related to Coaching, Social Enterprise development [from setting on up, getting funding and contracts to developing a strategy grow your business] and Yoruba cuisine 😋. You can reach her on Ayisatu@flourishtogether.org.uk !

On the 19th September 2024, the Flourish team gathered our current and previous T2G cohorts for the Time2Grow Marketplace at the Resonance Centre, for transformative day that brought together changemakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators from diverse industries. The atmosphere was electric with inspiration, collaboration, and learning as attendees gathered to share their stories, promote their projects, and engage in meaningful conversations about driving social impact through business.

The event kicked off with an insightful panel discussion featuring a lineup of women changemakers who have been making waves in their respective fields. We heard from;

Tik Pavilion – Co-founder of Happy Me Community; an organisation dedicated to addressing the need for improved antenatal and postnatal services in Bury. She hosts community groups which focus on the liberation and empowerment of women of all backgrounds, ensuring they have the necessary support when navigating pregnancy and post-partum.

June Williams – A certified practitioner in various Mind-Body Complementary therapies and founder of Street Holistics where she integrates holistically with modern medical practices to offer a comprehensive approach to healing and well-being.

Karen Livesey – Founder of No Whispers CIC; which delivers training and awareness in child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and county lines.

Jenni-Anne Smith – Works at Loaves and Fishes Salford, a drop-in centre in the heart of Salford supporting anyone who needs help.

Dee Sheehan – Community Activist

These women, who hailed from industries as diverse as science, wellness, and community services, shared their experiences of building social enterprises that not only generate income but also contribute to positive social change. Their stories resonated deeply with the audience, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs of leading purpose-driven businesses in today’s competitive landscape.

The marketplace was alive with activity as entrepreneurs showcased their products, ranging from handmade goods to eco-friendly products and digital services. It wasn’t just a marketplace in the traditional sense; it was a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the passion these women have poured into their ventures. Each stall told a story—of impact, sustainability, and community.

Workshops were another key highlight of the day, offering attendees practical tools and insights to further develop their enterprises. One workshop focused on business development strategies, guiding entrepreneurs through the process of scaling their businesses, managing growth, and securing funding. Another workshop delved into the ever-important realm of digital marketing, providing hands-on tips for building an online presence, engaging with customers through social media, and utilizing digital tools to drive brand awareness.

The event wasn’t just about business—there was a strong sense of community, connection, and support. The diversity of entrepreneurs in the room—from first-time business owners to seasoned professionals—created a rich environment where everyone could learn from one another. Attendees from different backgrounds and industries found common ground in their shared goal of using business as a force for good, exchanging advice and forging new partnerships.

And last but not least key part of the event was the food—deliciously catered by local social enterprises.

The energy and conversations flowing throughout the day made it clear that this event was more than just a networking opportunity—it was a space for real growth and connection. Entrepreneurs walked away with new ideas, tools to enhance their businesses, and a renewed sense of purpose.

In a world where business can often feel disconnected from community impact, this event was a powerful reminder of how women-led social enterprises are changing the game. It highlighted the importance of supporting one another, sharing resources, and collaborating to ensure that everyone thrives.

As we look ahead, events like these will continue to play a crucial role in fostering inclusive economic growth, where women entrepreneurs not only succeed but lead the way in creating businesses that make a lasting difference.

This gathering of changemakers was a testament to the strength, creativity, and resilience of women in social enterprise across Manchester, and it provided a glimpse of the exciting future of this growing sector. We can’t wait to see what these inspiring women achieve next!

Last week, Flourish co-hosted a SOUP event in partnership with The Business Group and Manchester Social Economy Alliance (MSEA) at The New Oxford in Salford. In this networking style event, a flurry of incredible organisations worked the crowd and pitched to their peers in hopes of securing either guaranteed £1,000 first seed fund or a runners-up award of £350 to support their social venture development to increase the impact within their community.

Over a generous helping of Leek and Potato soup and sides provided by Deli-Lama restaurant, the audience heard pitches from;

Mary Delaney  – Neuro In Nature CIC – Offer outdoor, nature-based therapies, with qualified clinical neuropsychologists, to support people living with long term neurological conditions, their families, loved ones and carers. Neuro In Nature CIC (@neuroinnature) • Instagram photos and videos

Laura Naylor – The Breast Awareness Clinic – Offers breast cancer education, advice and support surrounding the risks of breast cancer, with a focus on comprehensive guidance and consultation. Laura Naylor BSc (Hons) Clinical Nurse Specialist in Breast (@breastawareness_clinic) • Instagram photos and videos / The Breast Awareness Clinic | Knutsford | Cheshire

Jill Clifford – The Community Counsellor (CATS) – Offers person centered /Talking Therapy for social entrepreneurs to access counselling as and when they need it. The Community Counsellor CATS (@thecommunitycounsellor) • Instagram photos and videos

Valery Touchet Djomgoue – VTCreation – Project idea: Raise awareness about sustainability in the fashion industry within the local community through educative and upcycling workshops, and Clothing Swap events for women and children. Valery Touchet (@_vtcreation) • Instagram photos and videos

Kate Richardson & Ghada Soliman – M16 Matters – Aim to launch a Community Voices Podcast for Whalley Range which serves as a platform for the diverse voices of the local community. 

Rebbecca Marshall – Body Mind Educate – Provide youth advocacy and personal development education workshops and training facilitation for young people in Salford, Greater Manchester. BodyMind Educate (@bodymindeducate.bme) • Instagram photos and videos / Teaching Workshops | Bodymindeducate | Manchester / BodyMind Educate (facebook.com)

Adetutu Awojide – Afro Tee Hair – Haircare brand which educate individuals on understanding and caring for afro hair through workshops, webinars and tutorials. Ade Afro Tee Hair (@afroteehair) • Instagram photos and videos / Afro Tee Hair

MARC the Printers – A family run, environmentally friendly printing service which only use soya ink and recycled paper. Marc The Printers (@marctheprinters) • Instagram photos and videos

0161 Community Gym – A community ran gym offering Fitness, Calisthenics, Boxing and Martial Arts for all ages and abilities. 0161 Community Gym (@0161community_gym) • Instagram photos and videos / (14) Facebook

The audience decided by casting a vote on their ballot card for the initiative they felt was most deserving. It was no easy decision but Diversity Youth was awarded our first place seed fund.

Diversity Youth – A mixed ability youth club founded by mum Sarah Crawshaw and friends after she was unable to find a club for her daughter with cerebral palsy to attend. Sarah intends to use the seed fund to purchase equipment and ensure she can run more sessions up to the end of the year. Diversity Youth meet every Thursday, at St Clements with St Matthias Lower Broughton from 4pm to 8pm. The sessions are £1.50 each for those aged 5 to 15 years old. (14) DIVERSITY YOUTH CLUB Salford | Facebook

Our runners up MARC the printers was awarded £350 which will go towards purchasing another printer that will see the family run business into the 60th year of operation.

As always, the SOUP was a great success and we’ve had some inspiring feedback as it provided a great opportunity to network with local VCSEs and social enterprises across Greater Manchester. As for those who didn’t win the grant this time round still made invaluable connections, initiated collaborations with the organisations in attendance and have the choice of accessing the comprehensive social enterprise development support from ourselves at Flourish.

If you missed this SOUP event, our next one is at our 11th Birthday and Altrincham Flourish Hub launch and you can find tickets on our Eventbrite.

Plus, if you’d like pitch or no know anyone or an organisation who would like the chance to win some seed investments please fill out this EOI –https://forms.gle/AVsJdoeyRk7bxDro6 and someone from the team will be in contact!

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…

Judith Nyanjowa – Enterprise and Learning Manager

I have always been an advocate for women from a very young age. I love to be part of something that is creating change for the better and making a difference in peoples lives and as Enterprise and Learning Manager I am excited to work with woman changemakers who are making a difference within their communities supporting them to be better and access opportunities available to them. 

Interests

My passion lies in fighting discrimination of any kind. I am passionate about empowering communities and promoting equity. I have had varied roles working with young people, in housing and as a charity worker. I am part of a women’s network, supporting women from racially marginalised backgrounds and some restricted by immigration laws using lived experience to highlight their experiences and make a difference within their communities.

I’m currently delivering and supporting women on the Bury and Cheetham Hill T2G programmes, with the hope they’ll be able to follow their passions, foster the courage to make the changes they wish to see in their communities and their lives too.

You can find Judith in the Flourish hub on Thursdays but you can reach her at judith@flourishtogether.org.uk