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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…

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

This summer, Natasha the Co-founder of The Birdbox Mcr and winner of our SOUP event at Sofra Cafe, used her cash award to create something truly special: a day dedicated to celebrating the efforts of her hardworking volunteers.

Natasha’s vision was simple yet powerful: to bring her volunteers together for a day of appreciation, allowing them to relax, reflect, and have their voices heard in shaping the future of the organization. Thanks to the funding she received, she organized a celebratory lunch for 13 team members hosted by local food business Tibetan Kitchen, held on their newly refurbished double-decker bus, providing a unique and memorable setting.

The afternoon was invaluable. It wasn’t just a time for the team to unwind and socialize, but a moment for collective reflection. Staff evaluations and feedback were gathered, helping the organization grow stronger with the input of those who make its work possible. The impact of this experience went beyond the lunch itself—it helped foster a deeper sense of community, recognition, and shared purpose among the volunteers.

Natasha expressed her heartfelt thanks, saying, “Without the funding, this wouldn’t have been possible, so thank you so much.” The cash award was made possible by the backing of Flourish Together, Manchester Social Economy Alliance, Manchester City Council, and NatWest, playing a crucial role in turning this idea into reality. It’s initiatives like this that allow social enterprises to grow, offering crucial investments that help cover training, equipment, events, and development costs or launch new products and services.

These types of community investments, like those offered at SOUP events, are a lifeline for social entrepreneurs, giving them the resources to transform their ideas into impactful ventures. The importance of supporting social enterprises, especially within the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector, cannot be overstated. These organizations not only create positive change in their communities but also empower individuals, particularly volunteers, who are the backbone of these efforts.

As we celebrate these success stories, we’re reminded of the significance of community-led funding and the vital role volunteers play in driving social progress. By providing opportunities for social enterprises to flourish, we are also investing in the well-being of the volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to making a difference.

If you’re inspired by Natasha’s story and have an idea you’d like to pitch, the next SOUP event is on Thursday November 14th, from 6pm-8pm at Platform 4, Altrincham Hub. This event will also mark the 11th anniversary of Flourish Together and the launch of their new Altrincham Hub. This is an exciting opportunity to get your idea off the ground and make a meaningful impact in your community. Get you tickets on our Eventbrite!

Let’s continue to support the growth of social enterprises and celebrate the invaluable contributions of volunteers who help make it all possible.

As you hopefully already know, here at Flourish Together we have been providing fully funded foundation holistic health courses in various locations across Manchester.

Over 9 weeks, aspiring holistic therapists are taught the fundamentals, practical skills and theoretical knowledge in Facials, Manicure and Pedicures before they are awarded certificates recognised by the Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT). In the final 2 weeks of the course, therapists set up at our monthly Pop Up Spa where they have the opportunity to familarise themselves with the products used, practice the treatments and techniques learnt on the course with real clients.

To date we’ve supported over 100 people to achieve holistic therapy accreditations, who have gone on to start their own business ventures, develop their clientele, and go on to complete further training. Many of which now form our monthly Pop-up Spa collective.

Tamara, Emma & Michaela are accredited alumni from previous years who have joined Fiona as support-tutors on the delivery of the current and upcoming courses. We’re extremely proud of the diverse group of people we’ve managed to create, who are passionate about holistic health.

We are looking for some practice models on the following dates as part of our Facials training course happening in the coworking and meeting rooms on the following dates from 9am-4pm. 

Practice models for free Facials using quality products for a range of skin types are needed at the following times:

– Thursday the 12th September at 10am, 11:30 am and 1 pm

– Thursday, the 19th of September at 10am, 11:30 am and 1 pm

( future dates and times throughout October will follow when we’re looking for practice models for Manicures and Pedicures).

These treatments are free, they last up to an hour and we ask people to arrive 10 minutes beforehand to complete a short consultation form.

We hope you or people you know might like to get involved. 

Email Imani directly at info@flourishtogether.org.uk to book in or find out more.

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…

Lyla Galloway – Research & Admin Support

I started at Flourish last summer to gain some work experience after completing my A levels and following this, was offered a part time role. I am currently an undergraduate student studying Mathematics with elective courses in Social & Public Policy in Glasgow. In my role at Flourish I focus on impact reporting, gathering data from questionnaires, and summarising this to demonstrate social impact.

What’s Next?

I am looking forward to continuing my work on impact measurement and improving my report writing skills to further support women-led enterprises across Greater Manchester.

Random Fact

I play the flute and went on a week-long tour around Spain, playing in venues from cathedrals to wineries. I’ve even played in the Royal Albert Hall!

We’re getting excited here at Flourish as we draw closer to the opening of the new Altrincham Hub. Similar to the Heaton Chapel Station hub, part of ‘Action Stations,’ Altrincham has developed as a result of the regeneration project led by the Station Alliance (Northern Rail, Network Rail, TfGM, GMCVO and others) in partnership with Flourish Together CIC.

In preparation, we hosted several monthly focus groups to explore how to best utilise and evolve the space for those in the community. Each session provided a great opportunity to reconnect, learn about changemakers/social enterprisers and local organisations operating in Altrincham, the wider Trafford area and beyond.

[Read more…] about Altrincham Flourish Hub set to open this Autumn 🥳

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…

Comfort Abimbola – Finance & Operations Support

I joined Flourish Together in the spring for a two-week work experience through the Carrioca programme, which supports students from Caribbean and African communities in transitioning to the UK workplace. This opportunity not only helped me gain valuable experience but also gave me insights into the work culture as an international student. After completing the programme, I was offered a part-time role in finance and operations and I am confident that this position will greatly boost my career prospects in the UK job market.

[Read more…] about MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2024!