This year, the team of staff and board of directors at Flourish Together grew to a team of 10. 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, reintroducing…
Nickala Torkington – Founder & Managing Director
Nickala co-founded Flourish Together just over 11 years ago and has over 25 years experience in designing and developing organisations and programmes within the VCSE sector locally, nationally and internationally. A multi award winning leader, social entrepreneur and champion of others she is deeply committed to supporting people lead change they see needed in communities – especially women who have faced set backs, seeking to triumph over adversity of whatever kind.
“I am most proud of having directly supported almost 4000 people to develop social and ethical ventures throughout my career, with almost 2000 of those being via our programmes and intensive support at Flourish Together CIC. We’ve enabled women who wouldn’t have otherwise, gain the means to secure in excess of £1,500,000.00 to start, develop and grow social and community organisations across Greater Manchester and the wider North West. It’s a really exciting time for social enterprise, leadership and innovation right now and we’re pleased to be at the heart of this facilitating change, creating opportunities and even regenerating redundant spaces to create Flourish Hubs in Stockport and Altrincham.”
What’s Next?
“Taking some time to reflect and evaluate the last decade of work is key over the coming months, before we launch further programmes in the spring and summer including Time to Grow 2025, a focused programme on Social Value Measurement for Social Ventures and expanding our Careers in Holistic Health work. We can’t wait to unlock more talent and grow thematic women changemaker collectives to grow work and income opportunities – helping people punch above their weight and change the status quo!
We’re also proud, honoured and excited to have been recommissioned with She Leads for Legacy to expand the We Lead for Legacy – a Civic Leadership programme for racially minoritised leaders across Greater Manchester. It’s going to be a great year ahead especially fully launching our new Flourish Hub on Platform 4 of Altrincham Interchange and increasing opportunities for our Heaton Chapel – Every £1 invested in our room hire goes towards supporting women as a force for social change!”
Random Fact
Nickala has a degree in Product and Furniture design for Manufacture and people often ask how she stumbled into social enterprise support 25 years ago….“Degrees in Place Management, Social Innovation and Human Centred Design didn’t exist when I went to Uni – I evolved my skills from designing products and furniture into designing business models and organisational models for social change, much more rewarding!” she is also a keen festival goer and has been known to mosh in the circle pit and go crowd surfing with the best of them….
You can reach Nickala at nickala@flourishtogether.org.uk
