Women Arise CIC
How did your first come into contact with Flourish?
I think it was through an email that I came across Time to Grow, maybe from GMCVO.
How has Flourish helped you?
Flourish has helped in a number of ways – firstly an eye-opener for me personally and for my organisation Women Arise. For the past few months, I’ve been on the ELLII programme and Time to Grow and the amount of exposure I’ve had in terms of resources and information has helped me and the organisation to make decisions and improve our systems and processes and see where we can be more effective as an organisation and the services we provide.
Secondly – and this has been crucial – is the people I’ve met on the programme. Being on the programmes has extended my social net worth and my network has grown. I have built relationships with so many of the women I’ve met that I know who to contact when I need something – this has been a real benefit for me as an individual and the organisation. We have a way to go, but these connections are a great help!
Where has your journey taken you? Tell us about the highs and lows of your experience
Before I joined Flourish, we were just a community organisation having set up in 2020. Having attended Flourish’s various seminars and workshops we were able to reach the decision to set up as a Community Interest Company. The workshop that went through the various types of organisations helped us to take this step as we knew we wanted to offer services to the community but also be able to charge money for the services we offer so the money can go put into the organisation to help more people and improve the quality of our services.
Getting funding on the ELLII programme and Time to Grow in the Sounding Board Session was a real high – it was so timely as we were waiting to hear from The National Lottery and we were a bit stranded. Thanks to the funding we received from Flourish we were able to host a women’s changemakers event which was successful, and we got excellent feedback.
How do you keep motivated?
For me it’s the inequalities that exist that drive me forward. I consider helping people in this case women and the youth find their potential as my mission in life. The work that I do on a personal level, as an organisation is in some way or another contributing to this mission in life. I am saddened by the massive inequalities that exist in our world.
As an organisation we work mainly with women and the youth who come from low socio-economic backgrounds and we realise and are quite aware that there is no quick fix for the systemic injustices and inequalities in our world. For example, the pandemic has revealed shocking levels of economic and racial inequality in Britain. Thus, poverty rates in Britain vary significant by ethnicity but most BME groups are more likely to be living in poverty. When it comes to minority women the statistics are even gloomier with black women suffering the largest penalties. Black women regardless of whether they are from the UK or elsewhere have the lowest probabilities of being top earners or having thriving businesses. Research suggests black women face discrimination due to both their race and gender. Our mission is to improve the lives of women and the youth that we work with, we dare to dream of a better world. We believe when women are economically independent their contribution to social, educational and arts movements could benefit and uplift entire communities.
What is your proudest achievement?
I think I’m most proud of the journey I have taken in life. I am first-born in a family of 5 children. My dad went to university but didn’t finish. I am the first in my immediate family to go to University and the first in my clan to get a master’s degree. I am now working on my doctorate which should be finished next year.
I’m also proud of my journey in life – I was 23 when I first came to the UK from Malawi. I’m proud of finding my feet here. I’ve also found my unique mission in life and I’ve only just started. I’ve really come out of my shell in the last 2 years, and I now know what I am doing and where I am heading to. After I finish my studies my mission is to have an organisation mentoring and coaching women/girls to discover the hero hidden within them. My plan is to have a podcast and to speak to women who have had this realisation and done something with it.
Any tips to share with other people looking to start their own projects?
Listen from within. I think we already know what we need to do, but sometimes we don’t listen to our hearts. Once we listen to our hearts, we realise what we need to do. Also, start now! Many people overthink and never take that first step. You you don’t have have to wait until you have all the answers. Once you commit to an idea and take that step you find many people come to help, you find allies. So just start! Know that when you start, whatever you need on your journey will be provided for. There will be challenges along the way, but once you commit, somehow things start aligning. Always remember life is hard by the yard and yet simple inch by inch therefore START.
Anything you’re now doing differently or changed for you?
Our commitment has really grown. This is something I want to do for the rest of my life. We’ve taken large strides over recent months; we’re becoming more visible and building our brand. The commitment is there, and we are focussed and more clear on the impact we want to make.
Another thing that has changed is how we are making applications now. We are using evidence and statistics in our funding bids to make them stronger.
Any tips to share with other people looking to start their own projects?
Listen from within. I think we already know what we need to do, but sometimes we don’t listen to our hearts. Once we listen to our hearts, we realise what we need to do. Also, start now! Many people overthink and never take that first step. You don’t have to wait until you have all the answers. Once you commit to an idea and take that step you find many people come to help, you find allies. So just start! Know that when you start, whatever you need on your journey will be provided for. There will be challenges along the way, but once you commit, somehow things start aligning .
What elements of Time to Grow/ELLII have you found particularly useful?
I think the first day of Time to Grow was really good, it was so practical and informative – we went visiting a local social enterprise. We saw their products and services, and heard their experiences about how they set up as an organisation. It was a real eye-opener, and it helped me see that I can do this too! That was really good. The case-studies panel on Zoom was really useful, and the face-to-face sessions were really good too – at the Frog and Bucket and the ELLII collaboration day. There’s something about face-to-face, you get more from being able to talk to someone in person.
Anything you’re now doing differently or changed for you?
Our commitment has really grown. This is something I want to do for the rest of my life. We’ve taken large strides over recent months, we’re becoming more visible and building our brand. The commitment is there and we are focussed and more clear on the impact we want to make.
Another thing that has changed is how to make applications using the knowledge we gained. We’re using evidence and statistics in our funding bids to make them stronger.
Anything to add?
Can I just finish by saying thank you so much for the opportunity! It has opened my eyes as to how the sector works and also how to meet the challenges in the sector, and how the work we do changes the lives of people and their communities. Sometimes we feel small as an organisation and feel what we do doesn’t make enough of an impact. But by coming together with others doing good work in their communities we can make more impact. Hearing what people are doing, and the legacies they are leaving in their communities gives you a good feeling as a human being, and makes you want to carry on working to make life better for other people.
I see myself as someone who helps people see their potential. As an organisation for women, most things we do are about speaking to that potential as a woman bringing that forth. That’s my fuel. Our programmes are about drawing out greatness in people, making people see the acre of diamonds within themselves so they see that they can do whatever it is they want to do. Seeing people coming out of their shells – that is my fuel – that fills my heart with gladness.
