Women in Social Enterprise

This event is an opportunity to meet with other women working in the social enterprise and impact space and to hear from a panel of Oxfordshire-based social entrepreneurs. The event aims to:

• inspire and motivate other entrepreneurs or early-stage business owners
• explore some of the barriers and challenges facing female entrepreneurs
• spotlight the fact that women are leading the way when it comes to the social impact space

Who is it for?

Anyone identifying as a woman, who are either already working in the social and environmental impact sector or who have ambitions to start their own venture.

We welcome any mums who would like to bring their young children.

This event will take place in the Pavillion building at Flo's | The Place In The Park and tea, coffee & biscuits will be provided.

The speakers

Sally Dear, founder of Ducky Zebra

Ducky Zebra is an Oxford-based startup with a mission to inspire kindness and confidence in children, no matter what their gender, through colourful, sustainable clothing (aged 0 – 6 years). Their unisex designs are free from gender stereotypes. It’s clothing is fun and colourful, with child-approved designs, showing characters working together, playing together and being kind towards one another. All items include an embroidered splash motif, often hidden inside a pocket, as a physical reminder to be kind and confident. Their clothes are made from soft, GOTS certified Organic Cotton, and for every garment sold, £1 is donated to charity. For more information, visit duckyzebra.com.

Veena V, founder of Oxford Creators

Veena V is a former Channel 4 award winning radio presenter who started her radio career at the age of 16 in Oxford. She went on to present for various media outlets including BBC Essex, MOBO TV and hosted events to thousands of people at venues such as Trafalgar Square

She now helps people achieve unstoppable confidence through her hypnotherapy practice and video marketing courses. Her podcast ‘Mum To Millionaire’ was awarded ‘Best Business’ by Jacqueline Gold CBE (CEO of Ann Summers)

In 2022, Veena plans to launch ‘Oxford Creators’ an alternative provision not-for-profit, based in Didcot. This was inspired by her son, who was blocked from going to school. It will support 11-16 year olds who are at risk of exclusion and help them thrive through therapy, mentoring and acquiring life skills that will prepare them for the world of work.

Ajaye Hunn-Phillips, co-founder of The Project PT

Ajaye has over 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry, and along with her wife Alexa, is the driving force behind The Project PT. Set up as a social enterprise and alternative vision of what the fitness industry can be, TPP uses income from commercial classes and support from local organisations to create opportunities for those who need them most. Since October 2019, they have been providing education, training, work experience and safe spaces for vulnerable youth.

The aim of The Project PT is to spread the love of movement to people who have been traditionally alienated from fitness. By promoting joyful training, proper rest and recovery and intelligent programming, they help people Learn, Lift and Laugh every day. Having recently launched a new premises on Magdalen Road, next to The Missing Bean, they are going from strength to strength, and are ready to help you take charge of your health and habits!

The venue

Flo’s is a Community Benefit Society and Social Enterprise Hub with community-owned café, nursery, refill shop, community midwives clinics and more. Based in Florence Park, it opened in September 2018 and has become a popular place for people to meet, eat, work, play, create, and learn. Located in the middle of a park with a strong environmental ethos it has nature in mind and wellbeing at its heart.

Flo's is run by People Place and Participation Ltd (PPP Ltd) - a charitable community benefit society which set up Flo's - the Place in the Park as a community enterprise hub. Flo's is currently on a journey to reduce 0 carbon through solar power, energy efficiency measures and better waste management.

About eScalate

eScalate, is a three-year project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which runs until September 2022 to support Social Enterprises, social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and purposeful businesses in Oxfordshire. Support includes one to ones, workshops and peer support sessions.

For more information about the eScalate programme , visit www.oxfordshirelep.com/escalate

Please note that this event is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is delivered as part of the eScalate programme to help SMEs. By engaging in this programme you are being offered assistance under the De Minimis regulation which allows a company to receive up to but not exceeding €200,000 of public funding (at the applicable exchange rate) of De Minimis aid over a rolling three-tax year fiscal period. This De Minimis declaration does not cover undertakings engaged in: the primary production of agricultural goods and fisheries/aquaculture, road freight, services of general economic interest and export related activities and activities favouring domestic over imported goods. Please note, support cannot be given to undertakings (businesses) in difficulty. In order to receive support from this programme, you will be required to complete an application form and other relevant documentation. If you need to check your current position for state aid please contact us. If you would like any further information on De Minimis aid and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) subsidies, please see the state aid page on the OxLEP Business website:

https://www.oxlepbusiness.co.uk/state-aid