We have been giving you all a countdown towards the launch of the second cohort of keen, motivated, and talented social entrepreneurs.

Ideas into Action is a programme that supports people from a refugee background who live in the UK to develop their own social enterprises and non-profits. It provides specialist support including workshops, professional coaching, business, marketing and fundraising information and skills training, as well as public-facing events. 

We had a short online introductory session towards the end of October to provide general information about the smoothest possible progress through the programme. 

We finally met both the London and Manchester groups at the beginning of November, face to face. What a privilege to meet people with such rich lived experience bringing their accounts of resilience to share with each other. 

Some of the Manchester group had to travel from various locations (Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow & Edinburgh) in the UK and there were challenges like train strikes, illness and childcare which made it more difficult to attend. However, having a hybrid solution of beaming in the people who couldn’t attend, meant that they interacted via a laptop with those present in the classroom. 

The level of openness and keenness to explore new thought processes in these early sessions were wonderful to observe. 

The programme has continued with several short online sessions concentrating on Business Plans (and MVP – Minimum Viable Product), Trading Safely and considering help from Volunteers. They have also benefited from 1-1 coaching to explore areas like mindset and barriers, as well as (1-1 SPARK) sessions which help with practical aspects of setting up their enterprises. 

We cannot wait to work alongside them all to see their progress.