The SHE Plymouth Project supports women in Plymouth to explore their business or community ideas, increase their confidence and self-esteem, believe in themselves, develop their skills and knowledge, set up, run or grow a thriving business, generate income, become more financially independent, build an incredible support network and make connections to help them on their journey! No wonder we're so busy!

We are Iridescent Ideas CIC, a Plymouth-based social enterprise. Our vision is to see a more socially enterprising, greener and fairer world, and we believe that empowering women to lead their own businesses, social enterprises and community groups that have a positive impact in their communities, will help achieve that vision.

The project was the brainchild of Iridescent's Director, Mel Tucker, and is being delivered by Business Advisor Extraordinaire Jo Dench-Owens.

(Mel & Jo ⬇️⬇️⬇️ )

Originally funded by The Rank Foundation and Livewell Southwest, to support 60 women in its first year, the project more than tripled that number in just over a year. We now have over 200 women accessing the project and demand is showing no sign of slowing down, as women are recommending SHE to other women every day! 

There are SO MANY amazing women wanting to incredible things, but they need the RIGHT support to achieve their dreams. Women face many barriers to starting their own business, or even to accessing traditional business support and investment - fitting meetings around family commitments, childcare, accessibility, lack of financial investment, imposter syndrome, the list goes on - and that's where SHE Plymouth comes in. This FREE support is open to women in Plymouth and provides advice, support, training, coaching, networking and peer support, all delivered in a way that actually WORKS for women. It is flexible, friendly, supportive, informal, works around the needs of the women and their families, is child-friendly, collaborative and responsive to need. 

SHE Plymouth needs to grow to ensure we can continue to meet the rising demand for this vital project AND continue to provide high-quality support that really meets the needs of the women we work with.

Supporting this Crowdfunder will help us to:

• Provide more one-to-one support sessions and group workshops on essential business skills for women.
• Work in partnership with other local organisations working in the city - like Gifted Women, ODILS and Trevi - to ensure SHE Plymouth is accessible for women from a range of communities and facing multiple challenges.
• Run more peer networking events to enable women to develop support networks, make meaningful connections, collaborate and increase their confidence.
• Hold a showcase event in November, promoting the women we support, their businesses and achievements, and the essential work of the project. We are particularly looking for corporate or organisational sponsors for this key event.
• Reach and make a REAL difference to even more women, their families, their communities and our beautiful Ocean City Plymouth!

So who is SHE Plymouth for? We are supporting EVERYWOMAN: from jewellery-makers to GPs; photographers to physiotherapists; first aiders to forest school; cookery to karate; from midwives to end-of-life specialists - our SHE-las are doing it ALL! 

PLEASE help us to reach more women and support them in a way that works for them, to achieve their potential, realise their dreams, and thrive!