TRY OUR COURSES:
How to Support Us
Get involved with the Growing Club!
There are lots of ways local people and businesses have chosen to support our social enterprise. Whether you’re interested in getting involved by organising fundraising for one of our courses, donating your time, skills or resources… we’d love to hear from you!
Want to help?
As a small social enterprise doing big things, we are always in need of help. So if you identify with our ethos and would like to help, as an individual or as part of your CSR, here are a few things you can do…
Mentoring & Opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities to support The Growing Club. Whether that’s working with the Growing Club directly, such as mentoring or becoming a peer trainer, supporting one of our women or volunteering. There are lots of ways to get involved.
Mentoring
Would you like to support a woman starting her own small business? Then why not become a voluntary Growing Club mentor and support our startup group!
If you run your own business and can remember how hard the first years of business can be, a role as a mentor could be right for you…
Become a Peer Trainer
This is a paid opportunity to support our women as a peer trainer.
You must have been through a Growing Club course, a trainer course or qualification, and co-worked with Jane.
If you would like to be peer trainer – please get in touch.
Hear from our mentors, volunteers and supporters
Favour Onabanjo
Founder, Talents Brand
“I always love to offer help in any form that I can.
My first contact with the growing club was through their Newsletters, which mentioned how they support women start-ups to build confidence and grow their careers.
I am on a mission to support women to bring out their best. So I decided to volunteer as a mentor.
It has been an exciting experience for me especially being a coach. I have learnt how to manage boundaries in helping my mentees rather than supporting them as a coach or consultant.
The Growing Club is doing fantastic work in Lancaster and the environment.
I love their mentorship scheme. There is a lot of commitment from both mentees and mentors, which brings concrete results without getting overwhelmed. I have just been matched with another mentee.
Exciting time ahead.”
Find out more about Talents Brand here.
Janie Ash
Founder, Better with Jam
“We are a business rooted in purpose. Our purpose is to share our expertise and talent with our community. We believe good business makes for a better world and also makes business sense. We offer a helping hand in enhancing a company’s brand image, for those who need it most, by sharing a passion for creativity, happiness, teamwork and partnership. We believe if you can consistently impress your customers they’ll trust you. They’ll write about you and instil trust in others. This is modern branding at it’s finest. It’s not your name that counts but the experience you provide.
We are passionate about what we stand for and believe in and working with The Growing Club, is something all of us will own together. We believe in Jane and her mission to help women. And we believe that working in collaboration and partnership, we all become more than the sum of our parts.
This important work that Growing Club does to help and support women wanting to start up or grow a business as well as building their confidence to thrive in business, is ample reason for other organisations and businesses to support them.”
Mark Keating
Director, Shadowcat Systems Limited
“Shadowcat Systems, and myself, have always been big fans of community organisations and supporting individuals to achieve their best in those communities. One of my main beliefs is that we need equal opportunity, equal access, and we need to encourage people and help them overcome whatever blocks they face.
Approximately 30% of entrepreneurs in the UK are women. This falls far short of many other countries, such as the US which has 49%. Most women say they are forced to run their own businesses as there is no other opportunity to manage their families, especially in regards to child care or care of a relative. Women are the primary caregivers in most families and they suffer a lack of opportunity because of that. Self-employed women are five times more likely to state care of a family as a reason to run their own business.
By supporting The Growing Club, we are not just supporting women, and helping to bring better opportunities for women, we are helping families. In fact many times more likely to support a child, or relative, of any gender by supporting their female relative.
So it is important, for me, to support TGC not just to make a more equal society, and broaden opportunities for women. It is essential also to support their extended families as well. A future in which we can have equal opportunity, equal outcome and equality of need and reason is also not a bad thing.”
LinkedIn | @shadowcat_mdk
What our team members say
Nicola Combe
Director, Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited
“I’ve been volunteering at The Growing Club for a year now, helping out at the weekly Drop-In, assisting on the Roots and Shoots start up course, and more recently as a mentor for one of the women launching her own new business.
On average I give a half a day a week and I can honestly say I get so much value out of that time, I wouldn’t change it. I came from a corporate background but now run my own business so I can see both sides and bring lots of varying experience, helping women out in many different ways. I think I add lots of value to many of those who attend.
But it’s also two-sided! I get so much out of my time at The Growing Club. I’ve built networks and friendships, learned so much more about small business, and grown my own skills. I especially value working with women from lots of different backgrounds – it gives you a much wider view of the world we live in, and the local environment we all operate in.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants to develop themselves as well as help others. Come and join us!”
Sarah Ludford
Connect with Compassion
“I would have loved to have had a mentor when I started my business, and at many times since then, so I am delighted to be able to offer that support to someone starting up. I love hearing about her progress and providing a space for her to mentally unload, everything she is is holding and how this helps her to get clear about what needs attention this month.
Most of all I love coming up together with actions and seeing her implement them and take a step forward in her business, often on the same day that we have spoken! It’s great to know I am making a difference.”
"Volunteering for The Growing Club not only allowed me to help women with direction and following their passions in work, but also helped me realise that I want to pursue a career in either social work or youth work so I can continue to help women like these.
All of the sessions on the 6 week course were huge amounts of fun, we all learnt a lot and it felt like a sisterhood meeting together despite us almost all starting as strangers.
The Growing Club's work has always impressed me as it's looking out for women who would otherwise spend their time looking out for everyone else and possibly neglecting themselves in the process. Actually having an opportunity to work with them was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life and I hope they continue changing lives the way they do."
CONTACT
- 01524 383846 or 07892 712417
- admin@thegrowingclub.co.uk
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The Women and Enterprise Hub, 1-2-3 The Barracks,
White Cross Business Park, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ
HELPFUL LINKS
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