tara centre, the growing club, community, women in business
the sowing club, logo, pre start-up courses, lancaster

Funded courses for women considering the option of setting up a business

Past Courses

This page holds all information on previously funded Sowing Club courses for women considering the option of setting up a business.

Our Sowing Club Archives provides an insight into the previous courses and workshops funded through the pre-start up course for women in Lancaster and Morecambe – The Sowing Club. These courses are funded and run for women who are deemed to be socially disadvantaged due to one or more of the following circumstances.

– In low paid work
– Unwaged or unemployed
– Living on benefits
– Disabled
– Lone parent
– Leaving domestic violence
– Leaving prison
– Courses looked at building skillsets, what running a business entails and the support that’s available.

Women who complete one of our Sowing Club courses often feed into the start-up course for 12 months of taught input and support from other women running businesses, to make sure that their business has the best possible chance of growing.

*Please note that self employment is not about zero hour contracts, but learning to run a sustainable business that will enable you to come off benefits and contribute to the community’s economic growth.

It breaks down the simplest of things, like how to ask questions and listening, which actually make a massive difference. I feel more confident and feel safe here.
the sowing club, logo, pre start-up courses, lancaster

Our Past Courses

The Sowing Club runs a variety of courses at different times of the year.
These courses are currently closed and we hope to re-open some of them in the future.

santander foundation, the growing club, supporter, funding

Sunflowers

Funded by The Santander Foundation
In January 2019 we ran an 8 session course for women aged 50 plus who were unemployed, a carer, unwaged or facing redundancy. The course was designed to help you explore whether self-employment is a good option for you.

lancashire county council, sowing club, funder

Skills Course for Refugees

Funded by Lancashire County Council
Our Skills Course for Refugees was a 6-week Level 1 introduction to a skills and enterprise course, funded by Lancashire County Council via the Syrian refugee settlement programme. The aim of the course was to give the students the skills and confidence to be economically active.

smallwood trust, the growing club, supporter, funding

Crafty Women

Funded by The Smallwood Trust
Crafty Women was a course for women creatives, crafters and makers in the Morecambe area, looking to earn an income from their skills. The course was fully funded for women on benefits. This course ran for 3 courses between 2018 and 2020.

Peer Networks

An 18-hour action learning programme to support women leading SMEs and the not-for-profit sector.
Peer Networks is a government initiative that brings together diverse cohorts of business leaders so you can discuss your business challenges, in a safe space, with your peers. Delivered through a series of high-impact action-learning group sessions, you will gain and reflect on valuable feedback from your peers and identify practical solutions to overcome challenges you each face.

crafty women, the sowing club, lancaster
sunflowers, the sowing club, lancaster
crafty women, the growing club, morecambe, textile candy
women and enterprise hub, the sowing club
"The Sowing Club has been useful to meet women with tremendous passion for life, brilliant creative ideas and an attitude that will shape a great future for every one of us. Gaining support, being positive and overcoming adversity have been main themes, and I have benefited from the collective knowledge and input from Jane and Mandy. I have particularly benefited from the moral support, and challenges to think and speak positively about the future; to be creative; to get on with it. To believe I can do it. I have benefited from being encouraged about my own ideas and from the positivity in the room... I think the continued surrounding support of the Sowing Club women will be vital to encourage and build my confidence."
- A.T -

Join the Sowing Club

If you are interested in finding out more about The Sowing Club and the programmes currently running, please get in using the contact details below.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund.