We’ve partnered with The Fore who rigorously and transparently screen thousands of small charities and social enterprises (turnover under £0.5m) to identify those with exceptional leadership, innovative ideas and cost-effective solutions. The Fore then provides a wraparound package of unrestricted, multi-year grant-funding (up to £30,000) training, skilled volunteers, peer-to-peer networks and impact measurement.

​Each month, representatives from charities and non-profits funded by the Fore will come and share their missions and the specific challenges and problems they are facing. As they scale up, they need and want our help.

​This is a unique chance for Brave Starts members to donate time, energy, expertise or insight to organisations we know are making a considerable, positive difference.​

​MEET THIS MONTH'S SPEAKERS & CHARITIES:

​Tessa Armstrong, CEO & Founder @ Voices for Life

​Voices for Life exists to give every child the opportunity to sing together, especially those in underprivileged areas facing huge barriers. They would like to expand their resources and network so that they can create more creative singing, wellbeing and performance opportunities for children to grow in confidence, happiness, resilience and social skills.

​Steve Hoggins, CEO @ The Philosophy Foundation

​The Philosophy Foundation aims to bring understanding, wisdom and eudaimonia (flourishing) to the heart of education for children and adults. They believe that reasoning skills developed through philosophical enquiry are an indispensable foundation of all aspects of learning and that Philosophy, like maths, music or physical education, is intrinsically worth doing and intrinsically engaging.

​Dympna Cunnane, CEO @ Our Time

​​​Our Time supports children who have a parent with a mental illness. For many young people, growing up with a parent struggling with their mental health can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. It is often isolating, confusing – even frightening. It can bring with it immense responsibility, and also stigma. But with the right support and understanding these young people can go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives – just like any other child. This is our ambition.

​At the moment, as many as one in three children have a parent with poor mental health. Around one in ten live with an adult with severe mental health difficulties. Given the impact of the pandemic on adult mental health, it’s likely the numbers of children affected are even higher. These are the young people we work to help.

​They are a small but mighty charity and could value and use support to enable them to support families as early as possible where there is a parent with a mental illness.

​Ama Chaney, Managing Director @ Grow to School

​Grow to School delivers outdoor learning that creates lasting impact in the classroom and beyond. They are seeking to grow their traded income and impact.

​They have a range of challenges they are seeking support with, including:

• ​​Increasing and diversifying their board
• ​Artic​ulating and reaching their primary audience (schools)
• ​Exploring ways to increase their geographical reach (e.g. social franchise/partnerships)
• ​How to develop better partnerships with other social enterprises and the business world.

​Carmen Hunt, Liskerrett Community Centre

​Owned and managed for the community by the community, the Liskerrett Community Centre is a busy, friendly and vibrant multi-purpose community resource providing a wealth of opportunity, a wide range of services and activities, and a meeting place for people of all ages.

​They are seeking new Trustees who have an ambition to develop a community resource, with the capacity to work with them to develop the organisation over the coming years.

​They are particularly looking for people with skills and experience in property management, finance, funding and legal aspects of such an organisation.

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