Welcome to the latest newsletter for Ready to Start (RTS)!
It’s been a hectic and successful few months for us all. Since we launched ready to start last year 716 people have joined the programme and 108 entrepreneurs are now successfully running their own businesses. 25 people have also felt empowered to start work, take up training or begin voluntary work by the programme.
In June our new distance mentor service opened its virtual doors, providing telephone, email and skype support to many of the entrepreneurs on the programme. You’ll be able to learn more about them and how the new service is working in the autumn edition of the RTS newsletter.
We’re also hard at work on a revamp of the online forum. Due to be launched in the autumn, it will have a new look and easier access. Including regular contributions by guest business gurus and experienced entrepreneurs, it should become an interesting and lively place to go.
And, on top of that, we’ve moved offices, waved goodbye to two staff members and welcomed nine new colleagues on board! |
New faces
Welcome to Elaine, Cherry, Kim, Jane and Stacey who form our brand new distance mentoring service.
We’ve also welcomed Sarah Ryan, regional coordinator for the North West, and Sam Eve, regional coordinator for the Central Region, to the team. They’ve taken over the reins from Sarah Mitchell and Beccy Clacy.
In addition, Annet Lukkien, former RTS volunteer coordinator, has joined Ann Chaplin as a project assistant in London and South region, while Terri Wilson is the new national project assistant.
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Best foot forward
With a background in IT and business, Matt Dimbylow’s passion for sport led him to complete a Sports Science degree. He had always been entrepreneurial, so when he was diagnosed with Extra Pyramidal Syndrome, or A-Typical Parkinsons Disease, an illness which prevented a regular nine to five career, working for himself seemed the best option.
Locally Matt had already identified lack of sporting opportunities for his own 2 children. With a strong belief that every child is unique, and that the experiences they have during their early years strongly influence their future development, he was determined to enrich children’s lives with physical activities.
His Sportitots Programme enables children to develop the physical skills of agility, balance, and co-ordination and gain the opportunity to explore, learn and develop. Running a team of highly trained staff, Matt aims to broaden the interests of children already participating in physical activities, and to reach children who currently lack opportunities. He has successfully won contracts with Pre-schools, Primary schools, Nurseries, and Education Authorities in Manchester.
Matt’s dedication and hard work, both professionally and personally, will be keeping him exceptionally busy this summer as he has been picked to join the British football squad representing Great Britain at the Paralympics in Beijing.
“If I had to decide which is harder, conditioning yourself for the Paralympics or running your own business, I’d definitely say running your own business - competing for your country is a dream!”
Matt invested a lot of his own money, and received additional funding from Ready to Start for software and marketing. “I’d say making a name for myself has been the biggest challenge. The best advice I could give to someone thinking of starting a business is to think carefully – it’s more than just a job, it’s a commitment. You really have to love what you are doing.”
www.sportitots.com |
Digitally inclusive
A highly skilled and successful mechanic before becoming unwell late in 2005, Robert Williams is now enjoying the challenge of developing and growing an IT business in South Wales.
When his impairment prevented him from lifting, pulling and pushing, required in former his trade, he began to think through his options. From an early interest in computers he identified potential for a business that serviced both domestic and commercial markets in his area. He set about gaining Microsoft accreditation and gathering all the information needed to get his business off the ground.
When he got in touch with Ready to Start – as a result of seeing the Creature Discomforts advertisements on TV – he had a fairly good idea of where he wanted to go with the business. RTS were able to link him up with local business support agencies to further develop his plan and provide some equipment necessary for his business to start.
Vale IT Services provides a range of services from installation, maintenance and repair of computers through to website design. Through his own experience of disability, Robert appreciates the importance of digital inclusion to disabled people and the poverty that often comes with disability. He offers services at discounted rates to disabled people to ensure that they are not excluded from accessing IT.
Robert offers the following tips to any budding entrepreneurs; ‘Check out whatever advice is given, do your homework and preparation and be persistent.’
www.valeitservices.co.uk
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Business in style
From a background as a drag queen, Chris Davis always had a love for over the top clothing. With his life and business partner Fiona Bucknor, he runs a successful business, Wicked Waists, producing bespoke clothing. The pair are working to position Wicked Waists as a leading provider of haute couture, for the gothic and alternative market. They offer a full design service and can make anything from a simple skirt or blouse, to sexy black PVC dresses, to more extravagant creations; the only limit is their client’s imagination.
In 1997, after a fifteen year career as a panel beater ended when his employer dismissed him because of his deteriorating eyesight, Chris decided to retrain. He did a degree course in Fashion Design and Technology at UCCA in Kent where he met Fiona (Fi).
Chris says: “When I started to lose my sight I was worried that I would not be able to realise my ambition to set up my own business. Ready to Start was brilliant because as well as being supported to plan the development of my business, pilot ideas and seek funding, I had a buddy to run my ideas past at every stage.”
Danny Reardon, Barclays Head of Community Relations for London & Southern is Chris’ Barclays buddy. Danny said: “I had some doubts that I wouldn’t be able to make a real difference to Chris’ business but I need not have worried. Our meetings were informal and genuinely fun and the mentoring relationship with Chris has been a really interesting experience. I have increased my awareness of the challenges faced by new businesses and learned a lot.’’
Chris says: “My business is successfully moving forward. I am taking regular orders at weekend markets and fairs and the shop on e-bay is also trading well. I am currently preparing for a big exhibition in September which will enable me to extend my market internationally.”
www.wickedwaists.co.uk |
A toast from the Caribbean
Entrepreneur Silma Ramsaywack from Christchurch will raise a toast to Ready to Start with her unique business venture, a vineyard in the Caribbean.
In 2003 she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia which is a chronic condition with widespread pain and fatigue. As a lone mum with a six year old son and two grown up children she suffered constant exhaustion which made life a struggle while holding down a full-time job as a teacher.
When Silma’s dad died part of his legacy was to leave his daughter a plot of land on a hill overlooking Shoal Bay on the island of Anguilla, where he grew up, together with a share in a beach bar.
This generous gesture made Silma wonder if her newfound inheritance would be an ideal spot to grow grapes and plant a vineyard.
Support from Ready to Start means she has been able to learn about the wine trade and grasp all the essential skills to run a business.
Silma said: “If the criteria for obtaining a loan from a bank were based on enthusiasm, determination, hard work and a belief in your business, then I'd have no problem.
“Working with Johnny Coleman, my RTS coordinator, and in particular, my business buddy Jenny Green has helped me to stay focused. They provided me with a computer with dragon speaks software, and they also paid for me to attend an advanced wine course.”
To find out more visit; www.shoalbayvineyards.com |
Complimentary enterprise
In 2002, whilst working as a Senior Manager, Sandy Rowles faced secondary breast cancer. The outlook was bleak. She gave up work to enjoy what time she had left and look after herself. It was during this time that Sandy discovered Reiki, an ancient Japanese healing therapy, as an alternative way of helping herself.
“I found it so beneficial,” says Sandy. “I borrowed a book about Reiki from one of my complementary therapists, and decided to study First and Second Degree Reiki. I used it on myself and practised on willing friends as part of each course – and I found I really enjoyed it.”
As she used this inspirational, new-found technique more and more, Sandy found herself led to enrol in a ‘Reiki Masters Course’ to further her knowledge. Sandy’s determination and positive approach helped her to complete the course in July 2007 despite a prolonged period of ill-health. “By the end of that year there were times when I didn’t think I’d make it to Christmas,” says Sandy. However, as her strength improved and the pain from her cancer reduced, she decided she wanted to use her gift to help others.
Sandy set up ‘Heart to Heart Reiki’ in June 2008. “Ready to Start was so helpful. It put me in touch with lots of useful business information to help me get started. I was also given a ‘buddy’ from Barclays called Jid Islam to help support me. He’s given me a lot of good advice. It just gives you encouragement when you’re feeling a bit wobbly!”
Sandy is now registered with the UK Reiki Foundation and is running Heart to Heart Reiki from her home in Bletchley, outside Milton Keynes. She loves combining her passion for Reiki with being her own boss.
www.heart-to-heart-reiki.org |
Cruising to success
Tony Williams is an experienced helmsman who launched his pleasure cruise business in April 2008 after renovating his craft ‘The Captain’s Folly’. Tony, who lives with osteoporosis where his skeleton is gradually weakening, has two target markets - the general public and private charter by appointment. He offers river trips on the Great Ouse from Hartford Mill at Hartford Marina, Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Tony has spotted a gap in the market and plans to expand his product range by offering out of season wild life tours and fishing. He says “By doing this we have the advantage of being able to offer all year round boat trips to different segments of the public.”
Tony’s Barclays Business Buddy is Relationship Director, James Lean. Now the physical and technical issues of preparing the boat and meeting regulatory requirements are sorted out James is encouraging Tony. “Tony needs to redouble his sales and marketing efforts to make the most of the opportunities the summer brings.”
Tony has already enjoyed some success in this area. He says “Type ‘river trips on the Great Ouse’ into Google or Yahoo search engines and I’m the first business you see”. “I’m also pleased with the way word of mouth is working for us - satisfied customers are the best way of selling”
To make a booking call Tony on: landline: 01480 – 438640 or mobile: 0775 774 0387.
www.thecaptainsfolly.co.uk |
Ready for the Regional Final
Mary Lax from Durham is one of the top 10 regional finalists in the Barclays Trading Places after being nominated by her local Barclays business manager. Mary joined Ready to Start 6 months ago, after retirement on ill health grounds from the NHS. She wanted to start her own business as a virtual assistant/secretary (doing varied office tasks), as well as offering training on inter cultural communications for public organisations.
Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, as well as severe secondary post traumatic stress disorder, Mary felt that the flexibility of starting her own business would enable her manage her disability much better. She said, “Working from home definitely assists me in controlling my own stress levels”.
Following support from the Ready to Start programme, Mary is now putting her extensive skills and experience to good use. She has subcontracted her services to the prison service for training and has obtained her first office tasks with further possibilities in the pipeline. Mary appreciates that obtaining training contracts can usually take some time but is very optimistic about gaining further business.
She said “I am amazed I have been chosen as one of the 10 regional finalists. Going to the lunch and listening to other's achievements is a prize in itself, and it is a stage I never even dreamed I would get to.” She added, “Thanks to Ready to Start and Barclays Awards my confidence and self esteem has tripled in comparison to one year ago.”
Lax.mary@virgin.net |
Enterprising Creature Discomforts
Two Ready to Start entrepreneurs star in the new Creature Discomforts animations, which aim to change people’s attitudes to disability during a six week campaign, which launched on 9th July.
Adrian Carter is the voice of Ozzy the Owl, talking about his experience of doing a business course at Westminster University alongside running his Caribbean catering business, called Carter’s Home Cooking. He said, “I’m an entrepreneur… to the fullest. My aim is to be the Caribbean equivalent of Nando’s! You’ve got to think big and you’ve got to do it big.”
Chris Davis of Chatham provides the voice of Callum the Chameleon, featured in two animations. Chris, who runs Wicked Waists with his partner Fi Bucknor, featured earlier in this newsletter, said, “My employer dismissed me in 1997 when my eyesight started to deteriorate. He felt I would no longer be able to do the work. In the ad I was talking about the fact I can still do things as well as, or sometimes better than, people who can see.”
Behind Cath the Cat is Debbie Reynolds from Blackburn, who was a Barclays Trading Places finalist. She said, “Life changed for me in 2003 when I became involved with the deaf community. Before that I had always hidden the fact I was hard of hearing as I didn’t want people to think I was different. I trained as an interpreter and now own a business, The School of Sign Language.”
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Change of address
Leonard Cheshire Head Office has moved! Our new address is:
66 South Lambeth Road
London
SW8 1 RL
Our Ready to Start phone number remains the same on 08456 717173 or you can call the main switchboard on 020 3242 0200
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How to contact us
Linda Holland
National Project Manager
Linda.Holland@LCDisability.org
07738 033083
Terri Wilson
National Project Assistant
Terri.Wilson@LCDisability.org
07500 443731
Ann Chaplin
Regional Coordinator for London and Kent
Ann.Chaplin@LCDisability.org
07738 033 098
Samantha Eve
Regional Coordinator for Central Region
Sam.Eve@LCDisability.org
07738 034 115
Johnny Coleman
Regional Coordinator for South West
Johnny.coleman@LCDisability.org
07738 328 997
Leonore Lord
Regional Coordinator for Essex and Suffolk
Leonore.Lord@LCDisability.org
07738 329 508
Martin Moore
Regional Coordinator for Wales and West
Martin.Moore@LCDisability.org
07738 328 998
Noel Jones
Regional Coordinator for East Midlands and Peterborough
Noel.Jones@LCDisability.org
07738 033 989
Sarah Ryan
Regional Coordinator for North West
Sarah.Ryan@LCDisability.org
07738 034 116
Vanessa Marshall
Regional Coordinator for North East and Yorkshire
Vanessa.Marshall@LCDisability.org
07738 033 987
Alternatively you can call Innovative Projects at Leonard Cheshire Disability on 08456 717173 or email Innovation@LCDisability.org
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Leonard Cheshire Disability is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no: 552847,
and a registered charity no: 218186 (England & Wales) and no: SCO05117 (Scotland). VAT no: 899322375. Registered office: 66 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1RL.
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