About Us

The Beginning

RainbowBiz CIC was incorporated back on 23rd January 2015 by founder Directors Sue Oliver and Sarah Way. Over the years they have had additional volunteers join their Board to support the social enterprise through different periods.  The Social Enterprise was setup to promote equality and diversity.

Digging Deeside was the first community based project that started back in the beginning.  We started with one small raised bed allotment plot but quickly outgrew the space due to more people getting involved.  The project was setup to minimise isolation in the area and create a safe welcoming environment where people from all backgrounds and abilities could come together.

In order to remain sustainable and ethical, RainbowBiz opened the Hippy Shop on Shotton High Street to sell Fair Trade gifts and clothing in order to generate revenue throughout the year, which is reinvested into the Social Enterprise.

Promoting Equality and Diversity

Social Enterprise, RainbowBiz CIC sit on various statutory and voluntary sector panels and make representations on many other public bodies. These have included advising ITV Wales News on their North Wales Equality and Diversity panel in addition to the North Wales Police LGBTQ Panel. Recent work has included working in partnership with the Welsh Government on the Covid-19 Crisis and how they might shape the future of Flintshire’s retail and business sector.

The Hippy Shop and Projects

The RainbowBiz Hippy Shop which is based in Shotton, North Wales sustains the projects that the organisation runs each week. All profits directly support and enable marginalised communities to thrive in Flintshire. Weekly projects and social events include Digging Deeside, a social gardening project and a Walking for Wellbeing group which meet each week, both to minimise the impact of isolation and to promote social inclusion in minority and marginalised groups, some who live in areas of deprivation in Flintshire.

Rt Hon Lord Barry Jones PC

RainbowBiz CIC were absolutely delighted when Lord Barry Jones approached us to offer his services as our Patron. From the very early days Lord Barry has supported our social enterprise by participating in many of our social and volunteer gatherings.

Lord Barry supports our Hippy Shop in Shotton and has attended several important occasions to give his much loved and received speeches. All of the staff and volunteers very much enjoy spending time with our Patron, Lord Barry Jones and Lady Janet Jones.