Photo Credit: Ginger Pixie Photography
A social enterprise that works with the most marginalised members of the North Wales community has been saved from closure after receiving £10,000 in emergency funding.
RainbowBiz CIC were facing a financial crisis after Covid-19 forced them to close their Hippy Shop in Mold, which used 100 per cent of its profits to sustain the work of the social enterprise.
With no money coming in staff feared they would have to end their work until the Steve Morgan Foundation gave them a £10,000 ‘lifeline’ to help them through the worst of the crisis.
The money will enable them to sustain the RainbowBiz Hippy Shop in Mold for the next three months and carry on working with their most vulnerable members.
RainbowBiz CIC director Sue Oliver said: “When Covid-19 struck our first thought was with the people we support. We were forced to shut our Hippy Shop and were faced with the prospect of having to close the enterprise completely.
“Our work had previously been recognised by the Steve Morgan Foundation so we applied for financial assistance as part of their Covid-19 Emergency Fund and they awarded us £10,000. It was such a relief.”
Sarah Way, director and Hippy Shop manager said: “Not only is the shop our trading arm where we make money for our projects, it is also a gathering place for groups, volunteers, holistic therapists and our regular customers who we love to chat with.
“I am so relieved and humbled by this funding from the Steve Morgan Foundation that will keep our lovely shop from closing permanently. The future looks bright again for us.”
The social enterprise will also be able to continue contacting members, including their weekly online social meet-up so people can socialise despite being housebound.
Steve Morgan, founder of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said: “Last year RainbowBiz CIC won the Best Entrepreneurial Social Enterprise Award at the Steve Morgan Foundation Awards for the work they do with the most marginalised members of the community.”
“Many of these people are extremely isolated and rely on projects like RainbowBiz for social interaction and routine. That’s why we stepped in now so they can continue their good work when they’re needed the most.”
Morgan has committed to give £1m a week for an initial 12 weeks to charities in North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire to help them carry on working with the vulnerable during Covid-19.
Sarah Way, Director of RainbowBiz CIC and Project Co-ordinator of the social gardening project Digging Deeside.
One of the regular groups, a social gardening project called Digging Deeside is now running a lockdown growing project called Let’s Grow Together. This is to promote positive wellbeing, food sustainability and encourage everyone in the community to get involved. Short videos are being shared of progress of seeds which are being grown and photographs which members of the community are being encouraged to send it which are then shared for everyone to see. This is giving lots of inspiration and focus to the community who may not have grown anything from seed before. If you would like to get involved, please take a look at the Digging Deeside facebook page, you can also email your photographs and videos to info@rainbowbiz.org.uk Let’s Grow Together!