Impact on people

Here are short stories of people we worked with over the past few years

Camilla

After Edventure, Camilla set up a traditional sign writing business, and went on to become a director at the Flameworks, a community arts center in Plymouth.

“I joined Edventure because I wanted an education that really helps me find what I love to do and that teaches me about life. Edventure gave me a blank canvas to experiment on. The freedom and every growing opportunity that have come my way since being involved with Edventure has in turn challenged me to learn to recognise what is truly right for me.”

Diane Samways | Hub member

Diane joined Edventure’s co-working space after completing the start-up course.

Edventure has played a pivotal role in helping me set up my successful garden design business Paper to Petal Garden Design. I was fortunate to have secured a spot on their 13th Start-Up course, based at the Walled Garden in Mells. In such a short space of time the course boosted my confidence and provided me with the transferable skills needed to start up my own business. I now work at the Hub 5-days a week growing my design business and meeting countless of influential members of the Frome community. Having a spot in such a dynamic hub ensures that my ear is always close to the ground, and I won’t miss out on any future opportunities.
https://www.papertopetal.co.uk/

L’s story

L grew up in Frome. At 16 he left school and tried going to college. He dropped out, and joined our MAKE course before joining this Start-Up course.

“I've definitely gained a lot of confidence and I've also learned more about myself on the course than I ever hoped to. I came away with, skills and experiences working and talking to people, connections for what I might do next, and direction for how my life might pan out”

Lily

Lily joined our team to tackle food waste in Frome that led to us setting up the first UK Community Fridge. She went on to set up The Pitney Farm cafe to help people reconnect with where their food comes from, selling local, organic veg and running community events.

“Many of the skills I learnt during my time with Edventure had a direct impact on my ability to confidently move forward into setting up my own project.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy7lxZoxd9k

Mahesh Sharma | Lungi Babas

Mahesh pitched for investment and community support for expanding Lungi Babas at Edventure’s first Local Entrepreneurs Forum. Lungi Babas is a vegan, sustainability and community-focused street food kitchen & caterer in Frome. He received 1-to-1 support to get investment ready and prepare his pitch to establish a permanent site at the railway station.

“It was of great benefit to our business. It enabled us to express our story, get financial support and a lot of regular custom on the back of it. And more than anything, it gave us the confidence to express ourselves. An opportunity I can recommend for any small independent business.”
https://www.lungibabas.com/

Robert Poizer

Robert Poizer joined us from the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury.

“Here is a group of people who clearly have the vision, intelligence and ability to recognise the needs of their own, and the wider community and respond with an offer that has relevance, vibrance and focus on the underlying cultural shifts required as well as a practical way forward. We have learnt from our visit and look forward to collaborating going forward. Thank you to the whole Edventure team.”
https://redbrickbuilding.co.uk/

Catalia Quiroz Nino

Catalina Quiroz-Niño is a researcher focused on organizational change, participatory governance in social enterprises and start-ups. She joined the tour with a group participating in an EU funded programme.

“We would like to say a big thank you for all you have offered us today, your passion, your knowledge and your practical experience! All this has made our visit a meaningful one in all senses. We hope to continue to be in touch for sharing all the potential experiences that might come from the visit after being inspired by your work!”
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

Sylvie Mohabir

Sylvie joined Edventure for the day from the Network of Wellbeing in Totnes.

“The tour was inspirational and gave me a spark to do similar initiatives for my own organisation and community. The members of the team we met were bubbling with enthusiasm and ideas, it's a great place to learn from and get involved."
https://networkofwellbeing.org/

Sam Robinson | Hub member

Sam works with Love to Ride, a global team of passionate people creating and delivering behaviour change projects around the world from Aberdeenshire to Sydney. They believe the world is better when more people ride bikes.

"Since 2012, I have tried various shared spaces in Frome and still do some stints at the range of amazing cafes we have (for a change of scene) - but the space I felt suited me best is the Welshmill Hub. Laid back, spacious, with interesting people coming and going, breakout space, fast fibre wifi - this set up works for me and my varied working pattern."
https://www.lovetoride.net

Rosa

Rosa took part in the start-up course looking for some practical business skills in setting up and running an enterprise with people and wanted to meet like minded people. She went on to work for a crisis support charity that tackles homelessness and food poverty, and set up a food growing project for them.

Read her full story here:

“I am grateful for all the skills I gained which undoubtedly opened up the opportunity into my current role.”
https://edventurefrome.org/life-after-edventure-start-up/

A’s story

RK had a car accident in her early 20s and suffered a major brain injury, she has ongoing memory problems. She was volunteering locally at the time and after the programme she joined a start-up course.

“I met new friends, learned about working as a group. I’ll be back, edventure is truly life changing for me and my new thoughts”

Kaz Woodbury | Hub member

Kaz is a member of our community workspace and attended various events and short courses. She provides support for women ​​during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

“I love the people and the sense of community along with the buzz of ideas and support. I am a frequent hot desker and the environment is inspiring - vibrant, yet calm. My favourite time in the Hub is when they have a team of ‘start up’ students in. The positive energy and drive for change is palpable! Edventure's working relationships with other like-mined businesses and charities really bring home the sense of skill-sharing and camaraderie. It has helped a self-employed person like myself feel part of something.”
http://www.continuumdoulatraining.co.uk/

Paula Neubauer | Get Pickled

Paula joined a couple of short courses with Edventure - Start-up Tools and Making Food into a Business, and set up Get Pickled during the pandemic.

“The most valuable skill I acquired was how to organise my cost & pricing”. “I already have set up my business, I have now to think how to incorporate the social aspect I intend to develop within it”
https://getpickledsomerset.com/

Ian Marshall

Ian Marshall co-leads the Frome Food Hub joined the Future Shed and received individual coaching session from Edventure’s advisors focusing on developing the vision & looking at some specific governance questions.

“The regular meetups helped us to talk about our vision for the Food Hub with peers working in similar areas and make connections that have been useful in moving things forward. Most importantly I think it has given us the motivation and reassurance that what we are doing is beneficial, worthwhile and can be achieved with the support of the community.”
https://www.fromefoodhub.co.uk/