Social Enterprise Boost: My Sisters' Kitchen
Meet Jo Gordon, Social Enterprise Boost awardee and founder of My Sisters' Kitchen CIC, a safe, non-threatening, and non-judgemental community kitchen.
My Sisters' Kitchen is dedicated to providing opportunities primarily to women and training and work experience for young adults who are neurodiverse or have mental health issues. Their community kitchen, bakery, and training facility are here to empower individuals and create inclusive spaces for growth and development.
Jo's experience as a teacher, where she taught Food and Textiles, helped her gain a deep understanding of social, ethical, and environmental issues faced by young people. Her interest in social enterprises in the hospitality and catering sector grew as she saw how these organizations provided meaningful opportunities through employment, training, or volunteering. Inspired by their success, Jo started to explore starting her own Community Interest Company (CIC).
Jo had a disappointing experience in 2016 when a business advisor didn't support her vision of creating a social enterprise to help people with disabilities. However, she didn't let this discourage her; instead, she began developing a basic business plan and seeking guidance from professionals in the food industry community.
Setting up My Sisters' Kitchen CIC has been far from straightforward and has often felt like untangling a plate of spaghetti, says Jo. Adding to the challenges, she was a single parent with two dependent children and a mortgage to pay. However, in 2017, Jo took the plunge and decided to leave her job as a secondary school teacher to pursue a new path, and she began the journey of establishing My Sisters' Kitchen.
Jo believes that the Social Enterprise Boost programme has proven to be an incredible platform for the growth of new social enterprises.
"As someone who is currently participating in the programme, I have been thoroughly impressed by the passion and dedication exhibited by the team at PNE. Additionally, the support from the other fellow social entrepreneurs who are also part of the programme has been nothing short of amazing."
My Sisters' Kitchen CIC successfully secured a grant from the Social Enterprise Boost programme. Thanks to this funding, they will soon recruit a skilled part-time staff member to develop the Raising Dough project, which acts as the trading arm of My Sisters' Kitchen. Raising Dough provides exceptional volunteering, training, and employment opportunities to individuals who face various barriers in employment, education, or personal growth whilst also supporting neurodiverse individuals, those going through mental health struggles or facing other challenges.
In the coming months, My Sisters' Kitchen CIC and their Raising Dough project have exciting plans. Their pop-up sustainable food project and their trusty van, Peggy, will be appearing at private events, community activities, and food markets. Looking into the future, their vision for the next five years involves establishing a community café, kitchen, and well-being space on the high street. The proposed space will be a hub for like-minded social entrepreneurs and business partners, enabling them to develop further and expand their food projects.
When Jo was asked what advice she would give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to set up their own Social Enterprise, she responded:
"Talk to a range of social entrepreneurs and do your research – remember, understanding your target audience is crucial for the success of your social entrepreneurship venture. By creating a business that is specifically tailored to their needs, you can build strong connections and drive meaningful impact within your community."
Want to learn more about Social Enterprise Boost and how the project can support your social business? Visit https://www.pne.org/social-enterprise-boost.
Find out more information about My Sisters' Kitchen CIC and Raising Dough here: https://linktr.ee/mysisterskitchen
Follow their social media accounts here: https://linktr.ee/mysisterskitchen