Local company supports diversity organisation

Local award winning social enterprise RainbowBiz CIC have received a cash donation of £250 from the Moneysupermarket Group based in Ewloe.

RainbowBiz have become known as a trusted support organisation for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and have run many projects and focus groups over the years.  Volunteers can be seen around the country proudly attending various Pride events and marches.  This year, most events have been cancelled and this has affected the logistics of getting to events.

The organisation are also members of various LGBT and diversity panels including working with North Wales Police and ITV Wales and are extremely visible Nationally for their support of the LGBTQIA+ communities.  They have also won several awards for the work they have done in promoting equality and diversity and have even made a film called Life Gets Better Together (LGBT).  RainbowBiz were delighted when they won the IRIS Prize Leadership Award in 2018, for the work they did when making and promoting this film about volunteer journeys and specifically within the LGBT community.  You can see this film on their website www.rainbowbiz.org.uk

RainbowBiz CIC work alongside Mike Dodd the Social Enterprise Officer for Flintshire County Council and the stakeholder group where they are leading on the Social Enterprise Places application for Flintshire.  This award will acknowledge and celebrate the range and depth of social enterprise activity supporting people within the community in Flintshire.

Support networks have also continued online, through social and training sessions, together with staff from RainbowBiz making regular telephone calls to the more vulnerable people who are unable to access online.

Sue Oliver, director at RainbowBiz CIC said “I think everyone will agree this year has been so difficult, we have made huge efforts to ensure we continue to reach out to people and offer support where needed.  I have personally experienced my own mental health issues during lockdown and I can certainly empathise with those who are struggling with day to day living arrangements”.

The RainbowBiz Hippy Shop based in Mold was set up by the social enterprise back in 2017 in order to generate funds to sustain the work of the enterprise.  The Hippy Shop is wonderful place to buy fair trade, ethical gifts, incense and hippy clothing.  As this is classified as a non essential shop, the organisation have been forced to close during lockdown periods and this has severely affected their trading.  Hippy Shop manager Sarah Way said “Receiving the phone last week from local business Moneysupermarket came as such a lovely surprise in this really hard time where we have struggled to keep going.  Donations like this really help to continue supporting people that need us in Flintshire and beyond”.

MoneySupermarket Group were due to take part in London Pride Parade in June, however Covid has other plans and the event was cancelled.  Their internal employee resource group #Represent, who focus on Diversity, Inclusion and providing an environment for every employee to thrive and be their authentic self, wanted to ensure that the pride entrance fee was donated to smaller LGBTQ+ charities providing funds in this difficult time. MoneySupermarket Group are delighted to be able to donate £250 to RainbowBiz CIC.

If you would like to show your support for this Flintshire based social enterprise then take a look at their website www.rainbowbizhippyshop.org.uk where you may find some hidden gems and wonderful fair trade gift ideas.  You can be confident that 100% of all profits from every purchase will be reinvested into helping people in Flintshire.

Pictured - Staff and volunteers at Chester Pride 2019