£92k funding boost for social enterprise to meet Think2Speak’s national growth ambitions

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Social enterprise Think2Speak has secured a funding boost that will mean it can develop and expand its services across the UK.

Lizzie Jordan, Founder and CEO of Think2Speak, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured over £92,000 of social funding from The Key Fund, a fantastic social investment company based in Sheffield.

“Key Fund helps breathe life into communities and social enterprises, so we’re especially pleased to be working with them as an organisation that understands our motivations and values.

“This injection of funding sets us up for our digital growth plans, expansion of our team and to develop the already impressive work we have carried out so far. It will also mean we can extend our services across the country.”

Lizzie Jordan

Think2Speak, a social enterprise founded in 2015, is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that equips people with the skills and confidence necessary to have some of life’s most difficult conversations.

Lizzie added: “The funding will have an immediate impact as we are recruiting two new staff and we also have another joining us to fulfil a new contract we have secured with Springwell Academy, to offer counselling and therapy for their children, young people and staff across two of their four locations.”

Through the core specialisms of relationships and sex education, and LGBT+ inclusion, the Think2Speak team has empowered more than 8,000 people so far to have the conversations that really matter, promoting social inclusion and integration in communities nationwide.

Dave Thornett, Business Development Manager at Key Fund, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to support Think2Speak, leading the conversations we need to have for ourselves and the wider community about mental health, relationships, LGBT and inclusion issues.

“Lizzie and her team, based in Gainsborough, are not only addressing the crisis of provision in rural areas, but also innovating nationally.”

The funding, which is a blended grant loan from Key Fund and a small grant from The Mercers’ Company, will allow Lizzie and her team to scale up the business by expanding its numbers, investing in digital growth plans and support various schemes, including workshops, counselling sessions and awareness campaigns.