The Growing Club

04/06/2026

https://mailchi.mp/08b661a53953/thegrowingclub-celebratingourlegacy

Selnet selnet-uk.com Support for Social Enterprises and Skills Bootcamps for individuals in business or business leaders looking for a low-cost programme to upskill their team. PHX phxtraining.co.uk - A leading provider of training, mentoring, and workplace solutions in Cumbria and Lancashire....

02/06/2026

Our FINAL Case Study: Irina Cordall

The Growing Club has played a huge role in helping me clarify who I am as a coach and what I want my business to stand for.

Like many people running their own business, I had lots of ideas, skills and experience, but I wasn't always clear on how they fitted together. Through the programmes, workshops and connections I made through The Growing Club, I found the confidence to focus on what matters most to me: helping women reconnect with themselves, discover what is truly important to them, and build lives that reflect their values rather than other people's expectations.

That clarity led me to develop Becoming You, a digital wellbeing app for women who are childless not by choice. The idea grew through opportunities and connections that came through The Growing Club community, and this year it was selected for the Ripple Women's Digital Health Challenge.

Looking back, The Growing Club didn't just help me develop a business. It helped me develop a clearer sense of my identity, purpose and direction. Today I support others to rediscover themselves and create lives that feel authentic and meaningful — and I'm not sure I would have got here quite so quickly without The Growing Club.

https://linktr.ee/irinacordall

01/06/2026

Case Study: Nikki Cookson

After 25 years of primary school teaching I was made redundant in 2018 and opened Woodcroft Crafts - a little shop-in-a-shed in my parent’s garden in Scorton. This enabled me to be onsite to care for my mum who has Alzheimer’s.

The amazing Jane Binion spent an afternoon helping me to believe that all my crazy ideas could actually be turned into a viable business plan. She encouraged me to join the Bloom and Grow online course which was a fantastic experience and taught me all the things I needed to know about running a business. Since then it has been wonderful to be part of the Growing Club community and I have made some lovely friends. It has also been incredibly reassuring to know there is someone to ask when I have a question or problem. Rebecca Ansell, in particular, has been an absolute star over the years - knowing she is still only an email away is such a comfort.

I make hand-made gifts and Christian crafts from natural and recycled materials to sell in my little shop-in-a-shed in Scorton. My shop is set in the beautiful Haven Garden - 4 acres of magical private woodland full of my crazy creations with a waterwheel, wishing well, prayer labyrinth, fairy trail and twig characters. I also host craft workshops and children’s parties.

The shop has been closed since Christmas for extensive rebuilding and renovation but just reopened on bank Holiday Monday. The shop and garden are open every Friday, Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Thank you and congratulations Growing Club for all your amazing achievements and making such a huge difference to so many people like me.

https://www.woodcroftcrafts.co.uk/

30/05/2026

Case Study: Mia Hunter

My massage business is massage4me based in Lancaster at The Storey.
I started my business in 2024 inspired by my mum who was also a massage therapist.

I offer services such as, Deep tissue, Swedish and lymphatic drainage massage. I also welcome neurodivergent clients as I’m also neurodivergent, so have an understanding of those who need a quiet space.

Thanks to The Growing Club, who helped me with new ideas and connections, my business is growing and improving.

Contact me on 07342011150
Or my page Massage4Me-Lancaster

29/05/2026

Case Study: Helen Cullen-Williams

You’ll probably know me as a Business Start Up Trainer or “The Branding Lady”!
My journey with The Growing Club started right back on day one, when Jane and Rachel gathered a room full of expectant female founders together with this radical idea - women actually supporting each other to grow their businesses! 😲

I instantly knew I wanted to be part of it. But it also made me realise the business I was running at the time wasn’t something I wanted to grow in its current format. So The Growing Club became the spark that sent me back to the drawing board (literally) and off to design school to add creative skills to my marketing experience.

Fast forward a few years - after completing the fabulous Bloom & Grow course during the chaos of Covid - I was invited to deliver branding and marketing workshops, which led to me becoming a regular Business Start Up trainer and mentor.

Life outside work has been exceptionally tough for me in recent years, but The Growing Club has genuinely kept me going. Being in a room with other female founders - encouraging them, cheering them on and being inspired by them in return - reminds me why I keep riding this crazy self-employed rollercoaster.

And I don't want my journey with you, our amazing North West female business community, to be over yet… Christine (my BSU training partner) and I would love to keep supporting you, but we need you to help us decide the next step... Find out more 😊🙏: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/MJpkGA5A6L

28/05/2026

Case Study: Gina Parish

Ceramics by G is another example of what can happen when women are empowered to turn ideas into reality. What began as inspiration within The Growing Club is now becoming its own exciting new chapter. In the last 12 months, Gina has proudly established Ceramics by G within the inspiring setting of Lancaster Castle, marking a huge milestone in turning her creative vision into a growing business.

Now launching pilot workshops and taster sessions, giving people the opportunity to explore ceramics in a welcoming and supportive environment — whether you’re a complete beginner or simply looking to try something new. Interested in joining a workshop, collaborating, or finding out more? Reach out and be part of the journey. [email protected]

27/05/2026

Study Case: Claire Prescott

The Growing Club has meant so much to me and hands down changed my life.

I was in an awful state when I first came, and it's all because of you and people like you, supporting and believing in me, and my ideas that has led me to actually launching my business and the concept of 4Q, that has given me so much purpose and promise of a better way of living.

You nurtured my approach to mixed media art and the stories that support each piece. You have been patient and kind with me during times of lack of progress and quick to congratulate my successes, no matter the size.

A special thanks to Binnion, forever my mentor. Ludford a kindred spirit indeed and to every woman I ever met through The Growing Club. A very special time in my life.

So, The Growing Club helped me realise my dream of releasing my original mixed-media art, inspired by iconic people, places, music and books, it's unleashed on canvas, t-shirts and hoodies and everything in-between.

All products are made to order and hand-finished, making them unique like you.

Unapologetically 4Q.

https://www.tiktok.com//video/7548110121017036054?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7548360193037157891

4q_unique

26/05/2026

Case Study: Amy Gunawan

When I started my journey with the Growing Club I was looking for help with setting up my basket making business. The support that I got was so much more than that. I found a community, a safe space to grow and I met so many inspiring women brave enough to put themselves out there.

Through the start-up course I learnt a lot about the practicalities of starting a business but the sessions that had the biggest impact for me were about self-compassion (being kind to myself), setting boundaries (learning to say no sometimes), learning to ask for help (doing everything all by yourself can be limiting sometimes) and that fear and self doubt are normal and ok (just don't let fear drive your decision making). It's these things that I am still (and always will be) working on and hope to pass on to my son as good lessons for life.

After completing the start-up course in 2022, I went on to facilitate the course with Sarah then Zoe for the last 3 years. It was a lovely experience to see the journey throughout the course and how it impacted the women.

I have been running my basketmaking business for 5 years now and still going strong. I teach basketmaking workshops in the Lancaster area and sell my work locally and on my website www.amygunawanwillowweaving.com .

I'm so grateful to the growing club for the support in getting me started with my business, being a part of the community and the network of fantastic women that I have met along the way.

25/05/2026

Case Study: Nicola Diggles

Hi my name is Nicola Diggles I am a one to one dog groomer at my house in Lancaster.

When I first started The Growing Club course I was extremely nervous and unsure how they could help me. But with their support and guidance I have grown in confidence. They have helped me with ideas on how to promote my business properly with branding and marketing ideas. I attended Pups in the Park on Sunday 10th May which I wouldn't have been able to do without their support and guidance.

You can book a session for your furry friend by calling 07474283066 or email [email protected]
Facebook and Instagram 's Short dog and sides

24/05/2026

Case Study: Adrienne Gristwood

Hi, I’m Adrienne, and food has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I first learned to bake at home with my mum before studying food and nutrition at university, which led to an exciting career as a development technologist in the food industry. But my true calling was sharing my love of cooking with others, so I trained as a teacher and spent many years inspiring students in food, nutrition, and catering.

My journey has taken me across the UK, France, and Italy, but now my family and I have embarked on our most exciting adventure yet—bringing Boskins Barn to life in the heart of Lancashire’s stunning food scene. We’ve transformed this historic barn on our working farm into a beautiful holiday retreat and cookery school, where I invite you to join me for hands-on, fun-filled baking and cookery experiences.

The Growing Club supported me on this latest leg of my journey, creating relaxing cooking experiences where you can enjoy a hands-on session, with fun and informal instruction tailored to individual’s needs. All ingredients are provided, and you take away your bakes and all the recipe sheets at the end of the session. Once the cooking is done, we sit and enjoy a light lunch together to taste the fruits of our labour.
Nestled beneath Clougha Pike in the breathtaking Forest of Bowland, our kitchen is steeped in history—once home to cattle stalls, or 'boskins'. Now, it’s a warm and welcoming space where you can learn, bake, and indulge in the joys of food.

[email protected]
Facebook and Insta: Barn