21/05/2026
Case study number 3 Helen Greaves
When I first came to The Growing Club CIC, I was searching for an opportunity to connect with other women and to find support in setting up a business.
I had come from an experience of domestic abuse and had spent several years working from home, which had become deeply isolating. I was desperate to be around other women — to feel that sense of sisterhood and shared understanding again.
Before attending the course, I had been fortunate enough to complete a business enterprise course at University College London. Whilst that experience was valuable, it felt, at times, very masculine in its approach — focused on pitch decks, competition, and end goals. I came away excited by the prospect of creating something meaningful, but overwhelmed by the practical realities.
For me, this is where The Growing Club excelled. Whilst I already had the vision for my company, Restoreco Ltd, Roots and Shoots gave me the practical skills and confidence to bring that vision to life. I started to change my perception of value — not only the value of my work and services, but also my value as a person.
At the time, I was going through one of the most difficult chapters of my personal life, and it was incredibly uplifting to meet such a diverse group of talented women, each carrying their own ambitions, struggles, and dreams. There was something profoundly healing in watching women support one another whilst slowly becoming more confident in themselves.
I was later thrilled to continue my Growing Club journey by returning as an observer trainer on the following year’s course in Preston. During the course, I was experiencing perhaps the most difficult period of my life, something noticed with great kindness by Christine Jones, who was trialling her mentoring scheme programme at the time. Christine demonstrated exceptional professionalism, ethics, confidentiality, and compassion throughout that process. Although I eventually had to step back due to my mental health at the time, I thoroughly valued the experience and the opportunity to support another participant with her own goals.
At the end of the programme, I was also paired with a wonderful mentor, Gail Gravity, who provided invaluable support and encouragement. It was wonderful to spend time with someone so inspirational, who shared similar interests and aspirations and had already walked paths that I hoped to tread myself in the future.
This support complemented the incredible tutors we encountered throughout the programme. Each brought their own individuality, expertise, and warmth, whilst collectively creating a space where every woman felt heard, included, supported, and celebrated.
Alongside my limited company, I had already established the Norfolk Ponds Project CIC, and many of the skills and confidence that enabled me to do so came directly from what I learned through The Growing Club. Christine joined the CIC part-time as our Finance Officer. Christine is absolutely perfect for the role, and our partnership may never have happened had we not met through The Growing Club.
Likewise, Restoreco Ltd has continued to grow and develop in its own right. Through my professional background in restoration ecology, combined with my personal experiences of domestic abuse, the family courts, and the organisations surrounding them, Christine, myself, and several other women are now in the process of establishing Restoreco as a CIC in addition to the limited company. Restoreco — short for “restorative ecology,” a term I coined — reflects the idea that ecosystems, including ourselves as human beings, can only truly thrive when balance is restored.
Our aim is to support women who, for whatever reason, feel disconnected from their true selves, helping them find the mechanisms, confidence, and support needed to thrive once again.
I am wholeheartedly grateful for my Roots and Shoots experience and for everything that The Growing Club has provided me with over the last few years. I firmly believe that I would not have had the confidence to come this far without their support.
I hope every tutor, mentor, and member of staff involved with The Growing Club truly understands the lasting impact they have had. The work they have done has planted countless seeds in women’s lives — seeds that may simply be waiting for the right conditions in order to flourish.
With love to every single one of you,
Helen ###
