Compassionate Voices CIC was registered in July 2019 as a not for profit communities organisation.
( registration no 12079728)

OUR Mission Statement:

To create a more compassionate society through encouragement of good mental health, openness, and a better understanding of each other.

Compassionate Voices CIC’s aim is to be the bridge to a more fulfilled life for women and girls. We achieve this through our highly recommended and unique journalling workshops, events and activities. We also have a growing online community, which at present has almost 250 members. Compassion towards animals and the welfare of the planet are of paramount importance too.  

The Package

Over the past three years, the Compassionate Voices package has developed and strengthened. We have achieved this by listening to workshop attendees suggestions in their feedback forms, members at our regular meetings and by continually building partnerships to deliver a wider variety of activities.

We now feel we have a unique and distinctive package to offer women and girls who are struggling with low self-esteem. This could be because of low to medium mental health issues, isolation, illness, financial struggles, domestic violence, bullying at work/school/online, body image, menopause, redundancy – to name a few examples.

Compassionate Voices is inclusive. Our workshops and activities are aimed at women/girls of all ages and ethnicity, focusing on areas with more deprivation. We also want to target young mums, 18 -25-year-olds, and women/girls from ethnic minorities and migrant communities.

STEP OUTS

For 2 years we had hosted online activities to ensure no-one in our growing community ever felt isolated. Some organisations had shut their doors during the pandemic, so even on Christmas day and bank holidays, we opened our Zoom Doors. Compassionate Voices Step Out activities came into fruition, as the pandemic lockdowns ceased. 

Our Step Out activities tend to kick start where we have held The Power of YOU Workshop. A mixture of social and learning events, we have already partnered with a number of third sector organisations and small businesses, such as DAAS (Derbyshire Addiction Advise Services), Caron Kirkham Training & Coaching, Fay Hartwell Designs and Dancing for Health. 

Our online events still thrive, with monthly activities including ‘Open Mic’ night, the Compassionate Voices, Art group, Coffee & Chats, Face Yoga and Tapping sessions ( EFT).

In 2024, because of funding received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we will also be organising trips to ‘The Beatles Museum’ in Liverpool, Shakespeare’s home in Stratford upon Avon and Chatsworth House.

To find out more about the women’s and girls journalling workshops and the Compassionate Voices community please email sharon@acompassionatevoice.co.uk

Achieved so far…

In our first year, we successfully organised and hosted two parties for vulnerable children in the Derbyshire community. A Halloween party in October 2019 and a Christmas party in December too. Each of the parties were attended by over 30 children with a parent or carer. The local business community, including Tesco, Swizzels and Peak Fm Radio  were eager to help. They swiftly donated Halloween outfits, spooky tableware/accessories, toys for Santa and sweets.

Since July 2019, we have been fortunate to receive grants from Foundation Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Voluntary Action, The Coronavirus Community Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund and Nottinghamshire County Council.  In December 2023 our projects received grants from three of the key funders – Children in Need, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.

From Jan 2020 to the end of 2023 we had delivered over 40 ‘The Power of YOU’ workshops, reaching out to more than 400 women.

Fundraising History

As the founder of Compassionate Voices CIC, I would like to share with you some of my fundraising history
In November 1999, I organised my first ever charity event, raising funds for the NSPCC. Glenn Tilbrook, lead singer from the band Squeeze agreed to do a solo acoustic gig in between the band’s tour dates supporting Blondie. Together, we raised a significant amount of money for the children’s charity.

The Kevin Bull Memorial Golf Day 2006

Shortly after my father’s death in 2003 more fundraising events followed. The decision was two-fold. To help me overcome the pain of losing him and to follow in his footsteps by raising money for worthy causes. And so, with the help of volunteers on the 12th May 2005, we held the first of two very successful celebrity golf days raising over £8,000 for the NSPCC. The second of the two held in 2006 in memory of my dad.

After the success of the golf days, once again with the help of volunteers, I organised another three events, raising a grand total of £20,000 for disadvantaged children.