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£100K investment boost for two North East social entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs Tracy Fee from Bishop Auckland and Simon Green from Sunderland have each secured £50,000 of investment to scale the impact of their social enterprises and create positive change in local communities. Their funding success follows their participation in Boost Invest, which helps social entrepreneurs in North East England prepare for and secure investment to support growth.

Supported by funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and delivered by Firstport, Boost Invest offers tailored business support through on-demand workshops, peer learning sessions, and one-to-one guidance from the Firstport team and local partners PNE, North East BIC, Social Enterprise Acumen, and Social Enterprise Academy. Entrepreneurs who complete the programme are invited to pitch for investment from a dedicated funding pot.

In 2023, Tracy Fee founded Hiyed CIC, a social enterprise that creates employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and autism. Her motivation came after receiving an autism diagnosis later in life, an experience that shed new light on the challenges she had faced during her 30-year career as a mental health nurse. Determined to support others in similar situations, Tracey launched Hiyed to help people thrive in employment.

Since then, Hiyed has experienced rapid growth, securing contracts with major employers including the NHS, Durham County Council, and Northumbrian Water. The organisation has expanded to a 20-strong team to meet increasing demand. The £50,000 investment will enable Tracey to fund business development to sustain growth.

Simon Green is the founder of Luminary Photography CIC, a social enterprise that harnesses the power of photography to transform lives. Luminary Photography delivers photography workshops, community projects, exhibitions, and creative opportunities in disadvantaged areas, engaging with individuals and groups facing barriers such as mental and physical health issues or neurodivergence.

Also launched in 2023, Luminary Photography has already delivered more than 300 workshops, 800+ hours of training, directly engaged with over 1000 people, and indirectly with many more through community projects. Simon will use the £50,000 to employ new staff to expand their services.

Boost Invest provides follow-up support to the many social enterprises previously involved in the Social Enterprise Boost Fund across Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Durham. The programme strengthens collaboration among local support organisations, builds on the momentum of the North East’s thriving social enterprise scene and brings much-needed investment into the area.

Emily Macdonald, Firstport’s Head of Investment Programmes, said:

Congratulations to Tracy and Simon on securing investment from Boost Invest in what was a very competitive panel. Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery with funding from Postcode Innovation Trust, these social entrepreneurs are now well-positioned to expand the social and economic benefits they’re already creating in their communities. We look forward to continuing to support them on their journey.

Tracy Fee, founder of Hiyed CIC, said:

Thanks to this support, we can continue to deliver meaningful, community-led work that empowers people and is truly life changing, helping to create such positive change. We are extremely grateful for this investment, which will directly support inclusive employment and break down barriers.

Simon Green, founder of Luminary Photography CIC, said:

This investment is a huge win for Luminary and the East End of Sunderland. It allows us to expand our team and give access to employment and education for people facing the biggest barriers. Having already supported over 1,000 people, this funding ensures we can keep providing access to the arts and transforming lives across our community.

For more information about the programme, visit the Boost Invest page.