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Meet this Autumn’s LaunchMe Cohort

The Autumn 2025 cohort
This cohort encompasses a fantastic mix of sectors and approaches, from health and wellbeing to arts, community development, and innovative social solutions. The diversity of backgrounds and experiences amongst our entrepreneurs reflects the global nature of Scotland’s social enterprise community, all united in their ambition to grow and to deliver positive change in our wellbeing economy.

Hazel Ritchie – Artlink Central Bringing artists together with people experiencing exclusion, disability or disadvantage, exploring the creative potential of socially engaged arts practice in public and sited spaces.

Phoebe Willison – The Association Supporting and promoting the creative industry in Glasgow offering co-working, studios, and a flexible events/gallery space to creative individuals.

Angela Friel – Caring Operations Joint Action Council Services for families and carers affected by disability from an inclusive and accessible resource centre, managed by service users as ‘nothing about us, without us’.

Hazel Smith – International Tartans CIC Revitalising Scotland’s textile heritage by We empowering vulnerable women and young people through advanced tailoring & craft training, enterprise support & employment.

Nina Ballantyne – Leith St. Andrew’s Trust A church conversion into a community well-being centre, building a dynamic activity and performance space where local residents can come together, engage in diverse activities, and celebrate our cultural heritage.

Stephen Somerville – Movement Park A Glasgow charity developing physical literacy through the power of play in the community, with a welcoming hub for parkour, skateboarding, judo, and basketball.

Victoria White – Neurodivergent Birth CIC Increasing understanding and awareness of neurodivergent perinatal experiences, providing CPD training for maternity and perinatal professionals supporting neurodivergent women and birthing people during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.

Robert Colvin – New Future Training models to build sustainable construction skills for people in the built environment, integrating design and trade professions, building economic autonomy, and supplanting the shortfalls of traditional funding with commercial activities.

Hyelni Norine Adeniyi Babs – Norine Mindeyes Culture Empowerment through arts, culture, education, and humanitarian support, by bridging gaps, preserving heritage, and fostering sustainability by nurturing talent, supporting youth, and providing aid to those in need.

John Keogh – The Ootsider (CIC) Immediate, practical support to rough sleepers by donating their specially-designed sleeping coats, offering warmth and dignity. They also whilst challenge the perception of homelessness, whilst inspiring others to create social change.

Donna Cuthbertson – Orkney Dance & Fitness Ltd Accessible fitness and exercise programmes to the Orkney Community, improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing and reducing social isolation.

Florence Igboayaka – The Period Place Education on menstrual health and wellbeing, creating awareness about positive periods and lifestyle, whilst removing the stigma around periods and providing individuals with safe and hygienic period products and services to tackle period poverty.

Daniel Scott – Socialtrack Taking wheeled sports and active travel into communities through bespoke cycling programmes. They sell repair bikes to schools and community groups, and teach individuals how to ride, maintain and enjoy owning a bike.

Tammy McColm – Solway Disability Support CIC A Day Centre in Dumfries dedicated to supporting individuals with learning and physical disabilities to learn everyday life skills including shopping, travel by public transport, cooking and laundry, a variety of sports, arts & crafts, gardening and more.

Grace Murray – Stow Hub Joining local community ventures to develop social, cultural and economic opportunities for the common good. Their most significant project to date has been the refurbishment and extension of the Station House.

Anisha Yaseen – Thrive East Lothian A trauma-informed nursery for children aged 0–5. Their flexible, community-rooted approach supports working parents, reduces pressure on public services, and generates local jobs through apprenticeships and volunteering. Recently shortlisted for the Social Innovation Challenge for a second time.

Lara Porter – Upper Eskdale Development Group Developing a community hub into an active travel hub, improving the cafe and shop, whilst also creating routes for cyclists and walkers with maps, encouraging visitors to stop at community places in Southern Scotland.

Danielle Gaffney Du Plooy – Uppertunity A Dundee-based charity dedicated to empowering individuals to lead fuller, more meaningful lives. They work with people aged 16 and over with additional support needs, learning disabilities, autism, and mental health barriers.

What will LaunchMe provide?
LaunchMe will support these social entrepreneurs via expert-led workshops, personalised one-to-one support, and practical tools to help build investment-ready growth plans. They’ll also have access to our LaunchPad platform. Designed with inclusivity at its heart, LaunchPad has created a supportive space for LaunchMe participants to access a wide range of carefully curated resources, test their knowledge, and work on impactful business plans.

Bringing together the LaunchMe network
Last month, we held an in-person LaunchMe social event for the new autumn cohort and LaunchMe alumni. We had an amazing turnout, with entrepreneurs across our network sharing their business experiences and their hopes for the forthcoming LaunchMe programme.

It was fantastic to bring the LaunchMe community together, old and new, for this face-to-face event. Highlights included LaunchMe alumni providing:

• Vegan food from Serendipities Catering by Uppertunity 

• Bubble tea from Tempo Communitea 
• Styling services for attendees by Cushite Beauty

We also had:

• Open Aye CIC, Firstport awardee, photographing the event
• Our new inclusive name tags from Social Print and Copy CIC getting people thinking about inclusivity when networking

The energy and enthusiasm really highlighted the strength of the LaunchMe community and the impact these social enterprises are making across Scotland.

Find out more about LaunchMe.