Empowerment Through Resilience and Community

A Business Born from Courage and Connection

Learners began their journey by completing a Level 1 Understanding Enterprise course with FIRST and continued their progress as a close-knit group into the Level 2 Customer Ready programme. Gaining essential enterprise skills, the course formed lasting friendships and empowered them to create their business ‘Inner Beauty Queens’.

Offering services such as hair braiding and beauty products, Inner Beauty Queens is designed to serve the Angelou Centre’s community. The ethos of the business is clear: beauty isn’t just about how you look, but how you feel.

One participant shared, “Here, you can find what you’re good at, discover what you like to do, and you can make a business out of it.” Another added, “If it could make a change in even one woman’s life, it’s worth it.”

Support and Launchpad from FIRST and the Angelou Centre

Recognising the potential of their business model, FIRST awarded the women a £250 enterprising grant to help develop Inner Beauty Queens. This funding is being used to enhance their beauty skills, provide training for others, and grow their social media presence. The Angelou Centre has further pledged support by offering space within the centre to run their business—transforming their into reality.

The Angelou Centre’s dedication to assisting women with no recourse to public funds sets it apart from other organisations, making it an essential lifeline for those navigating significant systemic barriers. While other organisations may be restricted by funding limitations, the Angelou Centre fills this critical gap, empowering women to rebuild their lives when no other support is available.

The community entrepreneurs are set to inspire others, with plans to adapt the Inner Beauty Queens model to help more early stage founders within the Angelou Centre community.

Why the Angelou Centre Matters

The Angelou Centre is a lifeline for many women in Newcastle, providing safety, stability, and support to those fleeing domestic violence and rebuilding their lives, often while navigating barriers like limited English. By assisting women who have no access to public funds, the Angelou Centre addresses a vital need that other organisations cannot due to funding restrictions, making it uniquely special in its mission.

FIRST’s partnership with the Angelou Centre empowers underrepresented founders to overcome personal and systemic challenges, building a future where courage, skills, and financial independence are within reach.