THRIVE Economic Empowerment Fund

Aim: To raise £1,000 to support women and non-binary entrepreneurs with the start up costs for their business.

Over the last five months, Treat Me Right have been working with a fantastic group of Folkestone women and non-binary people in the THRIVE Economic Empowerment Programme. THRIVE is an innovative entrepreneurship programme featuring workshops on running a business and maintaining your wellbeing, one-to-one support, opportunities to sell and showcase, and more. 

We are delighted that the National Lottery Fund is funding the programme, but this funding only covers the costs of running it. We need a little more money to realise the full potential of the Thrive Economic Empowerment programme! 

Why is the money needed?

The economic landscape has dramatically changed over the last few years. Every cost has gone up, and the availability of funding for businesses led by women is very small. Women still face significant challenges in accessing the capital and support needed to start and grow their businesses. Just 9% of the funding funnelled into UK start-ups goes to women-run businesses. And according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, women are more likely to use their income to invest in their family's wellbeing, education and healthcare. Supporting female entrepreneurs can lead to a long-term reduction in poverty so communities can thrive.

Non-binary entrepreneurs make a huge contribution to the economy, locally and nationally. LGBTQ+ businesses contribute over £106 billion to the UK economy despite huge challenges, finds the new report from LGBTQ+ Businesses Count. And research from Stonewall this year finds that almost 40% of LGBTQ+ employees still hide their identity at work. Non-binary job seekers also face bias as resumes with they/them pronouns get less interest from employers, despite most being Equal Opportunity Employers. 

At the heart of Thrive Empowering Economic Independence is to support women and non-binary people to realise economic independence which helps to prevent and stop domestic abuse for good.  

1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse, and 1 in 6 women will experience financial abuse in their life-time. Together we can change the story.

If like us, you believe that supporting female and non-binary entrepreneurs can make a big difference, please pledge what you can. 

If we empower one, we can empower a community and a society.

What are we going to do with the money?

Our goal is to raise £1,000 for Thrive participants to support them with the initial start-up costs of their business - for example, purchasing materials and equipment. 100% raised will be split equally between participants.

What do participants say about THRIVE?

"THRIVE gave me drive, gave me hope, made me feel alive ... I'm like a phoenix rising from the ashes."

“THRIVE came at the perfect time for me in my life 10 days after leaving an abusive relationship. If I didn’t have THRIVE I wouldn’t be as positive and motivated to build myself on my own. I’m very thankful to Treat Me Right as I don't know where I would be without them today.”

"THRIVE's women economic empowerment focuses on enhancing women's economic opportunities and capabilities through several key initiatives: - ensures women have access to necessary resources. - connects women with mentors and networks that offer guidance, support, and opportunities for collaboration. This helps women to build confidence, gain insights from experienced professionals, and expand their business networks. - advocates for policies that promote gender equality and support women's economic participation. This includes pushing for fair wages, better working conditions, and equal opportunities in various industries. - fostering a community of empowered women. THRIVE creates a support system where women can share experiences, challenges, and successes, further encouraging personal and professional growth. Through these initiatives, THRIVE empowers women economically, helping them achieve financial independence and improve their overall quality of life."

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 13th August 2025 at 5:12pm