Meet Our Entrepreneurs

Social Ark has been investing in leaders with lived experience since 2014, equipping young social entrepreneurs from under-resourced and sometimes challenging backgrounds with the skills to develop their own social businesses and access meaningful careers and employment opportunities.

Join A Programme

Amina Yassin Mohamed

Belong Kick CIC

Amina is a 19-year-old, East Londoner who is a Founder and Director of a football social enterprise called Belong Kick. Having experienced her own troubles in school and college, where she didn’t feel a sense of belonging or guidance, she is determined to build a safe space that empowers young people on and off the pitch.

Andre Simon

Radojunkie Combat Academy

Andre combined his passion as a professional fighter with his experience supporting young people to create a martial arts academy. Through Muay Thai, Radojunkie helps young people grow, stay active, and build confidence. Breaking down barriers into martial arts by operating in community spaces, running holiday camps, youth programmes, and working in schools.

Amaka Ananti

Stand Up Sis

Amaka, the founder of Stand Up sis, a dynamic social enterprise bridging generational gaps and dismantling barriers that have historically limited young women's access to meaningful mentorship. Today, Stand Up Sis creates accessible pathways for ambitious young women to connect with experienced mentors, fostering relationships and building a future where every woman can learn from those who've walked before them.

Kowiyat Ajimobi (Mayo)

The Lady Powerhouse

Mayo Is A Women’s Clarity Coach and Founder of The Lady Powerhouse CIC, the go-to community for under-resourced, early-stage female entrepreneurs. As a Women’s Clarity Coach, I support women to unlock their full potential. At The Lady Powerhouse, we empower female founders to thrive—both personally and professionally—so they can build businesses and lives they are proud of and genuinely enjoy.

Jessica Okwuonu

The Digital Growth Hub

Driven by her lived experiences and a passion for creating meaningful change, Jessica founded The Digital Growth Hub , a social enterprise dedicated to bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals through digital literacy. With a mission to make the world a kinder place, this platform fosters connection, inclusivity, and personal growth, allowing people from all walks of life to share their stories and learn from one another.

Vinicia Ferreira

Young Generation Needs Us

Vinicia used her lived experienced to set up YGNU, a youth led service which provides creative practical tools to young people, teachers, parents and carers. With a focus on raising awareness of mental health, anti bullying & Special Educational Needs and Disability. YGNU delivers innovative and relatable programmes for schools and youth organisations.

Zak K Addae-Kodua

Xconversation

Zak is the founder of Xconversation, a podcast platform that showcases Lived experienced interviews. Zak is an Award winning presenter, he understands the barriers faced upon release from custody, and just how employment & opportunity go hand in hand with rehabilitation. Xconversation champions change, through paid work experience, workshops & programmes delivered in schools, prisons and in the community.

Aaliyah & Kianu Glasgow

Dipped In Creativity Engagement

Aaliyah & Kianu Glasgow are the founders of Dipped In Creativity Engagement a youth-led social enterprise. Creatively supporting people to be the best version of themselves, through skills based workshops, social events, & programmes. Using their lived experience they both understand the impact leadership, coaching and mentoring can have.

Gideon Buabeng

Our Pain To Power

Gideon is the Founder of Our Pain 2 Power. Gideon uses his lived experience of surviving a serious knife attack to empower young people. Also, Gideon is an Award Winning Motivational Speaker, Chairman of The Violent Crime Prevention Youth Board, Metropolitan Police Community Trainee Facilitator, Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador of The Year and Prince’sTrust Youth Advisory Board and Representative.

JR Josephs

Sirlute

JR’s passion for music inspired him to set up Sirlute, a charity that provides hands-on creative learning programmes, artistic development, work experience, peer mentoring and access to affordable studio space to the local community. Sirlute also provides relatable support, helping young people move away from negative influences, access positive opportunities and express themselves constructively.

Mirela Maxhuni

Fragile Rebell

Mirela founded Fragile Rebell, a creative-led early stage social enterprise that aims to unify the mind, body, and soul through self-expressive activities, like dance, yoga, drama, and art. They help people to make peace their unresolved issues, strengthening future generations More than an enterprise, Fragile Rebell embodies a way of living and takes pride in working with other values-driven businesses and organisations.

Saif Bhoja

Huriah Hemp

Saif has founded Huriah Hemp, an early-stage social enterprise and sustainable clothing brand that aims to break down barriers within the fashion industry and our communities. Huriah also supplies brands with ethical marketing products. Saif is on a mission to raise awareness and empower, delivering creative youth workshops, encouraging young people to take social action in their local communities.

Brogan Brooks

Truce ‘n’ Train

Brogan was born and raised in East London. She used her lived experiences to set up Truce ‘n’ Train, a totally inclusive fitness and youth mentoring programme designed specifically for disengaged young people identified as needing extra support. Working with schools, local authorities, community groups, and individuals, Brogan also facilitates boxercise sessions, punchy and full of energy!

Emmanuel Ebokosia

True Cadence

Manny is the founder of True Cadence, a social enterprise that fuels the passion of young people by educating them on the business side of the music industry. As a platform for artistic expression, True Cadence promotes good mental wellbeing in young people by encouraging them to be passion-driven, creative, innovative, have a sense of agency, and speak their truth.

Joe Tamplin

People Box Productions

Joe is a filmmaker and founder of People Box Productions, a video production service and online video platform. The focus is on creating content and a platform that promotes grassroots organisations and inspiring individuals doing great work within their communities. People Box Productions also provide services to corporates!

Sanyu Musoke

YUCAN

Sanyu used her lived experience to set up YUCAN. YUCAN is a start-up social enterprise set up by young carers for young carers, providing a specialist young carers service. By practicing co-design and peer participation, this innovative service will be user-led and aims to provide the blueprint for others.

Reuben Braithwaite

W.A.T.C.H

Reuben has used his own Spoken Word performance skills to develop W.A.T.C.H - We Are The Culture Happening. He delivers his Creative Masterclass workshops in schools and other youth organisations to encourage young people to express themselves in a way that is inclusive, non-judgemental and creative.

Syderita Vaka

KidsUGym

Syderita has used her own lived experiences to set up KidsUGym, an inclusive, socially conscious fitness programme designed specifically for disadvantaged children aged between 10 and 15 who are inactive, unengaged and may need extra support to realise their potential and make friends in their local community.

Tiersha Carter

Their Voices

Tiersha founded Their Voices, a social enterprise that holds open forum discussions that address mental health, social exclusion and the issues affecting young people on a day-to-day basis. Their Voices eliminates the stigma associated with mental health, and addresses the unspoken ‘taboo’.

Megan Kavanagh

Megzi Pearls Floristry

Megan has lived in East London all her life and moved to Tower Hamlets from Newham. As a single mum, Megan’s determined to make a better life for her family and her community. She set up Megzi Pearls, a social enterprise florist, that offers professional floristry services as well as interactive community workshops. Megan’s gone from strength to strength, she’s even been commissioned by one of Her Majesty the Queen’s personal guards!

Sandy Abdelrahman

Skaped

Sandy is an activist, creative social entrepreneur and co-founder of Skaped, a social enterprise that encourages young people to engage with their human rights through creative arts. Skaped is on a mission to raise awareness of human rights to the future generations and encourage them to get involved in social and political matters around the world, but more importantly, what’s happening on their doorsteps!

Moses Adeyemi

The Silver Line Project

Moses is passionate about fitness and mental wellbeing, and has developed The Silver Line Project, a specialist wellbeing programme aimed at empowering people from ‘hard-to-reach’ backgrounds, which has been delivered to housing and community associations, schools and prisons. Moses also delivers corporate wellbeing workshops, and regularly mentors our new entrepreneurs as Social Ark Alumni.

Shajna Begum

The Film Bunch

Shajna is a filmmaker and founder of The Film Bunch. The Film Bunch hosts monthly events, where they showcase short films from upcoming filmmakers from around the world. They also now host British Sign Language (BSL) community courses. Their mission is to improve access for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to mainstream short films.

Moses Sangobiyi

The Successful Failure

Moses is the founder of "The Successful Failure" a platform that curates the journeys of influential individuals/ organisations and tells it from an honest and unique perspective; how have they been able to use their failures in order to become successful.

Cheryl Walker

Purple Moon Drama

Cheryl is the Artistic Director at Purple Moon Drama CIC. Purple Moon Drama CIC helps to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into employment or further training by helping them to develop their skills as creative practitioners, whilst building their confidence to be able to pursue their own further ambitions. Their work is shown in schools and youth centres.

Nigel Twumasi

Mayamada

Nigel Twumasi is the co-founder of Mayamada, a creative brand inspired by anime and manga. Whilst with Social Ark, he developed his #BeCreative workshops, delivered in schools and other youth organisations, and designed to challenge young people to be confident in thinking creatively.

Denise Brown

4YoungMinds

Denise has used her own lived experience to set up 4YoungMinds, a social enterprise that empowers young people to take control of their wellbeing. Denise has created interactive and relatable wellbeing & resilience workshops for young people and their parents, shattering the stigma around mental health. Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, Changing Lives!

Jason Rock

Rock Solid Inspiration

Jason has mixed his acting and communication skills with an in-depth understanding of the mindsets of at risk young people to developed a unique approach to the challenges they face. Rock Solid Inspirations offers drama therapy workshops to schools, youth organisations and young offenders.