Social Innovation: The Social Ideas Podcast

In this episode we meet 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner Charlie Fraser, founder of TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network).   Since 2016, TERN has been supporting people in the UK to launch businesses. We learn about some of the challenges facing those who have fled their countries to escape violence, persecution and natural disasters, and need to rebuild their lives from scratch. Charlie e...

In this episode we meet Sol Escobar, founder of 'Give Your Best' and 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner.  Give Your Best is the UK's first circular platform where people can donate clothes online, and marginalised women and children can shop entirely for free, with the dignity of choice.  We learn about the problems of clothing poverty and fashion waste, and about Sol's journe...

In this episode we meet Matt Pierri, 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner and founder of Sociability.  Sociability is a mobile app and online platform which provides detailed accessibility information for venues across the UK, helping people with disabilities to travel confidently.  Matt shares his journey since starting Sociability as a student project in 2019. We learn about the importance of acc...

In this episode, we meet Abdirahim Hassan, one of our 2025 Social Innovation Prize winners, and learn about his Community Interest Company, Coffee Afrik.  Coffee Afrik makes culturally sensitive public health projects, rooted in care, love and liberation, and inspired by radical philosophy. We learn about regenerative governance, and why the community programming approaches of the Black Panther pa...

In this episode, we talk to Rachel Mostyn and Camilla Rigby. Rachel and Camilla are co-founders of Women’s Work Lab, a Community Interest Company which supports the careers of women and single parents in the South West of England.  Women's Work Lab Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn...

In this episode, we talk to JR Josephs, founder of Sirlute. As a charitable organisation, Sirlute provide creative learning and mentoring for children and young people in London. Sirlute Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation...

In this episode, we hear from Daryl Chambers, founder of InPower Academy CIC. InPower Academy work in in crime impacted areas to transform young people’s lives through martial arts training. InPower Academy Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre fo...

In this episode we hear from Izzy Obeng, co-founder of Foundervine. Foundervine’s mission is to remove social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship for women and are racially-minoritised individuals. Collaborating with global partners, they help emerging companies reach their potential. Since 2017 they have supported over 1,200 helping them raise tens of millions in capital, creating over 600...

In this episode of The Social Innovation Podcast, Lisa Stepanovic shares the benefits and power of winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize. Lisa is the Founder and CEO of the multi award winning, Social Ark, which enables 16–30-year-olds from East London communities to develop social businesses that draw from their lived experiences.  This year, Lisa is a judge for the Cambridge Social Innov...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, social entrepreneur Will Britton shares why he created the AutonoMe app and how winning The Cambridge Social Innovation Prize helped develop his social enterprise further. The AutonoMe app helps people learn new skills through step-by-step videos and helps them self-evaluate their needs. It’s already operating in seven local authorities in South West En...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, graduate of the Masters in Social Innovation Programme and social innovator, Nora Wilhelm shares her journey to becoming an activist. She discusses her work within the world of systems design and systems change and shares why she thinks others should apply for the Masters in Social Innovation. Apply for the Masters in Social Innovation  Cambridge Centre...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast we hear from Christine Kinnear, Founder and CEO of With Insight Education. With Insight Education is a charity that mentors Black-heritage pupils to help them successfully apply to top universities and progress into professional careers.  With Insight Education Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre f...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast,  we hear from CEO and Founder of Noise solution, Simon Glenister. Simon shares how the social enterprise uses music mentoring to work with young people who’re dealing with challenging. Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Noise Solution Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter...

In this episode, we hear from Aoise Keogan-Nooshabadi, Co-founder and the COO of Supply Change.  Supply Change is a social enterprise platform, which allows buyers to find social environmental suppliers based on location, trade, and social impact, enabling the procurement of everything from food and drink to marketing, cleaning, road signage, flooring, energy and more. Aoise is one of this year&ap...

In this episode, we hear from Poku Osei, the founder and CEO of Babbasa. The social enterprise was created to tackle the challenges of youth unemployment and educational underachievement in Bristol’s ethnically diverse inner city communities.  Poku is one of this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which is awarded by Trinity Hall and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innov...

In this episode, we hear from Tim West, the Founder Editor and CEO of the social enterprise magazine, Pioneers Post. Tim is also involved in a number of different organisations, working to promote social entrepreneurship, and connecting social entrepreneurs with social impact investment companies. Tim is one of this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which is awarded by...

In this episode, we hear from Dr Liz Dennis, the co-Founder of The Filo Project, which offers high quality day care for small groups of older people, supporting individuals who are socially isolated, many of whom are experiencing symptoms associated with moderate dementia. Liz is one of this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which is awarded by Trinity Hall and the Camb...

On 5 July 2023, the National Health Service - one of the UK's greatest social innovations - turned 75. In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, Dr Hinnah Rafique shares why she founded Generation Medics. The social enterprise works with young people to help them both find and achieve careers in the NHS. Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Generation Medics Fol...

Congratulations to Zakia Moulaoui, who is one of five winners of this year’s Cambridge Social Innovation Prize. Listen to The Social Ideas Podcast: no longer invisible to learn more about Zakia’s social enterprise, Invisible Cities. Zakia trains people who’ve experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides to share their knowledge and personal experiences of the city they have lived in. Cam...

In this short episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, we introduce you to this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize winners. Throughout the coming days, we'll be sharing longer interviews with the winners. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

In The Social Ideas Podcast: incubating a social enterprise, Ellie Finch shares how the computer game Minecraft inspired how she delivers counselling for young people, parents, and parent carers. Ellie is the founder of Ellie Finch Counselling and Consultancy and is in the process of developing training for counsellors so they too can use Minecraft and other games in their counselling sessions.  E...

In this episode The Social Ideas Podcast, Ellie Finch shares how the computer game, Minecraft, has inspired how she delivers counselling for young people, parents, and parent carers. Ellie is the founder of Ellie Finch Counselling and Consultancy, and is in the process of developing training for counsellors so they too can use Minecraft and other games in their counselling sessions. Ellie signed u...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast we hear from Ariana Alexander-Sefre, the Founder and Co-CEO of wellbeing music app, SPOKE; and Chris Hope, Founder of the 100 Coffee Movement. Ariana is a recent graduate of the Masters in Social Innovation and Chris is currently researching and writing his dissertation for the programme. Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a concerted effort to f...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, four graduates of the Masters in Social Innovation talk about why they chose the programme, what they got out of it, and how what they've learnt has impacted their socially innovative work. Find out more about the following: Masters in Social Innovation Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Fac...

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, Dr Lilia Giugni discusses her book, The Threat: How Digital Capitalism is Sexist – And How to Resist. She explains what digital capitalism is and the damage it is causing women around the globe. Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Masters in Social Innovation Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Yo...