What would £1,000 mean for your idea?
For the founders on Start Strong Camden, it meant confidence, credibility, and the first real push towards launching social ventures rooted in their community. Late last year, local changemakers took part in a free six-week programme that culminated in a live pitch with the chance to win £1,000 in grant funding to help turn ideas into action.
Designed and delivered by Allia Impact, and funded by Balderton Capital, Start Strong Camden supported underrepresented residents of Camden to take their first confident steps towards launching purpose-driven businesses. The programme blended online learning with in-person delivery at Holborn Library Camden, with co-working and group work hosted at WimbleTech’s The Workary Holborn. Beyond the programme, The Workary further supported founders by donating six months of free workspace, helping participants continue building momentum after the programme ended.
What Start Strong Camden offered
The programme combined practical learning, tailored support and real-world infrastructure:
6 weekly hybrid sessions (2 hours learning + 30 minutes networking)
5 expert-led workshops, covering:
- Business models
- Legal structures
- Sales and marketing
- Alternative funding
- Storytelling and pitching
10 one-to-one mentoring sessions
6 facilitated group co-working days
- Hands-on support with company, CIC and charity registration
- Access to Allia’s network of founders, advisors and investors
Backing local ideas with real support
Start Strong Camden showed the value of pairing funding with skills, space and networks. By anchoring delivery in local venues, and extending support beyond the programme through donated workspace, founders were able to move from ideas to action with momentum behind them.
Applications are currently closed. You can register your interest to hear about future opportunities.
Watch the video to hear directly from the founders and see their journey unfold.
Programme Highlights
The Pitch competition was judged by:
Pitch prize winner: Food for Homeless
The £1,000 pitching prize was awarded to Food for Homeless, founded by Malihe “Mali” Sadeghipour.
Originally from Iran, Mali arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker and became a refugee in 2012. Her own experience of homelessness in Camden inspired her to create a community-led project focused on restoring dignity and rebuilding stability.
Food for Homeless supports vulnerable adults including people experiencing homelessness and refugees through:
- Hot meals and essential supplies via Friday Club
- Sleeping bags, warm clothing and hygiene kits
- Digital support to access housing, benefits and skills
Through Start Strong Camden, Mali formalised the project as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), enabling the organisation to access new funding and partnerships.
“Allia’s support was instrumental in helping Food for Homeless become a fully constituted CIO. The programme boosted our confidence, expanded our network, and gave us clear strategic steps to grow and sustain our impact.”
Since completing the programme, Food for Homeless has begun engaging with additional funders, positioning the organisation to scale its impact across Camden.
