We wish more women were leading the businesses in Brighton & Hove. Currently, only one in five UK SMEs is female-led. The situation is changing towards a positive change. As a celebration of International Women Day, here are three local females who are doing brilliant and inspirational things for our community.
 

Ruth Dacey - Active Sussex’s PR and Communications Officer

Photo: Ruth Dacey, photo credit: © activesussex.org

Ruth is an award-winning international journalist who created engaging and inspiring content in many different forms and published it via a range of digital and traditional media channels. Some of the inspirational videos were: Running Space – running to beat suicide, More than just walking and Spirit of Curling.
 
These projects had a positive impact on the community and ensured sport, and physical activity focuses on the people and places most in need of the support Active Sussex can
offer.
 
Active Sussex is a registered charitable trust with a Board of Trustees, consisting of individuals with skills and expertise. The main aim is to increase participation in sport and physical activity locally.
 

Toni Finnimore – The Social Society

Photo: Toni Finnimore, photo credit: © thesocialsociety.org.uk
 
Toni is a charity consultant, coach, event organiser and a founder of The Social Society. Toni helps children with learning disabilities, empowering the elderly in the local Brighton & Hove community.
 
The Social Society connects with local people via an online community, where Toni share ideas, campaign and give back to their communities through social events for social goods. Some of the local causes that Toni worked on and deserved lots of appreciation were The Real Junk Food Project, Audio Active, Soapbox Postcards, Emmaus, Buddies and Forward Facing.

 
Frances Duncan – Clock Tower Sanctuary

Photo: Frances Duncan, photo credit: ©  theargus.co.uk
 
Frances is a CEO at Clock Tower Sanctuary since 2017 after a diverse career in a charity sector. Frances works with young people; she loves their energy and their belief that they can change their future prospects.
 
The Clock Tower Sanctuary is the drop-in day centre for homeless 16-to-25-year-olds in the Brighton city centre. It helps young people who have nowhere to call home and feel safe. The centre provides a freshly-cooked and healthy hot meal, clean clothes and a hot shower. It also organises weekly activities and workshops which help young people to build their self-esteem, gaining new life skills including yoga, fitness, CV writing, healthy eating, anger management and budgeting. Every young person who arrives here get assigned a Support Co-ordinator, who helps them to identify and access services they need.
 
These females represent a small sample of many great females in business that help Brighton & Hove community. The one common thread the stories above is positive thinking towards change and ‘can do’ attitude.