Krystena Petrakas: Tell me how it all started…
Gloria Lawrence: I moved to Somerset 10 years ago to run a pub. My youngest daughter was racially abused at school and the police got involved.
It prompted me to do something positive and proactive to raise cultural awareness, so I decided to start a non-profit business
The other child was excluded from school, but it prompted me to do something positive and proactive to raise cultural awareness, so I decided to start a non-profit business.
Although the school dealt with the situation I didn’t feel it was adequate to exclude the 11-year-old. That child didn’t actually learn anything about the impact racism had on my youngest daughter, as well as the entire family.
I wanted to encourage constructive ways to educate these children on our Jamaican culture. There were 17 other schools in the area, and I wanted to raise cultural awareness without preaching.
When I got to the sixth trial workshop someone from Somerset county council said he would like to see this in all the schools. It dawned on me that this programme could actually be a business.
KP: Did the county council help fund it?
GL: Yes. I part-funded the business myself and also got funding from the county council and a local business, who are still involved with Storytree today.
The county council part-funded the initial workshops. When they ran out of funds I applied to the Arts Council, who gave me enough money to cover 100 schools across the county.
Once the business was established we could stand on our own two feet.
KP: How prepared were you for entrepreneurship?
GL: I’d run a pub before and I suppose the skills are transferable. I knew what running a business was all about.
KP: How do you generate revenues?
GL: Through combination of funded work and bookings from schools and organisations. We’ve had interest from holiday camps wanting us to do summer seasons, and organisations want us to adapt the workshop as a corporate motivational programme for workers.
We’ve worked with people who have dementia and people with mental health problems.
Our workshops teach up to 250 children. It’s a whole day where all the children and staff can get involved.
KP: How many people work with you?
GL: Only one other person! I’m looking to employ more people next year, and the following year we’d like to take on more regions.
Once we’ve conquered the south west I hope to take this national – I’m currently looking at either franchising or having people work under licence.
KP: What are your working hours?
GL: We do all the recording, CD production and admin ourselves, so I’ve kept it to three schools a week.
I have learnt to manage my time effectively, but it’s difficult to say how many hours – when you work for yourself you’re always thinking about your business, there are always things to do.
