Press release -

Charlene Laidley wins City of Westminster 2016 Impact Scholar Award

Charlene is an entrepreneur and United Nations Women Ambassador and Global Champion from Westminster, London, who has been supporting young women in her local community to become the UK’s future business leaders since 2006. Her social enterprise The FutureProof Foundation empowers young women and girls in the UK by advancing their entrepreneurial skills, confidence and knowledge so they can become leaders in their community.

Impact Scholar Awards are awarded to outstanding purpose-driven entrepreneurs making a positive difference in their community by Impact Hub Westminster with the support of Westminster City Council. First launched in 2014, the annual prize aims to support social entrepreneurs to increase entrepreneurial diversity, knowledge base and opportunities for collaboration in Westminster.

Councillor Daniel Astaire, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration, Business and Economic Development, Westminster City Council, said ‘“Through Impact Scholarships the council helps social entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life, and it’s hugely inspiring to see the winners bring their energy and creativity to the city, benefitting our economy and residents alike. I’d like to congratulate Charlene on winning a scholarship and all the work she is doing to empower young women growing up and studying in Westminster.”

Shazia Mirza, Managing Director of Impact Hub Westminster, said "We are impressed by Charlene’s boundless energy and commitment to empower the next generation of female entrepreneurs and business leaders in the UK. The FutureProof Foundation’s plans to empower women and girls are truly exciting. Charlene Laidley and The FutureProof Foundation is a fantastic asset to our community of entrepreneurs creating a positive impact on people and planet."

Topics

  • Business enterprise, General

Categories

  • the futureproof foundation
  • millennial women
  • entrepreneurship
  • education
  • charlene laidley
  • united nations women
  • united kingdom

The FutureProof Foundation is a non-profit organisation created for the economic empowerment of young women and girls in the United Kingdom. The organisation traces it's origins back to 2006, in the City of Westminster, London where it was founded and run as a volunteer-led grassroots community organisation, helping young women and girls to become leaders in their community, by supporting them with training and mentoring for confidence, leadership and employability skills. Since it's inception the foundation has supported over 300 young women into employability.

In 2016, as the result of a global initiative with United Nations Women, called Empower Women the mission of the foundation was transformed to focus on women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, tackling the obstacles faced by young women in the UK when it comes to setting up a business and succeeding.

Our mission is to inspire and empower the UK's future generation of successful female entrepreneurs by advancing their skills, confidence and knowledge around entrepreneurship.