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Meet the 2020 ‘Thrive: Solutions for an Ageing Society’ Cohort

Meet the 2020 ‘Thrive: Solutions for an Ageing Society’ Cohort

Written by

Ruth Coustick-Deal

External Affairs Lead

A co-operative platform for the care industry led by carers, a home share system bridging generational divides and loneliness, and game-led dementia support are just some of the 12 ventures to win a place on our Thrive programme for 2020.

Thrive: Solutions for an Ageing Society is UnLtd’s flagship accelerator for high-impact and scalable social businesses focused on improving quality of life for people over 50.

The bespoke programme, now in its second year, combines six months of intensive personalised support with the opportunity to access up to £50,000 of investment and powerful sector connections.

This accelerator is designed to give social businesses from all over the UK what they need to scale rapidly, delivered by our team of in-house Venture Managers and external specialists.

Although average life expectancy at birth is now 80 years, average healthy life expectancy, the amount of years lived in a healthy and active state, is only 63.  By providing products and services that meets the needs and aspirations of people in later life, social businesses can significantly improve their quality of life.

UnLtd Director of Ventures, David Bartram, says: “I am excited by the incredible potential of this cohort of entrepreneurs to innovate in the health and ageing sectors, putting social purpose at the heart of this work. Thrive is designed specifically to support the challenges that social ventures face and allow them to grow and navigate a very complex market.

Our research has shown that social entrepreneurs play a key role in improving quality of life for people in later life, and through our accelerator we will enable this transformative impact.”

A few of the social entrepreneurs on the programme in 2020 include:

  • Emma Back, Equal Care Co-op - The first platform cooperative for carers in the UK, operating as a not-for-profit owned by the people who give and receive care and support. The venture’s approach offers community-led, grassroots care and support to disrupt the power dynamics of the care industry, and return the power to care workers and the people being cared for.  
  • Constantine Karampatsos & Verity Batchelder, Good Life Sorted - The online marketplace connects older adults and their families with “helpers” (vetted neighbours) and provide services like companionship, cleaning, laundry, shopping, dog walking and more, for a fee. The platform fosters community while activating neighbours as a solution to the ageing crisis  
  • Jennifer Petch, Share my Home - A nationwide home-share service specialising in pairing older people that have a spare room with like-minded younger people for the mutual benefits of co-living. The ‘helper’ provides 10 hours of weekly company and/or practical home help in exchange for accommodation, also providing an affordable safety net for older people, combatting loneliness and supporting community engagement.  
  • Tarryn Gorre, Kafoodle - An award-winning B2B food-tech company on a mission to improve health by connecting people with the food they need. Their integrated nutritional management software service allows care homes, hospitals and schools to better manage and modify meal plans based on the dietary needs of the individual and ensure healthier ageing.  
  • Jennifer Williams & Anita Tomaszewski, Me, Myself & I - A community centre based in Neath and Port Talbot providing a range of social activities for the local community, especially those with dementia, and highly commended training workshops for care workers. To meet the wider sector interest in their unique approach, they have opened a trading arm and been commissioned by the local council.

The full list of winners is as follows: