What We've Been Up To
Our Year-End Celebration Offers
End the Year or Begin the New Year with Purpose
Celebrate with a difference this festive season.
Our Year-End Celebration Offers combine wellbeing, team spirit, and enterprise in unique and inclusive experiences that provide entertainment, learning and bonding opportunities. Whether your team celebrates Christmas or not, these celebrations foster connection, rejuvenation, and collaboration—right in your office or at a location of your choice.
Our Year-End Celebration Offers include:
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Festive Mixology Experiences & Conversation Cafe
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Festive Conversation Cafe
Our BHM Highlights
That’s a wrap for 2024 UK Black History Month: Reclaiming Narratives! This year, we went all out – consistently, creatively, uniquely, and authentically bringing the theme to life!
From the beats and rhythms to the stories that power us, every moment was a celebration of heritage, identity, and resilience. Together, we didn’t just reclaim our narratives – we amplified them!
Thank you for being part of this unforgettable journey. Stick with us to be part of our exciting and impactful journey.
Press Report: Potted Conversations
Potted Conversations brought together an incredible group to discuss the challenges diverse communities face. It was a powerful day, where we explored inclusion, resilience, and what it means to nurture growth in society, symbolised by planting onion seeds.
The Harrogate Advertiser covered it beautifully, highlighting the voices and stories shared. Dive in to get a sense of the energy and purpose we shared that day.
Read the full article here -https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/harrogate-event-puts-spotlight-on-immense-challenges-of-diverse-communities-4856851
You can also watch highlights on our Youtube page using the link below.
Community Event: Potted Conversations
We had an amazing turnout at Potted Conversations in Harrogate, celebrating Black History Month with planting and deep conversations around diversity, nurture and inclusion using plants and the adjustments we make to help them flourish as a life metaphor.
Hosted at the beautiful Time Together venue, the event brought the community together to explore the links between nature, culture, and wellbeing. Thank you to everyone who joined and helped make it a memorable day!
Here's a press report of the day -https://www.yourharrogate.co.uk/local-news/harrogate/black-history-month-event-held-in-starbeck/
You can also watch highlights on our Youtube page using the link below.
University of Bradfrod Enterpreneurship Festival
Last week, our CEO Valentina Hynes presented a materclass on Entrepreneurship at the University of Bradford’s Entrepreneurs Festival. She connected with a highly engaged audience, sharing valuable insights in her session, “Lessons Learnt As An Entrepreneur.”
Her masterclass, titled “From Idea to Impact: The Journey of Entrepreneurship,” guided participants through the genuine challenges and achievements that shape an entrepreneur’s journey. Using her unique EXPLORE card deck, Valentina incorporated cultural proverbs to enrich each discussion, encouraging participants to reflect and engage. A standout moment of the session was the audience’s interpretation of these proverbs, which led to meaningful conversations on resilience, direction, and the underlying values that drive entrepreneurial success.
Reclaiming Narratives . . . NatWest Cultural Social
We partnered with NatWest Leeds Hub for their cultural social event aimed at celebrating and exploring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Black communities, on the Black History Month theme: Reclaiming Narratives.
We enjoyed the vibrant flavours of Africa while participating in a conversation café that encouraged open dialogue on the history, culture, and experiences of Black communities.
SVH Inc. CIC Wins Community Impact Award!
We are proud to announce that SVH Inc. CIC has won the Community Impact (Small Business) award at the Raising The Bar Awards, hosted by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
This recognition reflects our dedication to building strong, vibrant, and happy communities through holistic wellbeing solutions, aligned with CSR and global SDG goals. From our Away Day experiences to Mental Health training and workshops, we are committed to making a positive difference.
Thank you to everyone who supports our journey toward better workplace wellbeing!
The Yorkshire Society Women in Business Conference Headline Speaker
We are thrilled to announce that our Founder/CEO was the Headline Speaker for The Yorkshire Society Women In Business conference.
She spoke on “Building Credibility and Sustainable Business Growth" and we had glowing feedback from organisers and delegates. Use the link below to see some highlights of the reactions to her deliver.
The Little & Big Things Community Event
We had an incredible day at our community wellbeing event! With activities like litter picking, green grass bowling, and engaging discussions at the Conversation Café, the day was filled with meaningful connections and valuable insights. This was a great opportunity for local families and residents to come together, promote wellbeing, and discuss important topics—without any formal presentations or pitches.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped foster such a positive environment, and a special thanks to the Co-op and Bilton Dragon Bowling Club for their amazing support. We look forward to hosting more community events focused on family wellbeing and local engagement in the future.
We Made The NatWest SE100 Top 100 List
We are thrilled to announce that SVH Inc. has been listed as one of NatWest SE100 Top 100 UK Social Enterprises 2024!
With our CEO; Valentina Hynes being on the WISE100 Top 100 Female Social Entrepreneurs 2024, we couldn't be more proud of this award and badge of honour.
It is strong testament that our leadership team is strong and focused and we deliver social impact and value through our services.
A Royal Visit
What a proud moment to see our founding directors, Valentina and Stephen Hynes, at Buckingham Palace for the prestigious Garden Party celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth. This event was notably King Charles’s second public appearance since his cancer announcement.
Valentina was honoured with an invitation by the Lord Chamberlain, on behalf of the King, due to her remarkable achievements in community work and her role as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society which she has been since 2015.
Read the press coverage using the link below. You can also watch a video reel of the day here; WATCH
Social Enterprise & Good Market Verified
We are excited to announce that SVH Inc. is People and Planet First Verified! As a Social Enterprise UK Certified Member, we couldn't be prouder of this verification and badge of honour.
Here lies certified proof that engaging our services contributes to social value.
VCSE Leadership Conference
Valentina Hynes was one of the keynote speakers the just held VCSE Ordinary ExtraOrdinary Leadership Conference by Community First Yorkshire.
Valentina's topic was 'Inspirational Leadership' and she explored Happiness, Leadership and DISC in her session. She rounded up with a conversation cafe prompting insightful engagement from her audience.
Feedback on her presentation includes words like 'inspiring and very thought provoking'.
Ahead of the conference Valentina wrote an article - READ
WISE100 Top 100 2024 List
We're excited to announce that our Founder / CEO has been honoured with a spot in the WISE100 Top 100 2024 List - a prestigious compilation of the leading women in social enterprise and impact investing across the UK.
Now in its seventh year, the WISE100 List, curated annually by Pioneers Post in collaboration with Natwest Social & Community Capital, assembles the UK’s 100 most influential women in social enterprise, impact investment, and mission-driven business.
Congratulations to Valentina and all the other inspirational women who made the list.!
UK Company Culture Awards Judge
Thrilled to share that our founder, Valentina Hynes was appointed as a judge for the UK Company Culture Awards by Don't Panic Events.
She joined a panel of esteemed judges dedicated to recognising and celebrating outstanding organisational cultures across the UK.
In our very busy world of “9-5 routines”, the essence of company culture cannot be overstated. The UK Company Culture Awards spotlight those exemplary organisations that not only nurture their teams but also reward their staff, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels truly valued.
Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted organisations and individuals.
Time To Talk Day Event
On 1 Feb., we had a Time To Talk Day event collaborating with Artizan International, Just B Bereavement Support for Young People by St Michaels Hospice at Howden Insurance, Harrogate. It was wonderful to have Open Country and Renew HG join us on the day. We delved into:
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🧘🏾♀️ Mindful meditation techniques, offering solace from anxiety.
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😥 Understanding grief from the perspective of young people.
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🪴 The therapeutic act of planting, nurturing our souls and the environment.
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💬 Building bridges through conversation to foster wellbeing.
Our takeaway? Even amidst life's challenges, 'puddle jumping' —finding brief moments of joy is not only natural but a crucial part of our healing journey. Talking, sharing, and connecting are vital bridges to understanding and wellness. Sometimes healing, joy, or a sense of good wellbeing isn't immediate. All things need Time, Care and Attention, like planting. We demonstrated this with a herb planting workshop.
UN CSW68 Delegate
Our Founder/CEO; Valentina Hynes, has been appointed as a delegate for the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW68). This prestigious role is a testament to Valentina’s unwavering commitment to enhancing wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion in workplaces across communities.
Valentina’s role as a UN CSW68 delegate will involve contributing to critical discussions, advocating for policies that support gender equality and wellbeing, and sharing insights from her extensive experience in creating inclusive and supportive environments. Her participation underscores the international recognition of her efforts and the vital importance of integrating wellbeing and diversity into the global agenda for gender equality.
This appointment is not only a personal achievement for Valentina but also a significant milestone for SVH Inc. CIC. It highlights the organisation’s role as a frontrunner in advocating for workplace wellbeing and underscores the impact of collaborative efforts to create inclusive, equitable communities.
Congratulations, Valentina.
Reflecting on 2023: Our Impact Report
SVH Inc. CIC celebrated a year of significant milestones and growth. Dive into our ‘2023 Impact Journey’ blog post to see how we’ve made a difference together.
2023's Highlights:
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Our Social Inclusion project exceeded expectations, showcasing community power.
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170 new Mental Health First Aiders now champion wellbeing in our communities.
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Environmental efforts flourished with 150 trees planted.
Inspiring, Connecting & Learning
Valentina Hynes recently spoke at Huddersfield Giants Women In Business event.
She spoke alongside two other awesome speakers - Asthma Iqbal who spoke on Equality, diversity and cultural representation and Kate Kier Miller who spoke on neurodiversity with a focus on dyslexia.
Valentina spoke on 'Becoming a Giant' while being your authentic self using the GROW model.
It was a wonderful few hours of connections, inspiration and learning.
Find out more on Huddersfield Giants page here:
Making Connections #GreatBigGreenWeek
We recently made our local paper - Harrogate Advertiser. Read what they had to say about our #GreatBigGreenWeek event 👉🏾 here.
Our MP - Andrew Jones joined us on the day and these where his words:
“What a great initiative. I was very grateful to be asked to join the team. We got lots of litter picked up. There was a real community spirit and it was a lovely and productive way to spend a little while amid glorious sunshine helping keep our area clean.” Andrew Jones MP
Thanks to Co-op, Body Shop Harrogate and Brew Bar Harrogate for sponsoring the prizes won by the children who entered our 'Letter to the Future' competition. We received some amazing entries of drawings and mixed media on what community and sustainability means to them, and a recap of the event.
A big shout out to our collaborating partners - Bilton Dragon Bowling Club and Dancing For Wellbeing.
Check out how the event went by watching this video reel - here
Business Woman of The Year, 2023
There has been a lot of celebration here at SVH Inc. since the announcement of our Founder and CEO's winning of Yorkshire Choice Awards Business Woman of The Year, 2023 nomination.
Valentina is an author and award winning serial entrepreneur who has launched several successful businesses, starting in Nigeria to Côte d’Ivoire and now in the UK where she has launched two businesses, including SVH Inc. which she successfully morphed into a Community Interest Company in December 2021.
She was appointed an Associate Fellow of The Royal Commonwealth Society UK in 2014 for her philanthropy and drive for wellbeing, happiness and inclusion.
She is also vice-chair of Governors at Harrogate High School.
Read all about the prestigious evening here on YCA's website.
Congratualtions, Valentina.
Calling All Superheroes!
We're over the moon to announce that we've once again been chosen as one of the Co-op's Local Community Causes for the 2024 funding round! Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who supported us in the previous round.
By selecting us as your Local Community Cause, we achieved an incredible milestone, raising a total of £5,139.23 (as reported on the Co-op dashboard). This funding is a vital lifeline, allowing us to continue our mission of nurturing Strong, Vibrant, Happy, and Incorporated communities.
We would be delivering Wellbeing Conversation Workshops to schools, doctors' surgeries, care homes and hospitals, to boost connection, wellbeing and mental health through conversations, with our Explore by SVH cards.
To support us, you need to be a Co-op Member. If you're not, please sign up (it costs £1 only and you gain £3 off when you spend £10 on your first shop. Remember to scan your membership card)
When you choose SVH Inc. CIC as your cause, we get 1p out of every £1 you spend, and you get 2p put on your membership card!
Would you once again be our Superhero?
