#STORYGIVESBACK

Cook for Good

EVENT OFFERING

Cook for Good is transforming lives on the Priory Green Estate through a community programme funded largely by corporate team building events. Companies support the initiative by taking part in team cooking challenges, using their team building, ESG, or client entertainment budgets for a meaningful cause. Events are hosted at their Kings Cross kitchen or delivered as pop-ups at client venues, ranging from small team-building sessions to large-scale impact days.

BACKGROUND

Cook for Good is a social enterprise on a mission to bring communities and businesses together through food. Located on a social housing estate in Kings Cross, they run cooking classes, training programmes, community meals, a weekly soup café, and a low-cost surplus food pantry. Their work is powered by corporate team-building events, with all profits reinvested into their community programme. As interest in their model grows, they are now exploring ways to replicate it and share their approach to tackling food insecurity at scale.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Cook for Good aims to deepen their impact in Priory Green and expand its corporate offerings. Building on lessons from its early years, they launched Cook for Change, a fully funded programme inspiring others to create and develop food-based social enterprises. As grant funding declines, this programme is helping entrepreneurs find sustainable solutions to food insecurity, health inequality, and barriers to work. Following a successful bootcamp and mentoring scheme, it plans to grow Cook for Change, as well as diversifying corporate events, and launching new community initiatives to further their social impact.

WOW Face & Body Art

EVENT OFFERING

WOW Face & Body Art is a creative face & body painting company. Their latest product, Airbrush Swag, is a unique and interactive addition to events, offering personalised airbrushed designs on items like tote bags, caps, and t-shirts. Guests choose from a selection of 3–10 quick and easy-to-produce designs, and in three minutes they’ll get a unique, memorable takeaway from the event. WOW Face & Body Art brings something fresh and engaging to both adult and family-friendly occasions.

BACKGROUND

Starting in 2008 with body art at festivals, WOW Face & Body Art began by offering face painting, henna, airbrush tattoos and glitter to the public. In 2016, it transitioned into the corporate events space, refining its setup and gaining experience with smaller clients. It now specialises in supplying large teams of professional artists for major corporate events across the UK.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

The business is currently focused on partnering with more event management companies while continuing to grow its direct client base. Plans are in place to expand the team by training additional airbrush artists, building on the existing group of four skilled professionals. Long-term goals include hiring dedicated staff for marketing, admin and event management, as well as opening a physical space to produce and sell custom stencil packs for other artists. The Airbrush Swag offering is highly engaging and interactive, with guests excited to choose their own designs and colours—making it a standout experience at any event. The aim is to connect this unique entertainment with the right buyers and event managers.

Violet Antonia Photography

EVENT OFFERING

Violet Antonia Photography offers professional event photography with a focus on capturing the essence of your special moments. Whatever the event, Violet ensures your moments are beautifully preserved, and you’ll receive high-quality, memorable photos that will last a lifetime

BACKGROUND

Violet Antonia Photography came about after Violet had her baby boy, Leon. Stuck in an IT sales job before and unsure what to do next, she had always wanted to take the leap into starting her own photography business but felt too scared to do so. After having her baby, she felt a new start coming and a whole new wave of creativity. In her time off, learning this new way of life, she picked up her camera again and fell back in love with taking photos. Violet loves being with people and meeting new characters, so capturing moments and special occasions for others to keep forever feels like the best gift she can give.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Looking ahead, Violet is excited to grow her business and establish it as a trusted name in the industry. She aims to be known for her efficiency, consistency, and professionalism - always bringing positive energy to every shoot. Violet hopes to collaborate more with her partner, a videographer, and expand their team to take on projects in new and exciting locations.

Leafage

EVENT OFFERING

Leafage offers private terrarium workshops across London, ideal for corporate team-building, client events, hen parties, and birthdays. They also deliver DIY terrarium kits nationwide, making indoor gardening accessible at home. Focused on sustainability, wellbeing, and community, Leafage helps people reconnect with nature and reduce stress. 

BACKGROUND

Leafage was founded by Kay following the sudden loss of her father, where she found herself searching for peace, healing, and a way to reconnect with life. After experiences at a Buddhist retreat, she rediscovered the importance of wellbeing and nature. This journey led to Leafage, a business dedicated to helping others reconnect, recharge, and find joy through building terrariums and nurturing plants.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Leafage aims to become a leading creative events and wellbeing brand, expanding its B2B workshops, team-building experiences, and DIY terrarium kits across the UK and beyond. They focus on bringing sustainable, hands-on creativity into workplaces while deepening their sustainability efforts. Leafage seeks partnerships with like-minded organisations and envisions becoming the go-to name for nature-inspired corporate experiences and gifts that foster connection and wellbeing.

The Portrait Booth

EVENT OFFERING

The Portrait Booth offers quick, live-drawn portraits at events each one created in around 3 minutes by a professional illustrator. It’s an engaging and memorable alternative to a photo booth, giving guests a fun experience and a keepsake to take home. The booth itself can be customised with the client’s branding or logo, making it ideal for corporate parties, brand activations, product launches, and conferences. It’s creative, highly shareable and always draws a crowd.

BACKGROUND

The idea began when Lucie was invited by the Affordable Art Fair to do something live so she started sketching visitors on the spot, and it was an unexpected hit. Years later, Lucie developed The Portrait Booth as a more polished, brand-friendly version of her original concept. It’s designed for corporate events, allowing clients to customise the booth with their logo while offering guests fast, hand-drawn portraits in just a few minutes, creating a memorable, analogue experience in a digital-heavy world.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Lucie is working towards franchising The Portrait Booth, partnering with talented illustrators to expand the concept under a unified, professional brand. She owns the Registered Design Rights for the booth and aims to build a network of artists who can deliver the same high-quality, creative experience at events across the UK and beyond. Her focus is on increasing visibility, bookings, and brand value to attract the right collaborators and grow The Portrait Booth into a recognised name in the events industry.

The Crafty Hen

EVENT OFFERING

Operating nationwide, The Crafty Hen offers unique creative experiences and craft workshops led by professional, independent artists. Suitable for all ages and abilities, their award-winning workshops and parties are delivered across the UK, bringing fun and imagination to any event location. These collaborative sessions focus on making memories and creating impressive results, tailored to the needs of each group.

BACKGROUND

The Crafty Hen was hatched by Julie Roberts, a highly skilled textile artist with over 20 years of workshop experience. Drawing on her extensive craft knowledge, Julie expanded her teaching beyond textiles, leading to the launch of The Crafty Hen in 2012. Starting with a small team of trusted colleagues, the group has since grown to include a wide network of professional craftspeople and expert workshop leaders across the country.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

The Crafty Hen aims to continue growing within the team and corporate sectors, recognizing that creativity is a powerful tool for supporting workplace wellness. Their workshops bring teams together to tap into their inner artists, fostering creative thinking and skills that boost morale and enhance workplace dynamics.

4YaParty

EVENT OFFERING

4YaParty is a purpose-driven decorating business committed to sustainability. Since launching in 2018, they have transformed events across London and Kent using reclaimed wood, upcycled furniture, and zero single-use plastics. They plant a tree for every booking and deliver using a second-hand electric van. Their mission is simple: to create stunning, eco-friendly events that don’t cost the Earth.

BACKGROUND

4YaParty began as a personal outlet during a difficult battle with post-partum depression, bringing joy through planning and decorating events for loved ones. Encouraged by positive feedback, the founder turned her passion into a business, eventually coming off antidepressants and finding purpose through creativity. Today, 4YaParty is a family-run, husband-and-wife team dedicated to transforming events with heart and sustainability.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

In the future, we are looking to franchise the 4YaParty brand so that you can have beautiful and eco-friendly weddings and events across the South East and possibly the UK!

Matt Glossop

EVENT OFFERING

Offering a wide range of live music experiences, from solo violin performances to full-scale showcase productions, Matt is known for creating bespoke musical moments tailored to each client’s vision. Clients can book him as a soloist, alongside his pianist and percussionist, or with his 20-piece film orchestra. This versatility has made him a popular choice across the events sector, from private gatherings to large corporate functions.

BACKGROUND

Before Covid, Matt performed with a number of orchestras, honing his craft in large-scale classical settings. However, during the pandemic, he adapted his skills and shifted focus to his true passion: delivering solo violin performances for private events and concerts. This time allowed him to develop his business as a solo artist, bringing live music to a wide range of audiences in a more unique and personable way.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Matt’s aspiration is to expand his offering by growing his ensemble, giving clients an even broader range of instrumental options and bespoke musical experiences. He aims to build strong relationships with event professionals, creating a solid foundation for greater exposure across the UK and internationally.

Sarah Dowling

EVENT OFFERING

Sarah Dowling creates bespoke watercolor event stationery and paper goods, bringing a delicate, hand-painted touch to every piece. In addition to designing, she works live at events as an illustrator, customizing and illustrating products and packaging, ensuring each creation is uniquely personal and beautifully crafted. Her work blends artistry with elegance, capturing the spirit of each celebration through thoughtfully designed stationery.

BACKGROUND

Sarah is a Bristol-based watercolour illustrator whose work spans packaging, signage, rebranding, and social media campaigns. Since illustrating her sister’s wedding invitations in 2019, she has built a thriving wedding stationery offering alongside her commercial projects. In 2022, she added live event illustration and product customisation to her business, working with brands like Harrods, Selfridges and Diptyque. Passionate about keeping creativity at the heart of her work, Sarah brings a personal, artistic touch to every project.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Sarah is looking to broaden her wedding stationery service into a full event stationery offering and would love to see her  illustrations at a variety of events including corporate occasions, charity functions, brand collaborations, and activations. She is also eager to grow the live event illustration side of her work, seeing significant potential in this area for both the future of illustration and the growth of her business.

NewWave Events

EVENT OFFERING

NewWave Events is the UK’s leading provider of dragon boat racing, hosting major charity festivals in Peterborough, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, London, and Northampton, along with hundreds of corporate and charity events nationwide. With a strong operational foundation and expanding fleet, they deliver high-quality, team-focused experiences. Their mission promotes employee well-being, sustainability, and the rich history of the sport, positioning dragon boat racing as more than just a corporate activity. 

BACKGROUND

NewWave Events was founded by Lucy Morton and Alicja Mierzejewska, who combined their backgrounds in Business & Philosophy and Events Management to launch the company during the pandemic. After their previous employer closed, they seized the opportunity to acquire equipment and build a fresh brand focused on corporate and charity events. Inspired by the origins of water sports, the name reflects their new beginning. While specialising in dragon boat racing, NewWave has since expanded into a range of team-building activities, achieving steady year-on-year growth.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

NewWave Events aims to solidify its position as the UK’s leading provider of team-building experiences through dragon boat racing. Their goals include expanding event reach, achieving 90% client retention, and becoming a recognised 'Best Place to Work' in the Midlands. Committed to sustainability, they prioritise eco-friendly, local, and ethically-run vendors. They also plan to launch an apprentice programme to nurture future talent.

Richard Symes Magic

EVENT OFFERING

At a glance, he’s a close-up magician, but his real focus is creating meaningful, lasting moments through magic. His performances go beyond tricks, using personal touches to spark genuine emotional connections between people and powerful shared experiences. It’s a format that works across all relationships, family, friends, or colleagues, and leaves a lasting impression.

BACKGROUND

Richard’s passion for magic began in 2008, performing for friends and family while living abroad and working in finance. After returning to the UK in 2018, he re-trained as an electrician and started a family, with magic becoming a grounding creative outlet. In 2021, performing at friends’ weddings sparked the realisation that magic could be more than a hobby, it could be a career. Since then, he’s built a business through wedding fairs, online platforms, and a deep commitment to creating unforgettable experiences.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Richard is currently building a community to inspire others to pursue what they love at any stage of life. Documenting the real-time journey, rejections, successes. He’s working toward becoming a full-time close-up magician to support his family. His goals include performing at more weddings, expanding into corporate events, exploring magic consultancy, and one day, maybe even taking the stage on Britain’s Got Talent.

JUST ONE Tree

EVENT OFFERING

JUST ONE Tree helps individuals, schools, and businesses take collective climate action through simple, measurable initiatives. The organisation works closely with companies to develop tailored sustainability campaigns, staff engagement activities, and “£1 = 1 tree” initiatives. They help businesses of all sizes increase their environmental and social impact while contributing to global reforestation. So far, JUST ONE Tree has helped plant over 5 million trees and plays a key role in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

BACKGROUND

JUST ONE Tree was founded by Amanda Bronkhorst, who began with a simple but powerful idea: that small acts, multiplied by millions, can be transformational. From that spark, JUST ONE Tree has grown into a nonprofit making a tangible impact in the fight against climate change, with three enduring goals: They grow forests, They regenerate oceans and They educate current and future generations

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

JUST ONE Tree aims to become a global movement making climate action accessible to all. They plan to expand JUST ONE Tree Day to reach millions of children worldwide and grow their network of business partners across sectors. Their goal is to deepen impact by diversifying restoration projects, supporting communities, and advancing scientific monitoring. Ultimately, they strive to be recognized for empowering individuals, schools, and businesses to restore the planet, one tree at a time.

Yougi

EVENT OFFERING

Yougi offers hands-on workshops in their London studio, led by founder Emily Lynam, covering aromatherapy candle making, natural perfume crafting, soap making, and diffuser blending. These sessions focus on using 100% natural, vegan, and sustainably sourced ingredients. Designed for all skill levels, the workshops can also be brought to your own venue or event, and provide a creative and eco-conscious space to explore natural self-care and fragrances.

BACKGROUND

Emily Lynam, a former home accessories and beauty buying manager for top retailers, launched Yougi after discovering a gap in the candle market. Inspired by Ayurveda, yogic philosophy, and plant medicine during a trip to India, she sought to create high-quality, sustainable candles. Unsatisfied with expensive, synthetic options, she dedicated a year to developing candles made with potent, cruelty-free, and wildcrafted ingredients, ensuring a more effective and environmentally friendly product.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

Yougi is looking to expand to a second venue in London to run our workshops from as well as expanding across the globe to the Middle East, Australia and the US.

CityStack

EVENT OFFERING

CityStack is the ideal gift for pub lovers - this £25 London Pub Collection gives £100 worth of food & drink at outstanding independent pubs across London. Each pack comes with a special beer mat to show at any ten of the 80+ pubs handpicked by the CityStack team. Have it stamped to get £10 off £20+ spend. Do it ten times, save £100 (10 x £10 off = £100 worth of food and drink at pubs). It’s a fun, budget-friendly way to explore great pubs, complete with a map and info-packed beer mats. The initiative supports independent pubs by driving footfall, while giving customers a great deal, everyone wins.

BACKGROUND

Alison started CityStack after falling in love with pub culture post-pandemic and being saddened to see so many small independent pubs struggle through this time. While big chains can better withstand economic pressures, it's much more difficult for independent pubs. Created in collaboration with these pubs, CityStack helps tackle the challenges of rising costs and reduced spending in independent and small businesses, and encourages Londoners to visit them while staying within budget. Since launching with ten pubs in 2021, the initiative has grown to include over 80 across the capital, and received great feedback from both pubs and customers.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

CityStack is now focused on growing its corporate offering, seeing strong potential with companies looking for unique, meaningful gifts that support local businesses. They've already received orders from agencies and corporations, with plenty of room to grow. Long term, CityStack aims to become the go-to gifting tool for supporting small businesses across the UK. Expansion plans include reaching new cities and partnering with a wider range of hospitality venues like wine bars, restaurants, and cocktail bars.