Harm-ed Self-harm awareness traning and consultancy

Your life before self employment/starting your business

TERRI: I am a registered general nurse although hadn’t worked for 10 years since the birth of my disabled son. However, I had spent the time studying for various qualifications (BSc (Hons) Nursing studies, MA in Bioethics and Medical Law and PGCE). The year before we launched the business I was involved in delivering training around self-harm on a freelance basis for Leeds Mind.  

CLARE: I was on long-term sickness benefits and had not worked in paid employment for over ten years as a result of severe long-term mental health problems. However, as my health improved and I learned how to live more constructively with my health problems, I used my time to return to education and complete a part-time MA in Women's Studies, which involved focussing and carrying out applied research on the subject of self-harm. I became increasingly involved in user groups, working in a voluntary and unpaid capacity to use my knowledge and my own experiences of mental distress and mental health services to improve the quality of response offered to people who self-harm. I set up a self-help for women who self-harm, produced a quarterly newsletter and published various articles and chapters around the issue. I also started to write poetry and was eventually offered a publishing deal for my first collection.

As time passed, my health improved to the point that I felt that I was being constrained by my benefits status, and that I was ready to return to work, however it was hard to imagine returning to a traditional "nine-to-five" job.

How did you get started, where did you go for advice support, if anywhere?

TERRI: Clare (my training partner) and I discussed the fact that we were both working independently doing the same thing and that we were actually ideally placed to combine our experience and skills. We asked various people who were involved in related organisations/related professions about our thoughts on working together and starting our own business. The feedback we received enforced our belief that we actually had a unique selling point and that there would be a high demand for our training. We also realised that what we were considering was a very ‘low risk’ business venture in that we didn’t need to invest any capital and our overheads were going to be very low.

We approached Pendle Enterprise Trust for help with setting up the business and gratefully received the £1,000 start up grant which was invaluable as regards helping us with initial marketing costs and purchasing laptop and printer – from then on we never looked back.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

TERRI: For me personally, the biggest challenge has been organising childcare to fit around the training we deliver – particularly if it involves travelling and overnight stays. It was also pretty scary leaving the safety net of the benefits system – it seems to be such an ‘all or nothing’ move with no support offered at all once I started employment. There was a period of time (about 12 months in my case) when financially I was worse off than I was when receiving income support and all the extra associated entitlements – that was hard going!

One of the challenges we face from a business perspective is deciding just how far we want to take the business. There is certainly the potential for expansion as we are only just touching the surface of the market we could potentially cover, however at the moment we are limited by the fact there are only the two of us. Recruiting other trainers to work for us will be fairly challenging because of the uniqueness of our product.

CLARE:

1. Working with an issue which is inherently emotionally demanding; and which has a particular personal resonance for both of us. At times this can make the work very tiring; it certainly means there needs to be a limit on the amount of training we deliver each week.

2. Fitting the work in with other demands - leaving time to write and perform poetry, for example; and for Terri, the demands of being a sole parent and a business owner.

3. I'm now facing the new challenge of my first baby in December, and all the expected and unexpected challenges that will bring to my work (and the rest of) life!  

What are the rewards of being your own boss?

TERRI: Returning to the issue of childcare; being a single parent of a disabled child I needed to ensure that I could both commit myself to work whilst also ensuring that my 2 children didn’t suffer. So for me, the best reward is being able to dictate my own hours and terms of work and the flexibility that being my own boss entails. I have also found that I have talents I never dreamt I had e.g. designing and publishing our website!

CLARE: Many and varied. Most of all I enjoy the flexibility of the work - being able to work (within limits!) at my own pace, when and where I choose, and being able to choose the extra work that I take on. It gives me a degree of control, choice and responsibility I wouldn't have had if I was working for someone else. Of course there are also times when this can feel like a burden.... but most of the time I really enjoy it and can't now imagine working any other way.  

What would be your "Top Tip" for women thinking of starting a business?

TERRI: It’s not about being a woman – the factors determine your success are dependant on your that will motivation and determination to succeed.

CLARE: Choose something that you enjoy and that you are committed to. That way, your interest and your energy levels will stay high. Having your own business is very rewarding but it can also be very demanding. For that reason the work itself needs to be rewarding. Have a laugh, stay positive, and try not to do it all on your own!!!
 

Contact: 

or visit: www.harm-ed.co.uk