100% of profits back into community projects

About Us

The Beginning

RainbowBiz CIC was incorporated back on 23rd January 2015 by founder Directors Sue Oliver and Sarah Way. Over the years they have had additional volunteers join their Board to support the social enterprise through different periods.  The Social Enterprise was setup to promote equality and diversity.

Digging Deeside was the first community based project that started back in the beginning.  We started with one small raised bed allotment plot but quickly outgrew the space due to more people getting involved.  The project was setup to minimise isolation in the area and create a safe welcoming environment where people from all backgrounds and abilities could come together.

In order to remain sustainable and ethical, RainbowBiz opened the Hippy Shop on Shotton High Street to sell Fair Trade gifts and clothing in order to generate revenue throughout the year, which is reinvested into the Social Enterprise.

Promoting Equality and Diversity

RainbowBiz CIC sit on various statutory and voluntary sector panels and make representations on many other public bodies. These have included advising ITV Wales News on their North Wales Equality and Diversity panel in addition to the North Wales Police LGBTQ Panel. Recent work has included working in partnership with the Welsh Government on the Covid-19 Crisis and how they might shape the future of Flintshire’s retail and business sector.

Awards

RainbowBiz CIC  has won multiple business and community awards, including:

  • High Sheriff of Clwyd – Community Awards 2024
  • Wales Online Diversity and Inclusion Awards – CSR Initiative 2022
  • Mold Town Council – Business of the Year 2022
  • AVOW Volunteer Awards 2020-2021
  • The Steve Morgan Foundation – Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise 2019
  • Certificate of Community Management 2019
  • IRIS Leadership Award 2018
  • Wales Volunteer of the Year Award 2018
  • Chester’s Dee 106.3 – Local Hero Awards 2017
  • North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner – Community Awards 2017
  • National Diversity Awards 2016 & 2017
  • Heart of the Community Award 2016

Meet the Team

Kelly Hatton

Director

I’m Kelly, I love being a teaching assistant and this experience helps me support RainbowBiz as a Voluntary Director. I love finding the best deals possible to sell in our RainbowBiz Shop! Also, I love music and I’m a big fan of Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch.

Ian "Fozzy" Forrester

Director/Business Manager

Lover of Live Music, Football, gardening and walking. Master in Engineering and workaholic. Would rather be working on a project or event than sitting on a beach. Does accept Double Deckers as bribes!

Sion Forrester

General Assistant

Music student and motorsport lover. Learning Bass and guitar to one day take the world by storm.

Carys North

General Assistant

I’m Carys, a worker at RainbowBiz CIC. Currently I’m completing an NVQ in ballet, modern and musical theatre, where I teach 2 – 10 year olds. Working at RainbowBiz has given me a sense of purpose being able to help create a community which helps a lot of people.

Sarah "Ratty" Pipkin

Volunteer

I’m Ratty, a RainbowBiz CIC volunteer. A Geology graduate, I’ve always loved rocks, crystals, and Earth Sciences. I also graduated as a Mental Health Nurse, but multiple health issues, and being Autistic with ADHD, made normal employment unmanageable for me. Being able to use my skills and knowledge at RainbowBiz, in the Hippy Shop and at the community projects, is hugely beneficial for my health & wellbeing, giving me a sense of purpose again. Working with people who understand neurodiversity is amazing!

Bryn Pipkin-Trinder

Volunteer

Hi! I’m Bryn Pipkin-Trinder. I am currently a student at Deeside 6th, studying Psychology, Biology and Philosophy. With my A-levels I plan to start a degree in Psychology with Aberystwyth University. I love volunteering for RainbowBiz community projects. Volunteering helps me to develop my experience and to make a difference to our community, especially for those who are marginalised or have additional needs. I’m an avid reader of fantasy, adventure or any other fiction (but I refuse to touch a chemistry textbook ever again).