Social Innovation: The Social Ideas Podcast

Episoder

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  How To Train Your Lawyer - 'Equalising Deal Terms' in impact investment 14.09.2026 53min

  In this extended episode, we meet Sung Hyui Park, an Impact Lawyer with the law firm Bates Wells. Sung Hyui explains the problems arising from the power imbalance between investors and investees, and how her project 'Equalising Deal Terms' can help address them. The project looked into the experiences of impact investors and investees and this resulted in practical learnings and recommendations for both, including how to negotiate deals, how to simplify the terms, and how to get the best out ...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Rethink Food - creating access to health food for families 25.07.2026 33min

  2026 Cambridge Social Innovation Prize winners Nathan Atkinson shares the story of how he became inspired to create Rethink Food and the National School Pantry Network, which now work with more than 650 schools and redistributes over 500 tonnes of food annually. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: How ‘Gina’ supports women 22.07.2026 23min

  2026 Cambridge Social Innovation Prize winner, Lucy Hebberts shares the story of Gina, a Community Interest Company which provides immediate specialist support to women who have experienced sexual violence and abuse of any kind. We also learn about their sister charity, RSVP, the Rape and Sexual Violence Project, and how listeners can get involved to support these initiatives. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Grace Enterprises – employing and supporting people facing barriers to work 21.07.2026 31min

  2026 Cambridge Social Innovation Prize winner Matt Parfitt shares the story of Grace Enterprises, why he became a social entrepreneur, and how biscuits can be life changing! Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Eat Sleep Ride - empowering people through experiences with horses 20.07.2026 37min

  2026 Cambridge Social Innovation Prize winner, Danielle McKinnon tells the story of her charity, Eat Sleep Ride in East Berwickshire, Scotland, and how it empowers young people, families, and communities to overcome challenges through experiences with horses. She also explains what we can learn from horses about leadership. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Sociability - helping people find accessible places 14.07.2025 22min

  In this episode we meet Matt Pierri, 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner and founder of Sociability. Sociability is a mobile app and online platform which provides detailed accessibility information for venues across the UK, helping people with disabilities to travel confidently. Matt shares his journey since starting Sociability as a student project in 2019. We learn about the importance of accessibility information for those who need it, and about the 'purple pound': why it make...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Give Your Best - tackling clothing poverty and fashion waste 14.07.2025 27min

  In this episode we meet Sol Escobar, founder of 'Give Your Best' and 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner. Give Your Best is the UK's first circular platform where people can donate clothes online, and marginalised women and children can shop entirely for free, with the dignity of choice. We learn about the problems of clothing poverty and fashion waste, and about Sol's journey as a social entrepreneur, supported by Cambridge Social Ventures. Follow the Cambridge Centre for S...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network - helping people who have experienced forced migration to rebuild their livelihoods 14.07.2025 32min

  In this episode we meet 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner Charlie Fraser, founder of TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network). Since 2016, TERN has been supporting people in the UK to launch businesses. We learn about some of the challenges facing those who have fled their countries to escape violence, persecution and natural disasters, and need to rebuild their lives from scratch. Charlie explains how entrepreneurship can benefit refugees and their communities. Follow the Cambridg...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Coffee Afrik - reimagining community spaces in London 14.07.2025 37min

  In this episode, we meet Abdirahim Hassan, one of our 2025 Social Innovation Prize winners, and learn about his Community Interest Company, Coffee Afrik. Coffee Afrik makes culturally sensitive public health projects, rooted in care, love and liberation, and inspired by radical philosophy. We learn about regenerative governance, and why the community programming approaches of the Black Panther party are relevant in London today. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innova...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Foundervine - removing social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship 15.07.2024 24min

  In this episode we hear from Izzy Obeng, co-founder of Foundervine. Foundervine’s mission is to remove social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship for women and are racially-minoritised individuals. Collaborating with global partners, they help emerging companies reach their potential. Since 2017 they have supported over 1,200 helping them raise tens of millions in capital, creating over 600 jobs. Foundervine Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the ...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: InPower Academy – transforming lives through martial arts 15.07.2024 37min

  In this episode, we hear from Daryl Chambers, founder of InPower Academy CIC. InPower Academy work in in crime impacted areas to transform young people’s lives through martial arts training. InPower Academy Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Sirlute – crafting the creative future of London 15.07.2024 26min

  In this episode, we talk to JR Josephs, founder of Sirlute. As a charitable organisation, Sirlute provide creative learning and mentoring for children and young people in London. Sirlute Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Women’s Work Lab – helping single mothers regain independence through a career support community 15.07.2024 35min

  In this episode, we talk to Rachel Mostyn and Camilla Rigby. Rachel and Camilla are co-founders of Women’s Work Lab, a Community Interest Company which supports the careers of women and single parents in the South West of England. Women's Work Lab Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Insta...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize 05.04.2024 15min

  In this episode of The Social Innovation Podcast, Lisa Stepanovic shares the benefits and power of winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize. Lisa is the Founder and CEO of the multi award winning, Social Ark, which enables 16–30-year-olds from East London communities to develop social businesses that draw from their lived experiences. This year, Lisa is a judge for the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which she won in 2021. Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation The Cambridge ...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: the power of AutonoMe 04.04.2024 24min

  In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, social entrepreneur Will Britton shares why he created the AutonoMe app and how winning The Cambridge Social Innovation Prize helped develop his social enterprise further. The AutonoMe app helps people learn new skills through step-by-step videos and helps them self-evaluate their needs. It’s already operating in seven local authorities in South West England, and Will’s ambition to make this a mainstream part of social care nationally. Cambridge ...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: changing the system 15.12.2023 27min

  In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, graduate of the Masters in Social Innovation Programme and social innovator, Nora Wilhelm shares her journey to becoming an activist. She discusses her work within the world of systems design and systems change and shares why she thinks others should apply for the Masters in Social Innovation. Apply for the Masters in Social Innovation Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Ins...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: educating with insight 25.10.2023 19min

  In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast we hear from Christine Kinnear, Founder and CEO of With Insight Education. With Insight Education is a charity that mentors Black-heritage pupils to help them successfully apply to top universities and progress into professional careers. With Insight Education Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: Noise Solution 04.08.2023 26min

  In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, we hear from CEO and Founder of Noise solution, Simon Glenister. Simon shares how the social enterprise uses music mentoring to work with young people who’re dealing with challenging. Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Ventures Noise Solution Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: the social impact of procurement 07.07.2023 14min

  In this episode, we hear from Aoise Keogan-Nooshabadi, Co-founder and the COO of Supply Change. Supply Change is a social enterprise platform, which allows buyers to find social environmental suppliers based on location, trade, and social impact, enabling the procurement of everything from food and drink to marketing, cleaning, road signage, flooring, energy and more. Aoise is one of this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which is awarded by Trinity Hall and the ...
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  The Social Ideas Podcast: dementia and the community 07.07.2023 9min

  In this episode, we hear from Dr Liz Dennis, the co-Founder of The Filo Project, which offers high quality day care for small groups of older people, supporting individuals who are socially isolated, many of whom are experiencing symptoms associated with moderate dementia. Liz is one of this year's winners of the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which is awarded by Trinity Hall and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge. Cambridge Centre for Social Inno...