Advertise on podcast: Social Innovation: The Social Ideas Podcast

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 of your lawyer.  Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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

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

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

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

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 makes good business sense for venues to be accessible and to signal clearly.  Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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

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

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 Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Social Innovation Prize Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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 Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social Innovation Prize Cambridge Social Ventures Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube