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Birmingham CIC Supporting Local Girls Through Adolescence Shortlisted for Midlands StartUp Award

A local mum who has made it her mission to help build the confidence and self-esteem of young girls, helping them to navigate through the challenges of adolescence with her CIC Serenity for Girls, has been recognised for the impact she is making, having been named a finalist at the UK StartUp Awards.

The UK StartUp Awards has shortlisted local mum Danielle Maynard, 44, from Birmingham, who founded Serenity for Girls in 2023, for the Social Enterprise StartUp of the Year Award in the Midlands.

Running Girls Clubs alongside their Online Academy, School Programmes and Workshops, Danielle seeks to offer something she wishes she had as a young shy girl growing up - a place, away from home, where she could feel supported.

“I was always known as the quiet one. The girl who didn’t quite fit in, who felt like she wasn’t normal. And for a long time, I believed that about myself.  I kind of let that narrative shape how I saw my worth. But deep down, I always knew I was meant for something more”, Danielle said.

Serenity for Girls has supported girls aged between 7 and 12  over the last 2 years. As a mum to a teenage girl herself and having worked with children and families within the NHS for the past 11+ years, Danielle is well versed on the challenges they face, and made it her mission to be ‘a safe space for young girls who need a bit of support to feel happy, confident and at ease in their own skin’. She felt there wasn’t a place like this for pre teens - so she created it.

No stranger to awards Danielle has previously also been recognised by Theo Paphitis in his Small Business Sunday celebrations of independent business owners and she’s hugely grateful for any opportunity to spread her message.

Danielle said: "To be recognised at these awards means the world. I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface of what I’m here to do and so every opportunity to introduce Serenity for Girls to new people is hugely valued”.

She added: "Being shortlisted means so much. It’s a moment to pause and reflect on the journey so far  from my early days of my positivity boxes and then dreaming up a space for girls to feel seen, heard, and supported, to now being acknowledged on such a huge platform. It reminds us why we started Serenity For Girls in the first place, to help girls grow into confident, resilient, and emotionally strong young women.

This recognition isn’t just for us though it’s for every girl who’s walked through our doors (virtual or in person), every mum who’s supported our sessions, every cheerleader who’s believed in what we do. It takes a village, and you’re part of ours. The winners will be announced later this year, but right now we’re just soaking up this special moment and feeling super proud.”

Supported nationally by Airwallex, Ideas Fest, Join Talent and V Rum, the awards will celebrate the achievements of individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service. The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The winners from each region will then be invited to the first UK final taking place at Ideas Fest, the Glastonbury for Business festival in Hertfordshire on 12th September 2025.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said: “New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation, and contributing to prosperity across the UK. This year's finalists embody the very best of entrepreneurial spirit - spotting opportunities and, through dedication, skill, and resilience, turning them into thriving ventures that are making a tangible difference in their industries. More importantly, all the winners will go on to represent their region at the 2025 UK National StartUp Awards final later this year”.

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The UK StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. 

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chocolate PR .