UK entrepreneur Olga Valadon, founder and director of Change Aligned has been awarded a grant to help support emerging entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds start or build new ventures.

The programme will especially help those organisations with strong potential to have a sustained, positive impact on communities.

This grant scheme is part of the New Founder Programme, a three stage-initiative designed to help UK entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds by offering the tools and skills they need to start their businesses.

Groundwork, a federation of UK charities focused on poverty and the environment, administered the grant programme alongside Hatch, a charity focused on underrepresented founders. The Pizza Hut Foundation funded the award.

In this first round of funding, the New Founder Programme awarded 14 new entrepreneurs over £38,000.

Olga Valadon commented:

“It’s an incredible honour to receive the support of the New Founder Programme. I am so pleased that the grant review team saw the same potential in Change Aligned as I did and have chosen to support us with this grant. I plan to use my award to hire a social media strategist and develop a social media presence. I want to spark growth and awareness of our services and ultimately empower and support more people.” Mrs. Valadon said.

Joanna Hamer, Head of Cohort Programmes at Hatch Enterprise, said:

“At Hatch, it’s our mission to build a better world through entrepreneurship by removing the barriers typically faced by underrepresented founders in the UK. We’re constantly impressed by the innovation and passion of the founders who come onto the New Founder Programme, and look forward to seeing all that the grant recipients achieve as a result of this extra support.”