What We Do

SUPPORTING YOU
TO RE-IMAGINE THE WORLD,
ONE ‘DREAM FUND’ AT A TIME

GirlDreamer was born from the dreams of two best friends who, despite external expectations to conform, found the courage to pursue their vision. In 2016, they made the bold decision to bring GirlDreamer to fruition, driven by their passion and determination and the firm belief that the world needs to only better serve women of colour, but have them be the driving force behind societal change.

YOU DREAM IT,
WE’LL HELP
YOU DO IT.

At GirlDreamer, we’re driven by a dual commitment of fostering community and catalysing social change.

Our core service exists in two parts that work hand-in-hand. Our Dream Fund, where small grants ignite big changes that are often the seed funding required to bring visionary ideas to life and our capacity-building programme. Here we nurture the holistic development of our Dream Fund leaders and create tailored space for growth and learning.

The importance of these services going hand-in-hand cannot be overstated. It’s the fusion of financial support and capacity building that creates the synergy needed for women of colour-led organisations to not only thrive, but to blaze a trail of representative leadership and social transformation. Together, they form a powerful force for change, shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.

THE DREAM FUND

At GirlDreamer, the Dream Fund is an impactful initiative aimed at supporting women of colour-led social impact organisations through micro-grants. These grants play a crucial role in fostering and amplifying the voices and efforts of underrepresented communities, which is a major asset to civil society.

Micro-Grants for Impact

The Dream Fund provides small yet impactful grants to emerging and established women of colour-led organisations. These grants are often the vital seed funding needed to kickstart innovative projects, fuel community initiatives, and drive positive change. They enable these organisations to turn their visionary ideas into practical actions that address pressing social issues.

Promoting Representative Leadership

Building representative leadership is a cornerstone of the Dream Fund’s mission. It recognises the immense value of lived experience leadership, where individuals directly impacted by the challenges they aim to address take the lead in driving solutions. This approach brings a level of authenticity, empathy, and insight that is unparalleled.

In the UK, the importance of representative leadership is increasingly recognised. Studies and statistics highlight its significance:

  • Diverse Perspectives: A diverse leadership team brings a broader range of perspectives, which can lead to more effective problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Community Engagement: Organisations led by individuals with lived experience often have deeper community connections and a better understanding of community needs.
  • Inspiration for Others: Visible leaders from underrepresented backgrounds inspire others to pursue leadership roles and create a more inclusive and equitable society.

The Dream Fund at GirlDreamer, through its micro-grants and commitment to representative leadership, contributes significantly to advancing these goals. It not only empowers women of colour to lead, but also acts as a catalyst for positive change in civil society by ensuring that the voices of those who have traditionally been marginalised are heard and valued.

HOW IT WORKS

Every quarter, we open the Dream Fund for applications, giving you the opportunity to apply online for grants ranging from £500 to £2,500 for your project, movement, or organisation.

If you happen to miss one round, don’t worry! There are four DreamFund rounds annually that you can apply to.

To stay updated and be among the first to know when the fund is released, ensure you’re subscribed to our mailing list. Visit our opportunities page to apply directly and seize your chance to make a difference.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • You must be between 18-35 years old
  • You are, or are led by women of colour
  • You must be based in the UK
  • You have not received funding from GirlDreamer in the past 12 months
  • Your annual turnover is less than £100,000
KICKSTART MY PROJECT

CAPACITY-BUILDING

Funding alone isn’t enough for sustainable change. That’s why we complement the Dream Fund with our capacity-building programme. This initiative is designed to nurture the holistic development and sustainability of women of colour-led organisations. We provide intentional training, tailored workshops, and resources that empower leaders to confidently take the reins and drive their initiatives towards lasting impact.

Utilising aligned partners with area expertise and our own seven year journey, we support our Dream Fund leaders with a fully virtual, accessible programme, where they are supported with all the key things to know, such as:

LEGAL & LOGISTICS

BRANDING

MARKETING

FUNDRAISING & SUSTAINABILITY

This programme is offered in conjunction with the Dream Fund, and all registered applicants will be invited to join the quarterly programme.

GirlDreamer provided me with an unforgettable experience by giving me an opportunity to be part of their Surfing retreat 2022. As a woman of colour, I face a constant struggle to go against the tide when it comes to systemic biases and discrimination embedded in our societies. GD provided me with a safe space to break one of my mental shackles of trying a sport which I never thought I would be a part of. Getting to do it in the company of some amazing women of colour was the cherry on the cake. I left feeling energised, motivated and with a community who I never knew I would feel so connected to. I feel empowered to try out new things and the experience left me with a new perspective in life.
Priyanka RoychoudhuryEconomic consultant
Priyanka Roychoudhury
Being a part of Girl Dreamer has changed my whole perspective on life. I have been exposed to opportunities I didn’t even know existed ! Girl Dreamer has prepared me with many skills which will aid me in becoming a successful woman in the future.
Aisha KhanumInternational Law student
Aisha Khanum
Being part of GirlDreamer has helped me to express my voice and opinion on topics I care about. While doing so, I was also able to find like-minded individuals who went through similar experiences like me, reassuring me that my opinions matter and that they need to be heard and understood. GirlDreamer and their efforts give me support on subjects that are important to me and others with similar backgrounds - and for all this I am incredibly grateful.
MILAN NGUYENUX Researcher at Google
MILAN NGUYEN
GirlDreamer helped me find my voice, they allowed me to express myself and not feel ashamed or insecure of my opinion or who I choose to be, and this feeling is invaluable. Working for GirlDreamer has broadened my horizons more than I could have ever imagined, and taught me to be a global citizen in which I can positively contribute to indigenous conversations with intersectional perspective, it gave me a sense of purpose and belonging.
aisha mohammedInternational Business Specialist at Qatar Airways
aisha mohammed
I never thought I’d be accepted onto the UK’s first all women of colour surfing programme organised by Girl Dreamer. It was the experience I never knew I needed. It was a challenging week that ultimately boosted my confidence and I feel it has changed my outlook on life for good. Surfing was so much fun that I went back a month later! Because of Girl Dreamer, I no longer doubt myself and what I am capable of. Thank you to Girl Dreamer who put in so much care and effort into this experience! I don’t think they realise what kind of impact they have on the lives of women like me.
Rabia MirzaProgramme Manager - Community Voices at Media Trust
Rabia Mirza
The opportunity I received from GirlDreamer led to a life-changing week for me and it was all due to the time, effort and love they put into organising it. The care and consideration that was put into it was so tangible.I really thought it would just be a few days of surfing, but I’ve gained more confidence, more of an adventurous spirit and an amazing group of bad-ass friends.
Zakirah AlamEditorial Coordinator
Zakirah Alam
As a woman of colour, I believe GirlDreamer is an organisation that is life changing for many like me. The opportunities provided by GirlDreamer inspire us to break boundaries and empower us to make a difference. It is a supportive network where I am encouraged to think about the issues we face in society and what we can do to solve them. It is a truly eye-opening experience.
NINA MASenior Associate at PWC
NINA MA
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PAST PROGRAMMES & EVENTS

  • GD Advisory Board
    (GAB)

    Professional Development

    Our most popular online programme, with 3 cohorts of 45 young womne of colour now forming our GAB alumni. It was an early stage intervention, lasting 3-6 months, to support more young women of colour to become more informed about Boards and becoming a Trustee and forming part of our GirlDreamer Advisory Board to test out the process. 45% of our GAB members successfully went on to secure Board positons.

  • LIT (Lead. Inspire. Transform)

    Personal and Professional Development

    A lived experience based programme where we worked with members of our community to develop the importance of lived experience in tackling social issues locally. Soon to be published as a resource and shared sector-wide.

  • Headshots and Bios

    Community Event and Professional Development

    An annual GirlDreamer photoshoot got a make-over in 2022 with the addition of bio writing support and an opportunity to get your own individual professional headshots taken. Headshots and bios are two integral elements of your professional journey, whether you’re a freelancer, starting your own company or wanting to look the business on LinkedIn for professional opportunities, they’re foundational. So, 12 GirlDreamer’s connected in-person and walked away with an updated bio highlighting how amazing they are and a professional headshot to use as they wish moving forward. This will be an annual event.

  • Boarders Without Borders (BWB)

    Personal Development

    BWB is our approach to using adventure sports as a tool for social change. Since 2017, we have been introducing board sports such as Longboarding and then Surfing (in 2019), to engage more of our community with outdoor adventure sports for women of colour to support their well-being, increase social cohesion and improve access (including financial) to such activities. As a result, we ended up creating Europe’s First Women of Colour Longboarding group and the UK’s First Women of Colour Surfing crew. We are hoping to add snowboarding as the 3rd addition to this initiative.

  • Boarders Without Borders (BWB)

    Personal Development

    BWB is our approach to using adventure sports as a tool for social change. Since 2017, we have been introducing board sports such as Longboarding and then Surfing (in 2019), to engage more of our community with outdoor adventure sports for women of colour to support their well-being, increase social cohesion and improve access (including financial) to such activities. As a result, we ended up creating Europe’s First Women of Colour Longboarding group and the UK’s First Women of Colour Surfing crew. We are hoping to add snowboarding as the 3rd addition to this initiative.

  • Military Assault Course

    Personal and Professional Development

    For International Women’s Day 2022, we took 12 women of colour on an outdoor adventure to connect with community, build resilience and challenge their own limitations. Think army-style assault course, all women of colour, wearing overalls, British weather – yep, it all happened and we can’t wait for it to happen again.

  • Trustees Unlimited Partnership

    Professional Development

    To combat access to opportunity, we have partnered with TU to exclusively advertise Trustee vacancies on our website , CV and interview support and free digital resources (available here) to support those interested in entering the Trustee and Governance space.

  • SOCENT 101

    Professional Development

    We supported five cultural and creative micro-organisations led by women of colour with funding and business development support. We utilised our own lived experience and our professional journey with GirlDreamer over the past five years to support those who are on their journeys of social change and setting up or developing their own social enterprises. They each received 3 months of bespoke 1:1 support and £1,500 in funding towards their work.

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