Award-winning beauty business and not-for-profit social enterprise Funding Futures is looking to partner with companies to offer opportunities to girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Hayley Darroch, owner of HD Beauty in Atherton and co-founder of Funding Futures, has already been working in local schools and with charities like Bolton Lads and Girls Club and Backup Northwest.

“This is to provide a safe and professional environment where women can grow holistically – encouraging ambition, restoration and second chances,” explained Hayley.

She launched Funding Futures to involve businesses of all kinds in supporting students on a variety of courses. This is to use beauty and wellbeing to take young girls and women on a journey of employability and entrepreneurship, equipping them with transferable skills for the working world.

Her ultimate aim is to create an Education and Wellbeing Centre in Bolton providing wellness through beauty sessions, training and work experience for people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to work within the industry.

Hayley also wants to “introduce the beauty industry to school students to show them it is a viable career option and help develop those with an interest in it.”

To this end, she has already partnered with Ladybridge High School in Bolton, installing a full salon set-up within their alternative provision department, which is proving a great success.

Stated Hayley: “I was academic at school and was pushed towards A-levels because going into beauty was seen as for less able people and not a ‘proper’ job.

“But I was determined to gain qualifications in beauty and I paid for my own training at 18 because I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

She eventually started her own business and, unfazed by lockdown, went from one salon to two plus a training centre and a wholesale shop for professionals within the industry.

Now, her goal is to share her passion for the beauty industry and allow others to build real careers and a life they deserve.

“It is all about empowerment,” she said. “We want people to believe they can do this and to offer them the opportunity to try, igniting their entrepreneurship.

“By investing in women through training, employment and community, we aim to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disadvantage once and for all.”

•To find out more about Funding Futures and Hayley’s work go to www.fundingfutures.co.uk or email Empower@fundingfutures.co.uk

Caption 1: Hayley Darroch, award-winning businesswoman and co-founder of Funding Futures

Captain 2: Hayley Darroch, fifth from left, with pupils from Ladybridge High School where a full beauty salon is installed