Meet Michelle Smith | Founder and CEO of Mpower People CIC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Mpower People CIC is a not for profit social enterprise supporting the most vulnerable people here in Merseyside, United Kingdom. As a Community Leader, I was first approached in 2009 by some single parents I was working with to find employment. They were worried that they couldn’t concentrate on searching for work because their children were getting into trouble with gangs and becoming known to the Police. I realised that there was a demand for high quality Youth Services and Meaningful Activities for Young People to engage with, especially in the areas of Kensington and Toxteth, where I was working and living and therefore understood the deprivation surrounding me.

That is what prompted me to found Mpower People CIC. We started as a Youth Organisation focusing on providing activities and access to opportunities for people in the area. We were able to create jobs for young people within our organisation and even supported them to start their own businesses once they felt ready and had built up enough experience and knowledge under our guidance. We provided Dance, DJing, Drama, Music and Art workshops and training sessions for free after school and in school holidays. We also worked with partners to offer Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Boxing, Personal Development and Personal Fitness training sessions and held Community Health Events where we offered Reiki, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Massage, Health Checks from Community Health Team and Mindfulness workshops.

We have since developed into a Mental Health support organisation as we have always worked holistically with our clients, understanding the importance of balanced or positive mental health. We look to empower people to enrich their whole lives, be it through improving their physical health through personal development or their access to opportunities to increase their skills. I use my own lived experience of having poor mental health to create services and programs of support which are bespoke to my clients needs and what they each need on their journey.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are proud to say Mpower People CIC has been improving and saving lives since 2009. That has not been easy and has cost me personally both financially and emotionally.

I have been kicking ass and changing lives since I started volunteering at 12. I have also struggled with my own mental health and had experience of homelessness which I later used this lived knowledge to create an organisation that I needed when I was struggling myself (Mpower People CIC).

I started my first business when I was 15 years old, but this was also the same year I found myself homeless. This year was obviously a period of massive adjustment but I managed to complete 2 A Levels, whilst running the business I also held 1 fulltime job and a part-time job. So my organisational and time management skills really were honed at this time. Looking back I don’t know how I fit it all in, then I remember I didn’t sleep and seemed to be working or studying ALL the time.

The next year I completed another 2 A Levels ( I was doing them “intensively” in a year, as I find I work better under pressure), ran and expanded my business – I had staff across the Country by the time I was 16 (all my staff, of course, were much older and more expert than myself) but I’ve always had the gift of the gab and been able to lead, manage and empower others from a young age. It was a graphic design company, after securing our first National contract I was able to step away from the business, passing it on to my staff (as I believe in empowering from within, be it as an organisation or as an individual). I then took on an extra job in a shoe shop! I foolishly decided I wanted the staff discount on the (awful) shoes, in hindsight the wage I was paying myself in my own company had been 12 x what I now was getting in the shoe shop. So, sometimes my Bipolar nature means I don’t always stop to make the best decisions. I then got back to volunteering, being a Camp Counsellor and Youth Worker at an international youth camp. I think it was here I really got to learn my ability for helping others. I went travelling for a bit spending time in Switzerland, again I think my independence and stubborn nature really got my through what happened over there.

I really was persuaded to go to University by my College tutor, who had opened my A Level results as I hadn’t turned up to get them. I hadn’t applied for any Universities as I wasn’t academic and had really struggled with my studies, but she believed in me and gave me the number for Clearing so I could see if I could get a place in University. So I ended up with a choice, and chose University of Liverpool. And now I have become one of those people who came to Liverpool and has made a life here.

Don’t get me wrong, after Uni I went down to London, chasing the big lights and money. I worked in Recruitment and used my people skills to ensure I won over big clients and then was able to create long term contracts for good jobs for my candidates, who were then paid well for their work as I didn’t believe in taking a huge percentage in Commission.

Then I received a distress call from a friend, so I quit my job and returned to Liverpool. Where I later went on to set up or found many other businesses, from IT Sales and Support to Party Planning, Recruitment and Business Consultancy to Pet Memorials.

It was when I was working as a single parents advisor that I set up Mpower People CIC, using my own savings to first start delivering our youth activities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Liverpool has so much to offer from Restaurants and Nightlife to shopping and tourist spots like The Cavern or the Docks. But my best friend is very familiar with the City, so we would probably go to the Swan on Wood Street and line up all my favourite tunes in the best Jukebox in town, perfect for anyone who likes Rock. The great thing about this city is that there is a place for every genre of music so you could easily fill a week tasting the different styles and vibes.

If there is a band or artist we want to see such as The Acoustics or Nick Bertram-Powell., they tend to be playing in the Baltic Market (refurbished Cains Brewery).

The Reader Organisation based in the Grade 2 listed Mansion House in Calderstones Park run some amazing events, from Poetry readings to Classical Music recitals. Such a beautiful site with an amazing café and bookshop, we love it there.

Then for relaxation we could hop over to Formby Beach, or nip to the Wirral for a walk in Parkgate nature reserve.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Shoutout and credit go to the “Mpower People Crew” these are our Board members (past and present) who have supported my mental health along our journey and put up with me ignoring their good advice to stop (Because X client just needs this additional support). It is a hard job (and I put a lot of pressure on myself) and they are always there when I need them to give advice, guidance, be a sounding board or a shoulder to cry on. Thank you especially to Lucy, Jude and Trish.

Another thing I love about the crew is that previous staff or volunteers still stay in touch or support us whenever they can, and on that a special shoutout goes to Chantel who still regularly volunteers when we need her. We love our volunteers (past and present) and truly recognise that we could not still be open without their relentless commitment and dedication to helping others. I absolutely love you all #mpowerpeoplecrew4life

Partner organisations have also helped us to keep going (especially when funding ran out) so another Shoutout needs to go to Nigel from the Gateway Conference Centre, who didn’t kick our mental health group out when they needed our services the most (but we ran out of funding to continue) and helped us to provide a warm hub and safe space where they could meet, share experiences (Mental Health Peer Support Group) and continue to access training and support where they could learn new skills. We are based in Liverpool city centre, with great public transport access for our clients to be able to visit us easily.

Website: www.mpowerpeople.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mpower_people_cic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MpowerPeopleCIC

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mpowerpeople