Luminary believed in me more than I believed in myself

Luminary is an innovative women-led charity, providing training, employment and community to some of the most marginalised women in London. Their aim is to empower these women to build a positive future for themselves and their families - breaking the cycle of poverty, violence and disadvantage.

In 2024, Luminary received a grant of £60,000 (over 3 years) from our Women's Fund for London. Each year. Luminary recruit women to join their employment programme who have experienced multiple disadvantages including domestic violence and sexual exploitation, the care system, homelessness, crime and poverty. The Women's Fund for London grant will help Luminary employ a full time Training Manager and provide vital core costs to ensure the continued development of the employment programme.

During the two-year programme, women learn to bake to a high standard, gain a catering qualification and build transferable skills, from budgeting and interview techniques to building resilience. They work with a mentor and gain valuable work experience as well as receiving help with wider issues that can affect their chances of employment, including housing and debt.

Their social enterprise, Luminary Bakery, offers paid apprenticeships to graduates, as well as permanent employment opportunities. Marie*, a survivor of domestic abuse, is one of Luminary's graduates who went on to join the permanent team at Luminary Bakery - and this is her story...

There are so many women out there who have been through what I’ve been through and live with fear of judgement. To them I say, ‘There is life after all of this. You can get through it.

Marie - Luminary graduate

"When I started the Luminary programme I was at the end of my tether but wanting some sort of change. My children had recently been removed from my care. I was having a tough time with social services and struggling after the pandemic.

Luminary made a big difference. Despite multiple health issues, I started gaining confidence. I was learning about myself. I learnt how to bake, but also some social skills. Before, I struggled to speak to strangers when sober.

I found reading and writing hard, but there was always someone there to help me. The team recognised my extra needs, which felt really important. My support worker pushed me in the right direction – even when I was struggling – because she believed in me. A lot of people at Luminary believed in me more than I believed in myself.

I started to feel that I wasn’t stuck in a cycle of drugs, alcohol and depression, and that I was understanding what was actually going on with me and what I needed to change. Luminary organised work experience in an external kitchen for me, which I needed as I was quite nervous about working. I really enjoyed it; I think it was important to work with new people and embrace the unknown. It helped ease my fears around work. I then did my work experience shift in the Luminary cafe, which was different again as I had to serve the public, which was hard. The staff helped me a lot.

The opportunity came up to apply for a Cafe Apprenticeship at Luminary. Without that work experience I don’t think I would have gone for it, but I felt a bit braver. I was successful, completed the six-month apprenticeship, and now I’m a Cafe Assistant!

I love working at Luminary. I’ve learnt how to make barista coffees. I wasn’t a coffee person before – I didn’t know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte! I’m getting there with my milk art. And my favourite part is meeting the customers. I guess I’ve changed! I’ve gained confidence, the regular customers know me, I’m learning to accept change, and I feel like I’m part of a community.

When I started at Luminary I never thought I’d even last two years of the course, let alone get a job. I never really stuck to anything much before, so I feel proud that I completed the programme.

Luminary has built my stability, community, my confidence. I wouldn’t have thought I could rebuild the relationship with my family - but this is now at a better stage than it has been for 30 years. Luminary is a part of that.

I’ve recently spoken at Luminary events, both for the business and the charity. It’s scary, but I did it anyway. It’s nice to be the one to share advice and say, ‘I’ve done it, so can you.’

It’s a privilege to be part of that.

There are so many women out there who have been through what I’ve been through and live with fear of judgement. To them I say, ‘There is life after all of this. You can get through it.’ "

The London Community Foundation is proud to support Luminary in their vital work and, thanks to the collective support of our donors, to build the financial resilience of women and their families across London. Our team had the privilege of visiting the Luminary Bakery site in Camden last year, with representatives of other community organisations benefiting from the Women's Fund for London.

We are incredibly grateful to the London Community Foundation for their grant, which will support our work providing training, employment and community to some of London’s most marginalised women. Over the course of the grant we will work with up to 168 women who have experienced multiple disadvantage including domestic violence and sexual exploitation, the care system, homelessness, crime and poverty. Through our two-year programme we work with women to build a positive future for themselves and their families - breaking the cycle of poverty, violence and disadvantage.'

Aoine Wilson, Interim CEO, Luminary

In 2025, through the Women's Fund for London, we'd like to support even more community organisations providing longer-term support to enable women to build more secure financial futures free from poverty. We can’t do this alone. It is going to take a powerful, collective effort from all of us to give women the fair chance they deserve. You too, can make a difference by donating to our Women’s Fund for London to build a brighter future for women in London.

Find out more about the Women's Fund for London

*This Luminary graduate has chosen to use ‘Marie’ to protect her identity.