A former teacher has won the Blenheim Start Up Challenge 2022 competition with a unique product that takes a hands-on approach to mental health.
The annual competition is open to any business, which is less than two years old or has fewer than five employees, is based within 20 miles of Blenheim, and can provide something which could be stocked in their shops or cafes.
Mitch Pinkney, from Witney, came up with the winning idea for her business Cups of Calm after realising there was a lack of mental well-being resources for children.
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Every Cup of Calm contains 30 jumbo lolly sticks that have been professionally engraved with tips, ideas, advice and strategies to give adults and children the confidence to manage emotions such as anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed.
Ms Pinkney’s product will be stocked in the Blenheim shop and she will also get ongoing advice on developing her product from expert business mentors along with members of the Blenheim management team.
“As a former teacher and mum, I know we learn best when our senses are stimulated and when the new information is clear, engaging and as easy to digest as possible,” she said.
“My Cup of Calm is a practical resource to help parents and teachers provide children with strategies and advice to manage their big emotions. This product is aesthetically pleasing, tactile, portable and washable.”
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Each cup comes with a letter suggesting practical ways both adults and children can use the sticks; like making lollies with them, using them to dip marshmallows in hot chocolate, putting them in your child’s lunch box or pencil case, sticking them mirrors or using them as bookmarks, along with additional ways to provide emotional support and well-being
Blenheim launched the start-up challenge scheme in 2018 in a bid to support and mentor locally-based firms.
A total of 15 local entrepreneurs entered this year’s competition with five being shortlisted as finalists.
In addition to Cups of Calm, the other finalists were Bunny and Bear Design, Naturally Curious, Joyful Co Ltd and Indoor Jungle Design Ltd.
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This year’s judging panel was made up of Blenheim’s Chief Executive Dominic Hare, Heather Carter, Operations Director at Blenheim Palace, Dennis Allen, Wake Up to Woodstock and Sarah Edwards, who was runner up in last year’s competition.
Blenheim chief executive Dominic Hare said: “Mental health and wellbeing are subjects we are passionate about here at Blenheim and Mitch’s product is a practical, straightforward and ingenious way to start conversations and provide potential solutions for what can often be a hidden and difficult subject for families.”
Blenheim is committed to providing local start-up businesses with support and a busy marketplace to showcase their products as part of its strategic goals to treble its economic contribution to the local community within 10 years.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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