"Before I came to Luminary, my life had fallen apart. I struggled in a world where my voice was unheard and my identity had been stripped from me. Since going through the course, I now have regained my confidence, gained life-skills and am on a path to reach my goals of independence. Luminary has gifted me with so many opportunities, I honestly don't know where I would be without them."
Luminary provides training, employment and community to some of the most disadvantaged women in London. We work alongside women who have experienced gender-based violence and live with ‘multiple disadvantage’ - a term that recognises that many women experience multiple forms of social and economic disadvantage which interlink, intersect and drive a cycle of deprivation. Our primary focus is helping these women achieve employment and reach independence - breaking the cycle of poverty, violence and disadvantage.
We use baking as a tool to guide women towards employability and independence. Over our two-year programme, women learn to bake, gain a catering qualification and develop transferable skills such as budgeting, interview techniques and resilience. Women gain valuable work experience through our sister organisation, Luminary Bakery, as well as being paired with a volunteer mentor who helps her develop her career next steps. However, our programme goes far beyond job skills. We offer access to highly-trained counsellors, providing up to 16 weeks of therapy, and each woman is supported by a dedicated Progression Support Worker to help her navigate the broader challenges she will face including housing and debt.
1 in 8 recorded offences in London are for domestic abuse.
London's four million women are living with the UK's biggest pay gap and with the most expensive childcare.
Women in London, especially those with children, are more likely to be living in poverty.
A woman is referred to Luminary by a support service because she has experienced gender-based violence and multiple disadvantage, but she is now in recovery and beginning to think about paid work.
She enrols onto our Employability and Independence Training Programme. For the first 12 months she joins baking training classes, achieves her Food Hygiene Certificate, then completes further training on life and employability skills. Alongside training she works with her Progression Support Worker to overcome her barriers to work and independence.
Luminary supports her over the remaining 12 months to progress into sustainable employment and independence through 1-1's with her Progression Support Worker, group workshops, therapy, mentoring and a supportive community. She takes part in work experience within our Luminary Bakery business and can apply for paid apprenticeships or employment in their cafes or bakeries - or with our partner organisations.
After 2 years, she completes the Employability and Independence Programme. Her 1-1 support from Luminary ends and she transitions into our alumni network. She is invited to weekly wellbeing workshops, community celebrations and can continue to apply for paid work in our bakeries and cafes.
had experienced homelessness
had experienced gender based violence
were care leavers
had been involved in the criminal justice system
During our Progression Support Programme, our women will have the opportunity to work with a professional mentor.
Luminary mentors are women from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom are willing to share their professional expertise and life lessons with our graduates. Some mentors have experience in the finance or business world, others in hospitality. Some have also experienced disadvantage in their lives and want to be able to help Luminary women as peers who may be one step ahead in the journey.
Luminary simply wouldn’t exist without our supporters, both from individuals and organisations. Please see our Support Us page for more information about how your donation will make a difference, and who our current funders are.