Shared Lives
Name: Maggie Chilvers, Poet and Tutor
Trading Ward: Wilsden
Business Name: Shared Lives
Business Address:
1 Moorland View, Wilsden, BD15 0JZ
Website: Shared Lives
Email: Contact Shared Lives
Telephone: 01535 274079
Mobile: 07828 012545
Background of Business
Maggie Chilvers is a remarkable woman. When ill health forced her to give up the job she loved - she was a Bradford College lecturer for more than 20 years - she feared her working life was over. Initially, she immersed herself in her favourite leisure time interests: writing, photography and watercolour painting of landscapes or flowers. She also wrote a novel and numerous poems. Absorbing and satisfying though they are, these activities were not enough to give Maggie, now aged 60, the personal challenges she finds so motivating. However, starting and running a small business from her home in Wilsden, with support from partners in the Bradford Kickstart programme, has revived her career.
Support Journey
Before launching her business, Shared Lives/Shared Voices, Maggie turned for help to Digitalife, a key partner in the Kickstart programme working exclusively with women. She attended an introductory ‘Supporting Opportunities for Women' course conducted by Gwynneth Balson, who leads the Manningham-based Digitalife team. Subsequent meetings with Judy Yacoub, one of the company's experienced Business Advisers, convinced Maggie that starting her own business was not only possible but would give her the independence and hours flexibility she required. "Digitalife were extremely helpful in giving me the confidence to start my own business," says Maggie. "It was so useful to meet other women in a similar position to myself. They also introduced me to other Kickstart partners including Lucy Veall, an adviser with Bradford Council's Business Enablement Project. This aims to reduce barriers to self employment faced by disabled people or those who experience sensory loss. Clients can be assisted in creating accessible business premises at home or elsewhere and can apply for grants to obtain specialist equipment, including computers, software and office furniture. Help can also be offered in overcoming care needs or communication barriers. Maggie is entitled to support from the project as she is diabetic and suffers from both arthritis and cardiac health disease. She found it difficult to carry a typical laptop computer from one presentation venue to another so was delighted when Lucy arranged for a lightweight laptop to be provided to her through the Kickstart programme. Further support came from Celia Hickson, a Business Coach with BizFizz, one of several Kickstart partners who take the programme out to different parts of the District, including Keighley and Shipley.
Where are they now
In addition to writing commissioned poetry, Maggie now supports people coping with mental health issues, facilitating two stress management and relaxation groups and a women's support group. Her clients include the Bradford & Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust and the Shipley-based Reach Project. "My main objective is to help people to become more confident, enabling them to achieve their aspirations," says Maggie. "I love working with people and seeing their confidence bloom. I like to think of myself as ‘a Poet of the People' and am currently developing a multi-media poetry website." Maggie believes a commissioned poem can give more lasting pleasure to recipients than a bouquet of flowers.
