The LILAC Centre

The LILAC Centre Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The LILAC Centre, Nonprofit Organization, 75 Drayton Park, London.

Join us for a colourful Lilac Live with Laura Charley!This Wednesday 26th August at 11am, we'll be joined by Laura, the ...
23/08/2026

Join us for a colourful Lilac Live with Laura Charley!

This Wednesday 26th August at 11am, we'll be joined by Laura, the founder and designer behind Laura Charley Design, the home of dopamine dressing.

Laura creates vibrant clothing and accessories designed to bring joy, comfort and confidence. Through her hand-drawn prints and colourful collections, she's built a business that celebrates individuality and self-expression.

We'll be talking about:
• Laura's journey as a creative entrepreneur
• Running a business while living with chronic illness
• The inspiration behind Laura Charley Design
• The power of colour to bring confidence and joy

Join us live:
• Wednesday 26th August
• 11:00am
• On the Lilac Centre Instagram

We'd love to see you there, so bring your questions and join the conversation!

Image shows Laura Charley smiling at the camera, wearing colourful patterned dungarees over a white T-shirt. She has bright orange hair and is pictured in her colourful studio. The graphic includes the Instagram Live logo and The Lilac Centre branding.

21/08/2026

As we reintroduce the work of the Lilac Centre, we've been taking a look back at where it all started.

In February 2024, the Lilac Review launched as an independent Review exploring the barriers faced by Disabled founders across the UK.

As part of that work, the team spoke to founders about their experiences of starting and growing a business, including spending some extra time getting to know some of the brilliant entrepreneurs behind those businesses.

One of them was Marcus Mason-Williams, an autistic illustrator and founder of CoolArt2021.

This video introduced Marcus and his work during the Lilac Review, and we're delighted to be sharing it again as we look back at the journey from the Review to the Lilac Centre we have today.

We're also always looking for more brilliant business stories to showcase.

If you're a Disabled, d/Deaf or neurodivergent founder and would like to share your business and your story with the Lilac Centre community, please get in touch.

The countdown is on! Applications for the Female Founders List 2027 open on 1st September.Together with Starling, Small ...
21/08/2026

The countdown is on!

Applications for the Female Founders List 2027 open on 1st September.

Together with Starling, Small Business Britain are looking for brilliant female founders from across the UK to join this fantastic community.

From making new connections and sharing experiences to coming together at some pretty amazing events, being part of the Female Founders List is about celebrating women in business and the incredible things they're building.

Could 2027 be your year?

Keep an eye on f:entrepreneur for more details and get 1st September in the calendar!

Photos show female founders from previous years enjoying events and opportunities together. Images include founders celebrating on a boat on the River Thames with Tower Bridge in the background, women chatting and laughing together at networking events, and groups of founders posing for photos at Small Business Britain events.

Delivered in partnership with Lloyds, the Lilac Centre Mentoring Programme brings Disabled and neurodivergent business o...
20/08/2026

Delivered in partnership with Lloyds, the Lilac Centre Mentoring Programme brings Disabled and neurodivergent business owners together with experienced business mentors who also have lived experience.

Ellie Norris, founder of What The Ell Ltd, was matched with Oh So Social founder, Katherine George, and told us:

“Katherine was incredible! She gave me so much clarity on my social media and marketing, and asked me questions I’d never even thought of. I’ve since done a mini ‘rebrand’ and feel so much more comfortable with the content I’m putting out into the world!”

It’s brilliant to hear about the practical difference that just a few conversations can make, and exactly why bringing business expertise and lived experience together is such an important part of the programme.

Thank you Katherine, and all of our fantastic mentors!

Image shows a graphic featuring Ellie Norris from What The Ell Ltd, with a testimonial about the positive impact of her mentoring sessions with Katherine on her social media, marketing and confidence. Lilac Centre and Lloyds logos appear at the bottom.

Have you discovered the LILAC Centre yet?Led by Small Business Britain, and supported in partnership with Lloyds and ARU...
20/08/2026

Have you discovered the LILAC Centre yet?

Led by Small Business Britain, and supported in partnership with Lloyds and ARU Peterborough, the LILAC Centre brings together lived experience, innovation and practical support to help remove barriers and create more opportunities for Disabled founders.

Everything we offer to entrepreneurs is free, from webinars and online and in-person networking to our tailored mentoring programme, events, resources and opportunities to connect with others.

We're also here to champion the incredible businesses being led by Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent entrepreneurs and make sure lived experience is part of the conversations shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

We'd love you to get involved. Share your story with us, come along to an event, join one of our conversations or sign up to the newsletter to hear what's coming next.

📩 [email protected]

Image shows a square graphic with a dark purple background featuring the LILAC Centre logo in the centre. The logo is white with a purple circular and plus-shaped symbol. Decorative curved circles and plus symbols in shades of purple and bright blue appear around the edges of the image.

So great to see the lovely Nabila, pictured here with Prime Minister Andy Burnham during his visit to Wolverhampton Bus ...
19/08/2026

So great to see the lovely Nabila, pictured here with Prime Minister Andy Burnham during his visit to Wolverhampton Bus Station for the announcement of plans to introduce free 24/7 bus travel for Disabled people.

Nabila had the chance to speak directly with the Prime Minister and highlighted that, while free travel is an important step forward, there's still much more to consider.

Infrastructure, accessibility and the additional costs faced by Disabled people, and those who support them, all need to be part of the conversation.

It's really encouraging to see these important conversations progressing and those with lived experience having the opportunity to contribute.

Great work, Nabila!

Image shows three people standing together and smiling indoors in front of large windows. On the left, a man in a black polo shirt and shorts has two prosthetic legs. A man in a dark suit stands in the centre, with a woman in a floral dress using crutches and wearing a support boot on the right.

Great to see the announcement from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, sharing that Disabled people will be able to use their f...
19/08/2026

Great to see the announcement from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, sharing that Disabled people will be able to use their free bus passes 24/7.

From 1st April 2027, the time restrictions on travel will be removed, meaning that early morning meetings, events, appointments, or anything else will be more accessible to Disabled people who rely on bus travel.

For Disabled entrepreneurs, accessible and affordable transport can make a real difference to being able to run and grow a business, meet customers, attend networking events and access opportunities.

It's also great to see the removal of the postcode lottery that meant some local authorities already offered extended travel, while others didn't.

Disabled people don't only work, run businesses or need to travel after 9.30am and this is a really positive step towards removing a practical barrier and giving Disabled people greater freedom over when and where they travel.

Image shows the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, in a suit standing with arms open in front of a yellow double-decker bus displaying 'Get on Board' sign.

The Great British Pitch is back! 🇬🇧🇺🇸Would you like to find out more about exporting your small business to the USA?Join...
18/08/2026

The Great British Pitch is back! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

Would you like to find out more about exporting your small business to the USA?

Join Small Business Britain and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on Tuesday 8th September in London for a day packed with expert talks, workshops, mentoring and plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with other small business owners.

It's a brilliant opportunity to learn more about the US market, get expert advice and start developing your international export plans.

Find out more and register your interest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScn1ebz7_oZa-D0dW1uojOKxFQ4TFR4AhS9AeEnohC7QSw9Ng/viewform

Join us for this week's LILAC Live with Hannah Cohen!This Wednesday 19th August, we'll be joined by Hannah Cohen, founde...
16/08/2026

Join us for this week's LILAC Live with Hannah Cohen!

This Wednesday 19th August, we'll be joined by Hannah Cohen, founder of The Insight Coach.

Hannah helps organisations create more inclusive workplaces through practical coaching and workshops. Drawing on both professional coaching expertise and her own lived experience, she supports teams to better understand hidden disabilities, long term conditions and neurodivergence, helping inclusion become part of everyday working life.

We'll be talking about:
• Hannah's business journey
• The importance of lived experience in driving change
• Building more inclusive workplaces
• The small actions that can have a lasting impact

Join us live:
• Wednesday 19th August
• 11:00am
• On the LILAC Centre Instagram

Bring your questions and be part of the conversation!

Image shows a head-and-shoulders photo of Hannah Cohen smiling at the camera. She has long dark brown hair and is wearing a bright coral-red cardigan and a gold necklace. The image is on a purple background with an Instagram Live graphic in the top left and The LILAC Centre logo in the bottom right.

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75 Drayton Park
London
N5 1BU

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