About us
Who we are
A London charity supporting unemployed mothers who often carry the responsibilities of parenting alone and want to build a more secure and independent future.
Our mission and vision
Vision: A London where no mother's circumstances define her future.
Mission: To relieve financial hardship and promote inclusion for mothers across London through advice, training and practical support.
Why we exist
We believe mothers are not lacking in ability or potential. It is circumstance, limited opportunities and accumulated barriers that hold them back. Lost confidence, isolation, limited networks, interrupted work histories and financial pressure can make it harder to move forward.
Mothers’ Springboard was founded by Shabina Ahmed out of her own experience of lone parenthood and unemployment. Shabina left home at sixteen and became a mother at seventeen. She rebuilt her life with no resources or support network. In 2017 she was pregnant with her third child and hit by the two-child benefit limit. That year she founded the charity on International Women’s Day and she has led it for nine years.
Mothers are at the heart of everything we do. They help shape our programmes, our approach and the support we provide.
Our free 10-week programme combines expert-led workshops with 1:1 coaching and personalised action planning, created by mothers for mothers. We are an early intervention programme. We step in early, before challenges grow. Our holistic approach helps mothers reconnect with who they are, renew their sense of purpose and develop skills, resilience and a stronger self-belief. That empowers them to move forward and build greater stability for themselves and their families.
Our programme is designed to create lasting change now and for the journey beyond. Around 30 volunteers deliver it and many of them are mothers themselves. Together they have given more than 550 hours to our work.
Our people
Our founder and trustees bring expertise, lived experience and strong governance.
Shabina Ahmed
Founder and CEO
Shabina founded Mothers’ Springboard and has spent the last nine years helping mothers build confidence, develop new skills and create fulfilling futures for their families. Her own journey drives her passion for helping mothers find their purpose and move from surviving to truly thriving.
Kathryn Strachan
Trustee
Kathryn is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, former CEO and founder of CopyHouse, who has spent over a decade scaling organisations and building inclusive teams while raising her daughter. She has mentored women through programmes including Money20/20 RiseUp, CHIEF and BIMA, and brings strategy, governance and fundraising experience to the board.LinkedIn
Diana Flemming
Trustee
Diana is a Chartered HR professional, transformation leader and coach with more than 20 years’ experience helping people and organisations navigate change and build cultures where people thrive. As a Trustee and advisory board member, she helps women recognise their strengths, build confidence and make purposeful choices about their careers and lives.LinkedIn
Katie Gunstone
Trustee
Katie is a Digital Product and Leadership Lead with over a decade of experience driving innovation and business transformation. A certified coach, she founded Mums Achieving More to support mothers returning to work. Based in Surrey and a mum of two young boys, she loves sunny family adventures, coffee and running.
Our advisory board
Our advisory board brings together experienced coaches, psychologists and educators who help design and shape the programme. Many of them joined us through the Optimus coaching academy. Their insight feeds directly into what we present to our trustees.
Sophie Abell
Holistic Wellbeing Coach and Mentor
Sophie is an accredited holistic wellbeing coach and mentor, an EMCC Senior Practitioner, with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and an ICF-accredited Diploma in Transformative Coaching. With a background in mental health and brain injury rehabilitation, she combines psychological insight with a compassionate, holistic approach. Inspired by becoming a mother, Sophie empowers women to strengthen their wellbeing, reconnect with themselves, develop greater self-awareness, and build confidence and self-belief to create positive change.Website
Alexa Kenmuir
Educator and Career Development Coach
Alexa is a Senior Lecturer, Senior Teaching Fellow and Course Leader for the MA Publishing programme at the University of Lancashire, with over 10 years’ experience in higher education. Her work in curriculum design, employability and student development informs her practice as a certified coach specialising in women’s career development, underpinned by a commitment to social mobility and equitable workplaces.LinkedIn
Jade Bennett
Business Psychologist and Coach
Jade is a Business Psychologist, EMCC Accredited Practitioner and ICF-certified coach with experience across the private and public sectors, including Sky and PA Consulting. She holds an MSc in Occupational Psychology, specialises in leadership, mindset and career coaching, and supports women and working parents to progress their careers alongside family life.LinkedIn
Our impact
Confidence that turns into action
Figures are from participants who completed our final evaluation of the September to November 2025 programme.
100%
reported increased confidence
Average confidence rose from 4.2 to 7.5 out of 10.
92%
said the programme was inclusive
They found it inclusive and culturally sensitive and said our tools were useful.
85%
attended all or most sessions
Strong commitment from mothers juggling family life.
+69
Net Promoter Score
Participants rated how likely they were to recommend us at 9.2 out of 10. None were detractors.
Real steps towards independence Pathways mothers chose by the end of the programme (they could choose more than one).
62%
chose employment
54%
chose self-employment
38%
chose education/training
Every mother (100%) chose at least one pathway. Most chose more than one, so the figures add up to more than 100%. The most common mix was employment and self-employment together (38%).
Who we reach
- Around seven in ten mothers who registered were receiving Universal Credit or another means-tested benefit.
- Around two thirds came from Black, African or Caribbean backgrounds.
- Almost six in ten were lone parents.
- Half rated their connection to opportunities and networks at 3 out of 10 or lower when they started.
How we measure our impact
Mothers complete a short survey when they register, at the midpoint and at the end of the programme. They tell us about their confidence, connection, clarity and practical progress. Next we will follow up at six months to track employment, training and income.
In mothers’ own words
See how participants turned insight into action.
“It is absolutely superb. A much needed resource and support for mothers. The modules are all relevant to the challenges mothers face.”
“I enjoyed the programme, the speakers, the supporting documents, the coaching, the group, the purpose. It’s an excellent course helping mums get back into work, into education or into business.”
“Excellent programme. Helped me to get unstuck and move on with my life. I was inspired to take action immediately.”
“The programme was interesting, with exceptionally well prepared content presented in an easy to understand manner. Through the course, I’ve gained new skills and knowledge on how to start my own business.”
“After the first class, I left feeling so motivated and determined to follow my passion, and have now started my own business in beauty therapy.”
“This programme has made me more confident, helping me let go of the old and make space for the new. I don’t want this to end.”
What is next
We will keep building confidence, skills and clear plans. We will grow our referral partnerships so more mothers can find us and improve how we measure long-term results. We are also planning Springboard Grants to help mothers with the practical costs of taking their first step. We will share more once they are ready.
How donations are used
Donations fund our free workshops, 1:1 coaching and peer support for mothers in London.
Help a mother take her next step
Your gift funds free workshops, 1:1 coaching and peer support for mothers across London.