A SOCIAL enterprise has celebrated four years of helping those in need.

RainbowBiz, which was set up in January 2015, aims to promote equality and diversity and help people with additional needs overcome barriers in their every day lives.

Sue Oliver, founder, said she initially set up the Flintshire-based enterprise because she was in a same sex relationship.

She told the Leader: "I set it up initially because I was in a same sex relationship and felt there was discrimination in the community against LGBT people and I just really wanted to raise more awareness that we should all be treated the same and everyone has got a different background.

"Everyone has got their own battles in one way or another and it's important to give people empathy. From there it quickly grew into this massive rainbow coloured organisation which then attracted more people with daily challenges and physical barriers whether that be mental health issues or people suffering isolation.

"We support a lot of people at RainbowBiz with disabilities but I like to say they have different abilities."

The social enterprise became a community interest company last year and has a range of projects ongoing to reduce social isolation and bring people together who would not usually interact.

Some of the projects include Digging Deeside - offering basic gardening skills - Art and Craft workshops, Mind Body Spirit festivals which, based at Theatr Clwyd, has become the largest of its kind across the country, attracting thousands of visitors.

The group also has a Hippy Shop based in Mold in which proceeds go towards funding the projects and helping volunteers.

Sue added: "Four years ago we started with nothing, we ran on a shoe string and couldn't feed people. We ran off donations and from our spare room so to see where we've come in such a short space of time is just amazing.

"It's incredibly humbling to see what people can achieve when they work together. They are members of the local community, real people and when given support they can achieve things they never thought they could, like putting on massive events or overcoming barriers.

"It's real back to basics life skills that they develop and it makes me so proud."

Sue, who runs the social enterprise with her partner Sarah Way, said within the next five years she would like to help out more people and bring the community together.

She said: "It would be lovely to have our own purpose built premises that's fully accessible for everyone because at the moment our shop (based in Mold) has a temporary ramp which we use to welcome wheelchair users and families with buggys, however our craft and meeting rooms upstairs are not wheelchair accessible.

"We have wheelchair users wanting to come to our arts and craft sessions but can't and it breaks my heart.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support they have given us, from people in the local community making small donations or larger organisations who it may not mean much to, it means a lot to us."

More information about the social enterprise can be found online at www.rainbowbiz.org.uk