Blessings in Action CIC is a finalist in two Female Business Awards categories, and seeks Weston adults for free Street View Arts workshops and a museum show.

Blessings in Action CIC, a community interest company in Weston-super-Mare, is a finalist in two categories of the Female Business Awards 2026. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 15 October.

The shortlisting puts it up for Services to Local Communities and for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Champion. The organisation describes its work as supporting individuals, families and small businesses through wellbeing services, pastoral care and practical community projects.

It is also looking for people in the town to join a new arts project, Street View Arts, which puts people with lived experience of homelessness in workshops alongside the wider community. The workshops are free and need no artistic experience. Details on how to sign up are below.

“Not one, but two categories”

Marta Gonczy-Grobarcik, the CIC’s founding director, said in a statement sent to us on its behalf:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Blessings in Action has been shortlisted in not one, but two categories at this year’s Female Business Awards.

“Our work is all about supporting people in our local community and making a genuine difference to their lives, so to have that recognised means a huge amount to us. Also being recognised for our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion is equally special, as creating a welcoming and inclusive community is at the heart of everything we do.

“We’re incredibly proud to be finalists and are looking forward to celebrating with the other inspiring organisations and businesses at the awards ceremony.”

This is the fifth year of the Female Business Awards, which recognise small businesses run by women and, in particular, people working on their own.

Street View Arts: what it is and who can take part

The project is funded by Arts Council England. Blessings in Action says it is the first of its kind to bring people who have been homeless together with the wider community, making art about the different ways people see Weston-super-Mare.

Anyone can take part, whether they have experienced homelessness or not. Participants will work with professional artists to make:

  • photography
  • zines
  • a community booklet
  • a public mural

The work will then go on show in an exhibition at Weston Museum next summer.

The workshops are open to adults in Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area. They cost nothing, and no previous artistic experience is needed.

Street View Arts: how to take part Key facts about the Street View Arts project from Blessings in Action CIC. Free workshops for adults in Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area, with no artistic experience needed. Open to people with and without lived experience of homelessness. Participants make photography, zines, a community booklet and a public mural with professional artists. The work is exhibited at Weston Museum next summer. Register through the contact form at blessingsinaction.org or by private message on Instagram or Facebook. Funded by Arts Council England. Street View Arts: how to take part WHO Adults in Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area With or without lived experience of homelessness COST Free, and no artistic experience needed WHAT Photography, zines, a community booklet, a public mural Made in workshops with professional artists SHOW Exhibition at Weston Museum next summer SIGN UP Contact form at blessingsinaction.org, or Instagram/Facebook DM Source: Blessings in Action CIC. Funded by Arts Council England. Graphic by The North Somerset Post
How to join the Street View Arts workshops. Graphic by The North Somerset Post

What it means for you

If you live in or near Weston and would like to join the workshops, register your interest through the contact form on the Blessings in Action website, or send the organisation a private message on Instagram or Facebook. You do not need to have been homeless to take part, and you do not need to have made art before.

The Female Business Awards winners are due to be announced on 15 October.

For more to do across the district, see our things to do in North Somerset page.