Case Study: Afrikana CIC

Client

Cynthia Waggah CEO and Founding Director

Programme

Cumbria Accelerator: Business Support Programme

Business Advisor

Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership (CSEP)

Helping Afrikana CIC transform vision into a structured organisation.

Building strong foundations for community impact

Cynthia Waggah leads Afrikana CIC, a community organisation with a shop supporting wider social impact. She had a clear vision and commitment to her community but faced challenges turning it into a sustainable, well-structured organisation. Guidance was needed on organisational structure, business planning, and balancing the community mission with practical business demands.

Managing pressure behind the scenes

As founder, Cynthia carried responsibility for both the organisation and the community. Decision-making could feel overwhelming, with moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, particularly when navigating strategic choices alone.

Turning uncertainty into clarity

Through one-to-one support with Phil Guest, Cynthia gained clarity and confidence. Guidance focused on governance, compliance, and structuring the organisation alongside its trading activities. Practical advice broke complex issues into manageable steps, enabling informed decisions and replacing uncertainty with direction.

Creating a sustainable structure for growth

With the right structures in place, Afrikana CIC became more manageable and sustainable. Cynthia could confidently run multiple projects, secure funding, and build strong partnerships across Cumbria to deliver programmes promoting inclusion, safety, and community cohesion.

Reassurance that made the difference

“The most valuable part of the support was having one-to-one guidance that helped me fully understand how to structure Afrikana CIC correctly, both legally and operationally. Having complex issues explained in a clear and practical way gave me the confidence to make informed strategic decisions and move forward with assurance.”

Moving forward with confidence and purpose

With her challenges addressed, Cynthia now feels empowered, focused and confident in her role as a leader. Uncertainty has been replaced with clarity, allowing her to enjoy the work while knowing the organisation is built on strong foundations.

Most importantly, Afrikana CIC is now able to translate its vision into real, measurable impact for the community. With the right structures in place, Cynthia feels optimistic about the future and confident that the organisation’s work is sustainable, meaningful and positioned for continued growth.

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