Nantwich woman’s arts education company scoops award

A Nantwich woman has won an award for her 5-star rated arts education company that creates fun projects for children.

Rachel Sinden, 37, director of Play Pizzazz and author of children’s picture book ‘Daisy’s Fuzzy Tummy’, faced a panel and pitched her way to success at Venture Pitch 2020.

Battling it out against eight other new businesses, Rachel won an ‘Excellence in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund Award’ and membership to the Chamber of Commerce.

“I was graduating from my master’s degree in Creativity in Education when I saw an email about the programme,” said Rachel.

“I had arranged for a sabbatical year from my job as a Performing Arts Teacher for a local secondary school and was planning to start my own mindful arts education and consultation company, so it came at the perfect moment.”

Play Pizzazz launched in May and has already gained more than 500 followers on social media, helping children overcome the ‘return to school anxiety’ by using ‘Daisy’s Fuzzy Tummy’.

The picture book allows children to articulate anxious feelings to those around them, helping them settle back into the school routine.

Rachel has supported more than 30 families and schools to help children navigate the pandemic through a mixture of arts-led educational activities and storytelling sessions.

“I have always had a passion for the performing arts from an early age.

“It was really when I performed alongside Aled Jones in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat for a summer season in Blackpool that the passion really ignited.

“It’s been an amazing few months and I’ve had some fantastic feedback from families that I’ve helped during lockdown.

“Winning this has just allowed me to move from strength to strength and I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome.”

Leon Stowell, from Ellis and Co Chartered Accountants, was on the judging panel.

He said: “Rachel was given the unenviable task of pitching first and she certainly did not disappoint, setting the bar high for the rest.”

Motivational speaker Louise Hope added: “Rachel shows great commitment to her profession and is highly qualified.

“She’s a strong entrepreneur with an excellent knowledge of her specialism.”

Rachel’s book Daisy’s Fuzzy Tummy is available as an ebook on amazon and in a hard copy from www.playpizzazz.com

Rachel is available for consultations and workshops via the contact us section of the website or by emailing [email protected]

You can also follow Rachel on social media for regular updates and tips on Facebook @playpizzazz or Instagram @pizzazzplay.

(Words by Hannah Youds)