A NEW social enterprise tackling the stigma surrounding female incontinence has secured £5000 from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund.

Sweet F Aye was one of nine social enterprises to receive a share of £41,208 funding in the latest round of the Start It award, which is delivered by Firstport, a development agency for social enterprise start-ups.

Sweet F Aye was founded by a trio of comedians, Susan Morrison, Jojo Sutherland, and Elaine Millar, aiming to provide targeted assistance to those dealing with women’s incontinence through comedy shows and workshops, dispelling the stigma and silence surrounding the issue.

With profits generated through corporate work, including menopause workshops for managers and staff, Sweet F Aye aspire to provide low-cost/free interventions and physiotherapy sessions as well as training women to become local health ambassadors.

Thanks to funding and support from Firstport, Sweet F Aye are about to move into their own office and have started planning their first two years of business.

Co-founder Susan Morrison said: “Sweet F Aye addresses serious, unacknowledged women’s health issues, and uses all the skills I have developed as a comedy performer and project manager.

“Our approach is trail-blazing. In five years, we expect to be at the forefront of training new women’s health communicators, engaging hard-to-reach communities, and to have helped lower some negative indicators blighting women’s lives. We are three women who want to make life better for other women. And we aim to do that by bringing Scotland’s women laughter, education and dry gussets. World domination? We leave to those with lesser imaginations.”

Josiah Lockhart, Firstport chief executive, said: “It’s great to be able to support enterprises such as Sweet F Aye. By bringing women together through comedy, as well as running practical and educational workshops, they are remodelling health awareness among the female population and beyond.”

The other recipients of funding include The Guild, Braw Talent, Skye Marine Plastics, Wee Scottish Lassie, Green Futures Arran, Borders Wellness Retreat, What’ll We do Today and the Inyange Children and Community Project.