Supporting our participants to pursue their dreams

When Sam, from Sheffield, became unwell during the pandemic and could no longer continue in his financial management position, he became demotivated and depressed.  

He explained: “I had a set routine and then I didn’t, so everything became quite depressing in my life. This went on for about three months and I had all these thoughts and ideas going on and I just knew I wanted to own my own restaurant.”  

After a trip to Zanzibar, Sam found the people, culture and environment so inspiring, that he started to believe he could bring his ideas to life and open up his own Afro-Caribbean restaurant. 

Sam continued: “Just being in Zanzibar gives you sense of possibility and the locals are so passionate about what they do. I wanted to bring that sense of unity into Sheffield and what better way of doing that through good food and good vibes.” 

Recognising that he would need some guidance to fulfil his dream, in July 2023, Sam welcomed the support and advice on offer through the Restart Scheme, he said: “I wanted everything to be perfect but there were hurdles I needed to overcome, there were things I was unsure of. I really appreciated the honesty and transparency of the sort of help on offer to me. It provided me with confidence that I could make this work.” 

Following a referral to RIFT Social Enterprise, a member of our Community Partnership Network, Sam started working with RIFT Business Start Up Advisor, Parrisse Rossiter. 

With Parrisse’s help, Sam developed his business plan, completed market research and designed his business logo. Once he had identified suitable premises within Cutlery Works food court, Parrisse supported him with the HMRC registration as well as marketing his new venture on social media.

Sam reflected: “RIFT really understood my needs and tailored the support accordingly. When circumstances changed or developed so did the support and guidance. They truly understood the services I needed which helped everything advance and move forward.” 

Parrisse added: “Sam knew exactly what he wanted and was motivated from the very beginning to make his dream a reality. Working in partnership with Maximus means we’re there to provide extra support into self-employment for many more individuals.” 

A year after joining the Restart Scheme, Sam launched Zawadi Café in Cutlery Works, offering Sheffield residents a taste of the vibrant flavours of Africa and the Caribbean.  

Sam is excited to see what the future holds: “This has been an amazing journey. No two days are the same, and I‘m growing and learning all the time.  

“If you have an idea, no matter how small, and you want help to progress your dream, the Restart Scheme is a good place to start. It helped me along my journey to get my business up and running.”