Stripy Lightbulb CIC, a social enterprise based in Portsmouth, UK, has recently been re-verified by Good Market as a People and Planet First organization. This recognition comes at a critical time as the world observes Social Enterprise Day 2025 and the growing crisis for individuals living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E./C.F.S.).
M.E./C.F.S. is a debilitating condition that affects a significant number of people in the UK. However, it remains without proper provision in the NHS and lacks awareness among healthcare professionals. Additionally, research funding for this condition is severely limited compared to other conditions with similar prevalence and impact. As a result, individuals living with M.E./C.F.S. often face stigma, neglect, and a lack of support. Stripy Lightbulb CIC has been working tirelessly since 2018 to break down barriers and bring about lasting change.
The mission of Stripy Lightbulb CIC is to address the crisis facing the M.E./C.F.S. community in three key ways: reducing stigma, improving support, and funding research. The organization achieves this through training programs that dismantle harmful misconceptions and promote understanding, equipping professionals and organizations with accurate knowledge to better support individuals with M.E./C.F.S., and donating 50% of any surplus to biomedical research.
According to Sally Callow, the Founder and Managing Director of Stripy Lightbulb CIC, “The M.E./C.F.S. community is facing a crisis of neglect, no NHS provision, minimal professional knowledge, and inequitable research funding. It’s a huge mountain to climb, but Stripy Lightbulb CIC has been slogging away since 2018 to dismantle stigma, improve support, and fund the research that is so desperately needed. Being re-verified as a People and Planet First social enterprise is not just recognition of our work, it’s a call to action: together, we can build an economy that puts compassion, justice, and sustainability at its core.”
Good Market’s People and Planet First verification is based on five core criteria, all of which Stripy Lightbulb CIC demonstrates alignment with. These include prioritizing purpose over profit, taking social and environmental responsibility, promoting transparency and accountability, practicing fair trade, and promoting sustainability through reinvestment in research and education.
Social Enterprise Day serves as a reminder that businesses can be a force for good. Stripy Lightbulb CIC is proud to be part of a growing movement of social enterprises worldwide that are reshaping the economy to prioritize people and planet. Together, these organizations are proving that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, lasting change is possible.
Stripy Lightbulb CIC is grateful for the support of its partners and communities in addressing the urgent health equity challenges faced by individuals living with M.E./C.F.S. By working together, we can build a more compassionate, just, and sustainable economy.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.