A former headteacher is using three decades of experience in education and community leadership to help people feel more connected, confident and supported.

Nadine Lucas founded WAVES NE CIC in August 2025 after a career spanning 32 years in school leadership and community regeneration.

The Sunderland-based social enterprise provides accessible, community-focused wellbeing support, using creative activities, peer support and structured conversations to help people build confidence, reduce isolation and reconnect with themselves and others.

WAVES works with people who feel isolated, unheard or disconnected from their communities, including those experiencing loneliness, low confidence, neurodivergence, bereavement, trauma and chronic health conditions.

placeholder image — Nadine Lucas, founder of WAVES NE CIC.

Nadine’s journey into social entrepreneurship followed her own experience of professional burnout and a major life change, which saw her relocate from Essex to Sunderland.

She said: “I had spent 32 years in school leadership and suddenly had to completely redefine myself and reinvent myself, as well as moving 300 miles and starting again. But the pilot showed me that this really matters and it really works.

"People might think it's just about coming together and doing a bit of art, but actually it's about the structured conversations, creating a safe environment and building relationships that really matter.

“For me, creativity is a really useful tool. It’s not about teaching art skills or necessarily producing a beautiful piece of work. It's about community connection, bringing people together and helping people find their voice.”

WAVES NE CIC provides accessible, community-focused wellbeing support, using creative activities, peer support and structured conversations to help people build confidence, reduce isolation and reconnect with themselves and others.

Nadine was introduced to the North East BIC through recommendations and initially received support to develop a small enterprise around her glass artwork.

Nadine said: “The BIC has been hugely important because they helped me with the self-belief as well as the practical side.

"They helped me with the market research to understand that there really was a need, and having somebody as a sounding board for ideas and concepts, but also to give me structure and deadlines, has been really valuable.”

Anneline Dowell, business adviser at the BIC, said: “Nadine is a fantastic example of how experience, passion and a strong social purpose can be turned into a sustainable social enterprise.

“WAVES is addressing an important need within our communities by creating accessible opportunities for people to connect, express themselves and build confidence, while also recognising the pressure faced by professionals working in demanding environments.”