A Ribble Valley based entrepreneur has told how she is keen to support local charities as part of her core business strategy.

Mother of three, Sarwat Jaleel launched ‘Kushboo Soaps’, a natural hand-crafted soap and skincare brand in 2017 and was recently named ‘Entrepreneur Of The Year’ at the North West Inspiring Women Awards.

It was an extended hospital stay and a small bar of soap that was the catalyst for Sarwat to set up her business. Fed up with being away from the family, the soap brought in by her husband, Richard, gave her an instant boost. The little gift from home helped Sarwat to see she could not only help her own recovery but also help others by making the very best soap she could specifically for a local homeless charity.

Kushboo products are sold online & stocked in hundreds of shops in the UK and abroad and for every bar Sarwat sells she gives one to charity. The soaps are 100% Natural, vegan, SLS and paraben free products with plastic free packaging.

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When Covid hit and all her trade shows were cancelled she immediately donated the soaps she had ready for her shows to the frontline NHS staff at the local hospital who were unable to go home between shifts.

She said: “We believe that soap is dignity so for every bar of soap sold, we donate a bar to charities supporting vulnerable people. Those include the ‘Ribble Valley Foodbank’, ‘Nightsafe’ in Blackburn and ‘Emmeline's Pantry’ in Manchester.”

She says she was once approached by a former homeless young man who told her that a charity had given him a bar of Kushboo soap and it gave him confidence to go for a job interview. 

A first in the 30 years history of the awards - the Inspiring Women ceremony was held virtually.

Sarwat of Clitheroe said: “Winning this award is an honour and a valuable affirmation of all my hard work, dedication and brand values. I am proud to be recognised for promoting sustainability and donating to the vulnerable. I share this award with the Kushboo family - my husband, three daughters, friends and all my lovely loyal customers who have supported me from day one.”

Jacqueline Hughes-Lundy, Founder of the Inspiring Awards said: “The Entrepreneur category recognises those women who take that leap of faith and develop businesses which benefit the economy.

“Sarwat, with Kushboo Soaps, did that and more. She has developed an ethical business that not only benefits the economy but also benefits the wider community with her ‘one sold, one donated’ philosophy, which helped secure her the Award.”