A woman modeling a vibrant yellow and black African wax print kaftan dress with wide bell sleeves and a matching belt, posed against a solid pale pink background.


Hi I’m Cleo founder/director of ‘The Joy of Collective’ a community for women who want to connect with other women so they can build their own village while learning to be a villager themselves. For women who may be starting again and wish to reconnect with themselves and others. The community is based in Ipswich but is accessible online for those further afield.

In a world where kindness and community feel like rebellion, The Joy of Collective is a response, an act of positive anarchy. Each of us are learning to be a conscious villager so each of us can build a village around ourselves while being an active part of other people’s villages.

 

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A woman with long burgundy braided hair wearing a pink and white patterned headband, a black and white houndstooth hair tie, and a yellow and white striped tank top, posing against a blue wall.

Who am I?

I am a qualified Life Coach and Hypnotherapist currently training to be a Counsellor and Psychotherapist. All skills I will be using to support women and children at the hub when I turn the dream into reality. For now I focus my energies on running the community and its gatherings. 

I am from Ipswich in Suffolk and love nature, dogs and cake.

I run a 6 month coaching programme for women who are disconnected from themselves and on auto-pilot and take them to rediscovery of self and joy filled living. The programme is my offering to women to supporting them in finding who they are now, what they want going forward and learning to incorporate joy into the everyday instead of waiting until they've worked enough, cleaned enough, stressed enough. Guess what? you don't have to earn joy!

Work with Cleo


What brings you joy?

You don't have to sacrifice yourself to experience Joy. 

You don't need to perform certain tasks to experience Joy. 

You don't have to earn your Joy. 

Joy is part of the human experience and can be found in the every day. 

The Joy of Collective invites you to slow down and reflect on what it is you really enjoy, what brings you Joy every day? Is it the birds singing in the morning? Your friend calling checking in on you via Videocall? Is it the dragonfly dancing over the lake? 

What brings you Joy?

The Joy of Collective was launched on International women's day March 2025. After moving back to Ipswich in 2021 I really wanted to create a community here that was truly there for each other and made the most of the area while supporting local businesses. Ipswich is small town in Suffolk but there are so many local nature spots, businesses, communities and more here and I truly believe it could be such a vibrant, joy filled, community focused placed to live. There is so much diversity here which is a great opportunity to learn about other cultures, traditions and eat sample foods from all over the world on your doorstep. There are many creative people in the town and so many are doing incredible things. 

I created The Joy of Collective because I would speak to many women who were feeling isolated, or who had moved to the town with no family, no friends, no support whatsoever. Being a solo parent myself, I know how difficult it can be to navigate the world in strained circumstances. I wanted to create a place where women could come as they are, rediscover themselves, build up confidence, connect with others and build real relationships with other women so they can feel seen, heard and understood. Ideally this community will be multi-generational as I believe we all can learn from each other’s experiences, perspectives, skills and knowledge. Sharing ideas on how to move forward in a world that pits us against each other. Community is the way forward but to have a community you need to be part of the community. Give when you can in the ways you are able to, this may be a lift to the hospital, a listening ear, a care package doorstep drops, helping to clear a garden or home organising there are so many ways to be in community and the price of that is inconvenience.  

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The Joy of Collective

The Joy of Collective has two meanings

The joy of being together collectively but it is also a reflection inviting YOU to explore and discover what brings YOU joy. What sparks joy within you?

The aim of ‘The Joy of Collective’ is to

•Discover every day joy

•Facilitate connection between members so you can create/extend your own village

•Skills building and resources sharing

•Self discovery, acceptance and development while supporting your community do the same

•Exploration and learning through shared experiences and advice

Currently The Joy of Collective is a company of one, I run the collective by myself with the aim of bringing in community leaders who specialise in different subjects who can give advice and deliver workshops on topics that effect women.

Life was never meant to be lived alone and I truly believe we are stronger, safer, healthier, more content together.

The big dream is to build a physical village for women to live where they can grow their own food, explore creative interests, and feel a real sense of community. Alongside the village will be a hub that serves the community and the wider public as a café/gallery/events space and youth club. The hub will partner and collaborate with local businesses to strengthen bond, relationships and the town as a whole.

Currently I run monthly meet-ups and gathering which you can check out here

Check out the community
The Joy of Collective