Wrexham students crowned Creative StartUp of the Year

Two students are celebrating after being recognised for their work in creating a new social enterprise company to help alleviate anxiety people may face when visiting a new place

Karen Williams and Roxanne France-Barton, co-founders of Familiarisation Videos, were announced as the winners of the Creative StartUp of the Year category at the Wales StartUp Awards, which took place last month in Cardiff.

Karen and Roxanne, both from Wrexham, are currently students on the university’s Mental Health and Wellbeing degree at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Set up back in 2021, Familiarisation Videos create detailed tour videos of venues and public spaces to help reduce anxiety and minimise barriers people may face when going somewhere new or unfamiliar.

Their videos include all features throughout a venue from car park or drop off point right through to toilets, fire exits, sensory input, and accessibility features.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Karen, founder of Familiarisation Videos, said: “We are absolutely delighted, over-the-moon, overwhelmed – you name it – to have been named winners of a national award. We truly are delighted.

“Since launching Familiarisation Videos as a social enterprise, we have worked extremely hard to improve accessibility through our detailed tour videos, with the goal of reducing people’s anxiety levels when attending somewhere they haven’t been before. To have this work recognised with a national award means so much to us and the team.”

Roxanne, Familiarisation Videos co-founder, said: “This level of recognition is absolutely fantastic and for us means that we will hopefully be able to further enhance the level of support we can offer people relating to accessibility.

“Our ambition for the months ahead is to develop some awareness courses around accessibility.

“What we’ve noticed is that unless it impacts someone – be that themselves personally or one of their loved ones – people’s general awareness isn’t there. So for us, being able to provide that education is key.”

Both Karen and Roxanne have thanked their university lecturers for their continued encouragement and support.

Roxanne said: “We’re both hugely grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement from the university, particularly our lecturers. Their reaction to us winning the award has been so lovely, we wouldn’t be where we are now without them.”

Justine Mason, WGU Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Wellbeing, added: “Congratulations to Karen and Roxanne for being named Creative StartUp of the Year – what an incredible achievement, while balancing their studies with us.

“The work they’re doing through Familiarisation Videos is amazing and making a difference to the lives of so many people in the community. I’m an extremely proud lecturer.”