What is Finally Free CIC and what does it stand for?

---

Finally Free CIC is the legal sister organisation of Dope Soul Village.

Dope Soul Village began as a clothing brand, but it was never meant to stop there. From the very beginning, the vision was always about community -  bringing women together, creating connection, and building something that felt like a village in a world where many women are expected to cope alone. At the time, I didn’t yet know how that community would take shape, only that it mattered.

As life unfolded, Dope Soul Village grew. The brand found its voice, and the community online grew with it - now reaching over 60,000 people across social platforms. But even with that growth, I still wanted something deeper than numbers: a real, supportive, values-led community of women.

I explored the idea of turning Dope Soul Village into something similar to an Etsy or Amazon-style platform for women-led products, ideas, and community, but I quickly realised I needed guidance to do that well. As a neurodivergent woman with autism and ADHD, I navigate the world differently. That brings creativity, vision, and depth - but it also means learning certain lessons the hard way, especially without a built-in support system.

This year has been one of those learning years.

Through lived experience, I gained clarity - about people, about systems, and about how change actually happens. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that strong boundaries and clear leadership are essential when building something that is meant to last and protect others.

That clarity directly shaped how Finally Free CIC has been structured.

Rather than operating as a traditional charity, Finally Free was intentionally set up as a Community Interest Company. This choice allows the organisation to stay independent, transparent, and focused on real outcomes - not box-ticking or externally imposed agendas. 

Too often, funding models dictate how women are “allowed” to be helped, and that rarely reflects what women actually need. A CIC offers flexibility, accountability, and integrity without compromising the mission.

Because of the lessons learned in 2025 and 2026, and the patterns of self-serving agendas I’ve recognised in others, Finally Free CIC will not be structured to pursue external funding. While a third director is typically required for eligibility for many funding streams, I’ve made a deliberate decision not to appoint a third director, solely because of the patterns I’ve observed in others. This isn’t an oversight - it’s a conscious choice rooted in safeguarding the work, the vision, and the people it exists to serve, ensuring the organisation remains focused, values-led, and free from distraction or conflicting motives.

Instead, Finally Free CIC exists as a legal and ethical framework, funded through Dope Soul Village, fundraising events, and carefully aligned collaborations. This ensures the organisation remains values-led, community-rooted, and free from external control or performative involvement. It is not self-serving—there is no alternative motive, no clout chasing, just focused work that benefits women and the community.

At the same time, Dope Soul Village is evolving into a marketplace for women-led products and projects. The aim is to create a space where women can showcase their creativity, sell their products, and support one another in building sustainable businesses. It’s about connecting makers, creators, and visionaries under one values-driven platform—a true modern village of women supporting women.

At its core, Finally Free stands for autonomy, dignity, and long-term change. It exists to support women in ways that are practical, human, and grounded in real life—not optics.

Sometimes growth comes from listening to patterns, trusting your instincts, and choosing the path that feels steady rather than loud. This is that path.

Finally Free isn’t about rescue.
It’s about freedom, structure, and building something that lasts.