Philly & Friends

🎉 Happy International Day of Play! 🎉 Today, we celebrate the incredible power of PLAY! At Philly & Friends, we believe that play is more than just fun; it's a child's right, a tool for learning, a path to discovery, and a way to build friendships. This video is a glimpse into some of our Philly & Friends kids and the joy and wonder that playing with our products brings to their lives. Whether it's unboxing a new toy, exploring their imagination through role play, or learning new skills, play is a cornerstone of childhood. 🧸🎭 Let's make every day a #PlayfulPhilly day! Share your child's playful moments with us using the hashtag and let's spread the joy of play together! ✨ Right To Play The LEGO Foundation United Nations The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood the LEGO Group

Wow! I'm still buzzing. Last Wednesday, we had our very first Philly & Friends in-person storytelling and creative workshop event in partnership with Lone Design Club. Not only was it SOLD OUT, we had a great turnout and were bursting at the seams. Typically, free events like this have a 50% drop-off rate, but not this time, the venue was packed. I had a wonderful time with the children, and the highlight for me was sharing the stage with my daughter, the real-life Philly and my inspiration. She asked to wear her 'Philly' dress and have her hair in an afro.🥹 She was so proud and even read a page of HER book. Seeing her so happy made me so emotional. My son wasn't left out; he read a page, too, and I'm so glad they got to see me do what I do for the first time. I can't get over the look on their faces. 🥹   It was amazing to see the children reciting my book "Who Do I See in the Mirror?" Many of them already knew the story so well. I'm still processing the impact that this little idea I had a few years ago has had on so many children around the world. The feedback from the event has been great. Someone commented, "That was an amazing event. It was so great to see children just being children. There were no screens, no technology, just storytelling, creativity, and fun." The children got to colour in cookies featuring images of Philly in different careers. These were provided by Natalie Sanders' Pickle & Bakes. We were so blessed to work with some fantastic brands, many of whom I met on BUY WOMEN BUILT and Founders' Social (thanks, Tamta Gamezardashvili). Our goody bags were filled with products from Emma-Jane Adam's Smalls Merino, Lillie Kaye-Molloy's Pachee, Shreya B.'s kutti lulu, Laurie Fermor's Freddie's Farm, Abby Nearchou's Snuggle Bumpkin, Lara Talabi's Curious Berries, Tracey Samuel's The bonniemob and of course, Philly & Friends. Hosting occasional creative Philly & Friends events for kids has been a plan for a few years, and we are thrilled that the first one was such a huge success. Word got around, and I kept asking people how they heard about the event. It was mainly our emails (thanks Klaviyo), Instagram, and various WhatsApp groups—the power of communities! I received messages from people who were sad it was sold out. So I promised an encore 😅 . So, I guess it's safe to say Playtime with Philly & Friends is born?! Look out for more creative events for our little ones. And if you'd love to partner with us to organise a creative storytelling session for your organisation, brand, school or kids, do get in touch. 😊 Reflecting on my career, I can say that it has been quite an interesting journey. It's been anything but a straight line or ladder. The shift from corporate to creative was so unexpected, but I absolutely love it here. ❤️

We are pleased to be joining the Parenthood Ventures ecosystem. “Parenthood Ventures understands the changing landscape of parenting, and their vision perfectly aligns with ours. Together, we can build truly transformative solutions for the next generation of families," said Vese Aghoghovbia, Founder at Philly & Friends. Read more... https://lnkd.in/d-W87WVp

Our founder, Vese Aghoghovbia, was interviewed by Sky's Chief People Officer, Claudia Osei-Nsafoah, to discuss the impact of the F100 Growth Programme on Philly & Friends' growth. Read more below.

On Sunday, my husband and I took the kids to the Women's FA Cup semi-final. Tottenham was playing Leceister City, and our seats were right behind the goalpost. We were lucky enough to see the two Tottenham Hotspur Football Club goals go right in. What an incredible experience! We were rooting for Tottenham, and they won. The atmosphere was truly amazing. My daughter looked around the stadium and asked why there were so many empty seats—the stadium was half empty. She had been to a game before, and every seat was occupied. She watches football with her dad, and the stadium is usually packed. So, what made this different? How was I going to explain to her that, unfortunately, women's sports still aren't as highly rated as men's? I didn't have an answer, but it got me thinking about the motivation behind our Philly & Friends Wooden Occupations Puzzles, particularly the Footballer Puzzle. We want girls to believe they can be anything they want to be, including footballers. But it's not just for the girls; we also want boys to grow up believing that girls are equally capable of playing football (or any other career!) and are just as worth watching as boys. I hope that in our own little way, at Philly & Friends, we are changing the world for our little ones, one puzzle piece at a time. After all, it's a known fact that children learn best through play. Let's be the change we want to see. Challenge the status quo, dismantle stereotypes, and change the way you see the world—if not for ourselves but for those who come after us. #BetheChange Women in Sport The Football Association Women Football Club Women in Football #Learningthroughplay #EarlyYears #Playresources #diversityintheplayroom ----- Philly & Friends is an award-winning play and learning brand on a mission to add a drop of colour to the playroom. We are where play, learning, and diversity unite. We create toys and play resources for social impact—toys that allow children to dream, encourage learning through play and offer positive representation.

Philly & Friends is hosting a *free* virtual storytelling event for children on Friday, 8th March, at 11 am to celebrate World Book Day. Join us for a reading of the award-winning children's book "Who Do I See in the Mirror?" by our award-winning founder, Vese Aghoghovbia. Are you a nursery, childminder or school? You are invited to join us, too. Date: Friday, 8th March Time: 11 am Price: Free Who Do I See in the Mirror? is a simple yet powerful book about a sweet little girl, Philly, who goes through a journey of discovering what makes her truly special. It reminds children to love who they are and that they are much more than their physical appearance. Please come along and/or invite someone or two. We can't wait to host you. Link to register: https://bit.ly/3uR29qf

"The Prime Minister Invites...." An email I never expected to receive! Five years ago, four days before I had my son in 2019, I launched my debut children's book, Who Do I See in the Mirror? and Philly & Friends. I remember sitting in the labour ward, sending emails and thinking, what have I done? The timing couldn't have been any worse. Exactly FIVE years later, on my son's 5th birthday (1st February), I was invited by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street for an exclusive event for small business leaders to discuss entrepreneurial Britain: how to start and scale a successful business in the UK, leveraging talent, technology and the support on offer. Wow! When I started, I never imagined where this journey would take me; Downing Street was certainly far from my mind. My biggest dream then was for my book to be listed in Waterstones! Now, we make more than books, we have learning toys and resources. My day at No.10 started with a roundtable discussion chaired by The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Gareth Davies MP and the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Business and Investment, Franck R. M. Petitgas, to discuss access to finance for small and growing businesses. We proceeded to a drinks reception, and I had an incredible time among amazing entrepreneurs, from start-up founders to multibillion-pound CEOs. There were so many diverse business owners, from Will Rigg, the founder of Mutt Motorcycles, to Keisha of Teddo Play to Fiona of Boss Your PR. Then, we moved on to a panel session moderated by Rishi Sunak with Tessa Clarke, Jordan Schwarzenegger, and Thomas Beahon. I was so blessed to be sitting next to Nicholas Bewes of Howard Ventures; he had so much wisdom to share, particularly on the importance of Family Businesses to the UK economy. I was one of 70 high-growth SME leaders who were a part of the relaunch of the Department for Business and Trade's "Help to Grow" campaign, and I was pleased to see the wonderful BUY WOMEN BUILT community, which I'm a part of, well-represented. Thank you, Enterprise Nation Daniel Woolf, for the amazing work you do for Small Businesses. Thank you, 10 Downing Street, for hosting us. I had a wonderful time. #smallbusinesses #smallbusinessfinance #policydevelopment

We are thrilled to welcome a new addition to our Philly & Friends family! We have officially welcomed Pippa Pop-ins into Philly's EduFriends Programme, our Nursery & Schools Programme, enhancing our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in early childhood education. Pippa Pop-ins is renowned for its playful and enriching learning environments that celebrate individuality and embrace differences. Their curriculum reflects various cultures and perspectives, ensuring every child feels seen, valued, and empowered. At Philly & Friends, we believe every child deserves to blossom in a nurturing environment that reflects the vibrant diversity of our world. Pippa Pop-ins' approach aligns perfectly with our own values, and we're confident that our play and learning toys, combined with their resources, will make a truly positive impact. Here's how our collaboration will benefit little ones: Enriched Curriculum: Pippa Pop-ins will integrate our engaging diversity and inclusion play and learning resources into their existing curriculum, offering children even more opportunities to explore and celebrate differences. Inclusive Play: We provided them with our diverse range of toys and learning materials, empowering children to engage in imaginative play that reflects the world around them. Professional Development: As and when needed, our team will be available to offer training and support to Pippa Pop-ins staff, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to champion diversity and inclusion in their daily interactions with children. We're incredibly excited for the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of young children. Together, we'll create a future where every child feels cherished and empowered to embrace their unique identity. Join us in welcoming Pippa Pop-ins to the Philly & Friends family! Let's celebrate diversity and build a brighter future for our little ones! ✨ -------- Interested in our EduFriends Programme? Send an email to collaborations@phillyandfriends.com, and we'll be in touch. #Diversityandinclusion #earlychildhoodeducation #nursery #schools #PhillyandFriends #EduFriends #PhillysEduFriends #PippaPopins #collaboration #inclusionmatters

Thrilled to share the wonderful news— Philly & Friends has teamed up with the incredible folks at Don't Buy Her Flowers to bring a drop of colour to their Kids Gift Box! Now, our book, "Who Do I See in the Mirror?" is available as an option, making every gift box a treasure trove of wonder and imagination. Partnering with Don't Buy Her Flowers amplifies our mission to spread positivity and inspiration to young hearts through the gift of representation. Why our book? Because we believe in the power of stories to shape young minds, instil confidence, and celebrate the beauty of differences. Who Do I See in the Mirror? is more than just a book; it's a celebration of diversity, self-discovery, and the magic of embracing one's uniqueness. Explore the collection and make your gift-giving moments this Christmas truly special! 🌸🎁 #GiftOfImagination #KidsBooks #CollaborationMagic #PersonalBranding #GiftIdeas #DontBuyHerFlowers #PhillyAndFriends

Absolutely thrilled to receive such a heartwarming review from Sankofa Montessori. "These puzzles are not only beautiful but very well constructed. Trust me, you are going to want to make the investment! They are thoughtful and developmentally appropriate for a young child to see themselves in the professions and in the African queens puzzle." Thank you for sharing your experience with our puzzles. We take pride in creating not just beautiful but carefully crafted puzzles that cater to the developmental needs of young minds. Your kind words reinforce our commitment to providing meaningful experiences for children. We believe in the power of play to inspire and empower, and your endorsement is a testament to the success of that vision. To all our puzzle and early years enthusiasts, your investment goes beyond a simple purchase—it's an investment in a child's growth, imagination, and a journey of self-discovery. https://lnkd.in/eyeXHWr7 #earlyyears #ChildhoodDevelopment #earlychildhoodeducation #earlyyearseducation #montessorieducation