

For the past 5 years as a family, we have been really keen to ‘do our bit’ to save the planet and change/challenge the impact humans are having. In our home, we reviewed both our recycling and food shopping and made many changes including using plastic containers as re-fills for washing powder, washing up liquid, cleaning products and hair products.
For Christmas 2019 I gave presents of handmade soap and shampoo along with sisal bags and bamboo soap dishes to family and friends (whether they liked it or not!). My message was clear – stop using soap in a dispenser or bars wrapped in plastic, stop using shampoo bottles, plastic shower puffs and plastic soap dishes.
The feedback I got was so positive and wholeheartedly people encouraged me to go into production and sell my products.

Once I had researched the safety reports needed to sell cosmetics in the UK/EU, I trialled making natural deodorant. Being a Headteacher at the time, I realised that children got through a lot of glue, so I asked the children to collect glue sticks. After a thorough clean and sterilisation, I re-used them to put the deodorant in. This idea came to me after having bought deodorant in cardboard tubes that go soggy around the edges.
Then in March 2020, I decided that I was going to leave education, to pursue my dream of creating products to encourage people to not use single use plastic. I am also a life coach looking to support teachers to help them find their true potential by focusing on their own well-being.
I resigned from my job in early March 2020 after a 30 year career in education and in September 2020, I launched Heart and Soul by JP.
It has been a steep learning curve however, as a headteacher I have gathered many skills so learning how to be an entrepreneur was a just another ‘next step’ for me.
Useful links
If you are interested in learning more about my products, then please visit my website www.heartandsoulbyjp.co.uk/shop
If you are a teacher and are interested in my coaching support the please visit my website www.heartandsoulbyjp.co.uk/life-coaching