After graduating from xx in xx, Fritha’s early career was spent as a charity fundraiser, with Save the Children in the UK followed by Adventure Ashram, a small charity that supports grassroots health, education and anti-trafficking Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in India.
In 2004, Fritha founded Secret Projects, an organisation that drives female led micro-enterprises in India to empower women through the making and selling of clothing and homeware. Secrets is now a Community Benefit Society, offering the public a chance to support and buy Community Shares in the organisation and own shares in the business (see details of a recent fundraising program here)
Fritha’s school life at Manor House followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. Ailsa Vincent served as a Governor for many years and Joan Findlay was Headmistress of Manor House from 1985 to 1989.
Fritha Mason (nee Vincent) is the granddaughter of Manor House School Headmistress, Joan Findlay. She attended Manor House School from the age of eight to sixteen, leaving in 1995.
Fritha’s innate passion for social change not only shaped her education but also her career. At eighteen, she took up a place at Newcastle University to study Social Change and went on to forge a successful career as a charity fundraiser. Fritha spent two years as a fundraiser with local charity, Rainbow Children’s Charity before moving on to take up a role within the fundraising team at Save the Children.
Following this, she spent many years working as the Project Manager, Fundraiser and latterly as CEO for Adventure Ashram, a small charity that supports grassroots health, education and anti-trafficking Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in India.
It was during her time with Adventure Ashram that Fritha began her transformation into becoming the social entrepreneur that she is today, when she founded Secret Projects in 2014.
Secret Projects is an organisation that drives female led micro- enterprises in India to empower women through the making and selling of clothing and homeware.
Fritha is particularly proud that two famous and staple products of Secret Projects have links back to Manor House School.
The Secret Pillow, a charming pillow that unfolds into a blanket, was first made by Manor House mother, Stephanie Rosdol. When Fritha saw these pillows, she fell in love with their clever design and vowed that houses all over the world would feature them.
The Secret Sari Dress, a clever wrap-around dress, (made from a sari and folds neatly into a small and neat pocket) was designed by one of Fritha’s best friends from Manor House, Amy Cowell. Amy is a successful leather sampler and accessories producer of We Wear Teal and Turquoise Studios.
Secret Projects has recently undergone an exciting change and has transformed into a Community Benefit Society, which means that people can now buy Community Shares in the organisation and, with others, own the business. Fritha would like to invite Manor House girls to become investors and wants to say a huge thank you to all those who have already invested. INVEST HERE
Reflecting on her Manor House days, Fritha remembers: “I was loved me for who I was. I was never asked to be anyone different. Manor House gave me a rock solid self-belief and a group of best friends”.
