Carl Ellis - Co-founder of Mindful Sprouts CIC
From failing every exam to founding a social enterprise transforming children’s wellbeing.
When Carl Ellis was a teenager, he failed every exam he sat, eventually leaving school with no GCSEs. What could have been a dead end became a turning point. Years later, Carl returned to education with a fresh sense of purpose, studying Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at Nottingham Trent University and achieving high results. He went on to complete a Masters of Science (MSc), followed by a PGCE in Primary, Early Childhood and Education and Teaching.
Today, Carl is the co-founder of Mindful Sprouts CIC, a social enterprise driven by a simple belief: every child deserves the tools to thrive. His journey, from academic struggles to building a purpose-led organisation, shows the power of perseverance, community, and creating solutions rooted in personal experience.
Planting the seed for Mindful Sprouts
Carl founded Mindful Sprouts CIC in 2024, after witnessing first-hand how wellbeing tools and inclusive creative activities can support children’s emotional development. The idea grew from his insight that not all children have equal access to high-quality educational resources.
Mindful Sprouts creates engaging, educational colouring books for children aged 3–11 - books designed to build calm, curiosity, and confidence. Their unique "Buy One = Donate Two" model means each purchase funds two donated books for children who might otherwise miss out.
Outside his work, Carl is passionate about rock climbing, community projects, and solving real-world social challenges.
Milestones that shaped the journey
1. First public trial
Mindful Sprouts’ multilingual, factual African Elephant colouring book was piloted with families at Nottingham City Library. For Carl, this was the moment the idea came alive. The trial validated both the calm-focus benefits of the resource and the growing demand for curriculum-aligned, accessible learning tools.
2. Social impact at scale
Mindful Sprouts began regular donations to UK schools with high free school meal rates, and to children living near the frontline in Ukraine. These early distributions proved not only the logistics model, but also the power of creative resources in difficult circumstances.
3. Local recognition & partnerships
Carl was awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year, 2024” by Discover Ashfield. The recognition helped accelerate partnerships with schools, libraries, and community groups across Nottinghamshire - expanding the reach and credibility of the organisation.
Support along the way
Carl’s venture was shaped significantly by support from NTU’s Enterprise Team and the Enterprising Ashfield Programme – from funding to get his idea off the ground to valuable guidance in helping him navigate starting a business. He describes the workshops, mentoring, and peer networks as both practical and uplifting. Carl says:
NTU's support helped my co-founder and I...
- refine our business model and goals
- develop clear messaging around our donation model
- stress-test pricing and operations
- connect with collaborators and early partners
The biggest impact was momentum. Every session gave us concrete actions and accountability. That consistency kept us moving.
Advice for aspiring founders
Carl’s guidance for students thinking about launching their own venture is grounded, practical, and incredibly human:
- Start small and test fast with real users.
- Log everything - quotes, numbers, photos - to build evidence as you grow.
- Keep a simple one-page plan you can update weekly.
- Protect your wellbeing - routines beat willpower.
- Ask for help early - from mentors, libraries/BIPC, and NTU Enterprise (it will save you months!).
- And above all - be community-led: if it doesn’t help a real person this week, simplify until it does.
Connect with Mindful Sprouts
Mindful Sprouts CIC is a community-rooted organisation. Connect with them on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, or visit mindfulsprouts.co.uk to get involved.