Sunderland mum receives £40k North East Innovation Fund investment for educational service

Subscription box service, Geo Journey has received £40k investment from the North East Innovation Fund supported by the European Regional Development Fund, and managed by Northstar Ventures.

Former solicitor, Christina Armstrong set up Geo Journey initially for her own children as a way to teach them about geography and other countries - until other parents begun asking if she could make them for their children.

Three years on and Geo Journey, based in Sunderland, is now said to be a popular subscription box for four to 10-year-olds, who receive an initial adventure kit that includes a journal, passport, map and stickers, and then get monthly information and goodies about the world’s most interesting places.

Christina said: “We’re delighted with this investment from Northstar, it will really help us move to the next level. We’ve grown rapidly, I moved from running the business at home to our own premises where my sister Fiona has also joined the team as a director.

“Not only are we experiencing an increasingly big demand but we also have plans to introduce new ideas, and in particular work with more schools, to really make learning about other places and the world fun and exciting for children.”

This year, a new ‘Space Journey’ has been launched which helps children learn about the solar system.

The investment will help the company grow and develop new products and a special limited-edition box they are producing in time for Christmas.