If someone had told me 10 years ago that, at the age of 50, I would be the founder of a tech startup I would have told them they were crazy! Yet now I can't think of doing anything else.

How did I get here? Five years ago I had an amazing job as a trainer, writing and delivering courses. I was helping people who had been long-term unemployed, due to illness or disability, to regain their confidence and self esteem so that they could return to work. I met some incredible men and women for whom life had been thrown into crisis through no fault of their own. I heard story after story of people whose lives had 'unravelled' after being unable to find or access the help they needed and that was available to them locally through charities, non-profits and community projects. Those stories broke my heart to the extent that I gave up my job and sold my home to work on finding a solution.

After some research I discovered that this was not an isolated problem but one that was rife across the country as a whole and even in other areas of the world. In the UK there are just under 200,000 registered charities and yet there is nowhere that brings them together in one place so that they can be searched for by location. This seems ridiculous, especially when technology is so advanced and able to connect people across the world in a fraction of a second. I mean if we can type in our postcode to find a hotel, restaurant or petrol station in any area we want and then make an informed choice based on the results - why can't we do that with the help and support that is out there for people in need?

So a couple of years ago I set up If Everyone Cares (IEC), a registered non-profit that is working on "connecting communities one click at a time". We are still a fledgling company with a long way to go and I'm still not earning a wage, but money has never been a real motivator for me, unless it's helping someone. (That being said, I do need to start earning sooner rather than later as my savings are nearly exhausted!)

I have spoken to thousands of people from all walks of life, age, gender, race, employed, un-employed, business owners, homeless people… the list is endless. I really listened to how they felt about the disconnect they felt existed within communities and how even though technology connects us it also seems to isolate us at the same time.

Our initial projects will focus on the key issues that were raised during our research - all based around connecting communities and empowering people - whether it is for someone experiencing crisis, someone who has time to spare and wishes to volunteer, a project that provides help (or the person who sees a gap of need and wishes to start one) or the business owner who wishes to become more involved with their community and fulfil their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

1) Ododow™ - The Interactive Community Map will pin-point charities, non-profits and community projects (Projects*) across the UK so that they can be searched for by location; it will connect communities and provide true cross community benefits by helping those who need help to find it, helping those who want to help to find where they can, encourage projects to connect, share & collaborate and last, but not least, enable businesses to easily find and support local projects.

2) The Community Pledge™ will provide a low cost membership platform to forge strong links between local businesses and their surrounding communities. Membership fees will enable IEC and its services to become self-sustaining and, in time, to set up a charitable trust to utilise excess funds for community focused projects across the UK.

By the creation of the first two projects - IEC will help to connect all elements within communities. Therefore helping to create thriving, healthy and connected communities where everyone matters. Currency and wealth are not just monetary but about human connection, morale and decency.

The journey has not all been smooth sailing, there have been some deep lows and amazing highs.

The highs have been incredible and include when the idea for the Interactive Community Map was voted third, by the public, in the global Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite challenge to Screw Business As Usual. Also last year IEC was selected as a Start Up to Watch at Europe's largest technology event, where feedback was affirming that we are on the right track.

Some of the lows have, at times, been a bit soul crushing. It seems that when you are an older woman in business there are some people who do not take you seriously and at times there have been those, of my own gender, who have appeared to take pleasure at dismissing me as a dreamer. Perhaps I am. Maybe I am crazy to think that a woman of my age can be so bold as to want to achieve something so big, but if you look back through history, all of the great movements have been borne out of a single voice that gained traction - because others had the courage to believe as well. I am not saying that mine is a great voice, all I am doing is repeating what so many others have said to me.

The greatest tip that I can give to anyone is to believe in your dreams. Don't be put off by those who encourage you to 'remain a sheep that follows the crowd'. One day, like me, 'a block of cheese' may change your life!*

*If you ask me, I will tell you about 'my block of cheese'

For more information about Jaki's organisation, visit www.IfEveryoneCares.org and www.JakiBent.com.