Maximum value: £18,000
Funding and specialist support are available for UK social entrepreneurs to help them develop as social leaders, and to start up or grow their idea for a social venture. The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.
The following levels of funding and support are available:
- Start Up – for social entrepreneurs with an idea or who are in the early stages of development.
- Funding of between £500 and £8,000 to support essential start-up costs (except wages).
- Support from an UnLtd Social Entrepreneur Support Manager.
- Access to UnLtd Connect, a network of skilled experts for advice and mentors.
- Scaling Up – for social entrepreneurs to grow their existing venture to help it make a bigger difference.
- Funding of up to £18,000 to support wages and living costs.
- 12 months’ mentoring and tailored support from an UnLtd Social Entrepreneur Support Manager, providing advice on operations and growth strategies.
- Expert advice including access to workshops and masterclasses.
- Connections to investors, corporate partners and other successful entrepreneurs, helping the social entrepreneur to develop their networks.
Who Can Apply
Applications will be accepted from social entrepreneurs aged 16 and over who are living in the UK and who are the founder of the social business.
The social entrepreneur must:
- Have identified a social issue and developed a business model that works to solve it.
- Be committed to, and have a track record of, delivering local, regional or national social impact at scale.
- Be experienced, ambitious and capable of growing their venture.
- Have a realistic growth plan.
- Be committed to working full-time in their social venture.
The social venture must:
- Be at least one year old and less than four years old.
- Have a turnover of less than £250,000 in their last financial year.
- Be dynamic and ready to grow to local, regional or national scale and have a logical and appropriate plan to deliver this.
- Have a compelling performance to date and/or a logical and appropriate plan for rapid growth to reach local, regional or national scale.
- Not solely exist to secure investment in the year ahead.
- Target beneficiaries predominantly based in the UK.
The following ventures are not eligible for funding:
- Those predominantly focused on having an impact on people or places outside the UK.
- Those incorporated for over four years at the time of application (Companies House or Charity Commission registration).
- Those with a turnover of over £250,000 in their last financial year.
- Those involving political or religious campaigning.
- Those involving activities outside of the law, against public policy or anything which encourages ethnic, religious or commercial disharmony.
- Social ventures whose focus is predominantly on raising awareness of social issues.
- Those looking for funding for a one-off or short-term project where there is limited potential for a sustained and longer-term impact.
- Requests for support which are predominately for the individual to undertake academic qualifications or overseas travel.
- Individuals who plan to employ others to undertake most of the work on their behalf.
Eligible Expenditure
Funding for start-up ventures is intended to cover essential start-up costs (not including wages).
Funding for established ventures is intended to support wages and living costs as the venture grows.
To Apply visit:
Website: UnLtd – Awards | Funding and support to grow your impact |
UnLtd – What We Do | Mission, Vision & Values | UnLtd |
Applications are assessed on a quarterly basis. The deadlines for applications are:
- 31st March 2024
- 30th June 2024
- 30th September 2024