The programme provides specialist support for social entrepreneurs to help them grow as social leaders. They combine cash and coaching to help nurture ideas and grow impact. It doesn’t matter what stage of development your social venture is at. It can be an idea on paper, or a social venture in practice already.

If successful, depending on your age, location, and the sectors in which you and your social venture operate, you will be assigned to one of their programmes for funding and up to a year of support. They aim to fund individuals/ventures which make a difference to people’s lives, communities, or the planet.

They are committed to 50% of awards going to Black, Asian and minority ethnic social entrepreneurs, and/or disabled social entrepreneurs across their funding programmes

Fund award sizes

Maximum:

£18,000

Notes on award amounts:

Starting Up grants of up to £8,000 if you are committed to creating social impact in a financially sustainable way, at an early stage or have started to make a difference to people’s lives, communities, or the planet.

Scaling Up grants of up to £18,000 for founders of a financially sustainable social venture that is making a positive difference to people’s lives, communities, or the planet. You have evidence of your social impact and ambitions to build on it.

Who can apply

They can support you if you:

• Are aged 16 and over
• Are living in and working to benefit people in the United Kingdom
• Have an idea or have been operating for less than 4 years
• Are willing to participate in a learning experience
• Have a real social impact
• Fulfil a clear need and demand and have clear outputs and goals

When to apply

They recommend submitting your application as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted at any time, with cut off dates every three months.

The fund have introduced an application limit – see their website for information on schedule of application windows.

How to apply

Apply online via the UnLtd website.

Exclusions

Your ideas and ventures are not eligible if they:

• Are part of your paid employment where you are an employee
• Involve political or religious campaigning
• Involve activities outside the law or against public policy, or anything that encourages ethnic, religious or commercial disharmony
• Are mainly for the benefit of the social entrepreneur and/or others to achieve academic qualifications