To apply for a Level 1 Award, please complete our
Level 1 Eligibility Questionnaire. Or contact -
your nearest UnLtd office to discuss your ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a CRB check done before I’ve found out if my UnLtd application has been successful or not?
If you do not have an enhanced CRB check that is less than 12 months old when you apply to us then we would recommend that you wait to find out if you have been successful or not. Otherwise, if you go ahead and get one and then you are not successful with your application, we will not reimburse you.
Are UnLtd Awards given out regionally? And how many regions are there?
Awards are given out on a regional basis. Our regions are:
- London, The South and the East of England
- North of England, The East and West Midlands
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Is it ok to look for funding from other sources while applying to UnLtd?
Yes, we do not have any funding restrictions in place in regards to other funding feeding into your project.
Do you fund sole traders?
If you are already an established company or a registered group we cannot fund you, however if you are not already established and a re not-for-profit then we can.
Am I still eligible to apply if I want to set up a business further down the line?
It depends on what kind of business you want to create. If you want to turn your project idea into something more sustainable in the long term that’s fine but we would like it to ensure that you continue to create social impact.
If you want to get funding to work with a specific group in society, is that ok?
Yes, just explain the social impact the project will generate, what you want to do and the positive difference your project would make.
How do I present need and demand and objectives like impact?
When it comes to need and demand for your project it is for you to present information to us: maybe you have gone into your community and seen that the need exists by talking to people first hand, by doing a survey, by running a taster session of what you want to do and also by looking into if there are any competitors providing something similar or not. It can be a mix of first hand research and more statistical measures. For impact you need to let us know what will change as a result of out project taking place.
If you are doing a one-off event and you might plan do run similar events if the first one is successful, is it best to apply for enough funding for the first event, or to apply for enough for a follow-up event too?
We do not normally fund one-off events, however, that is up to you, and how you would like to spend the money. You might want to apply for enough for one event and make it clear to us that if it is successful you would like to apply for more funding from elsewhere. The trick with one-off events is to be clear on the impact the event will have and what will change as a result of it.
Is there a set number of Awards given away within a year or month?
No, there is not set number. We have a set budget on a monthly basis that we need to adhere to.
Do you give out awards every month?
Yes, we do except for August and December as our Board of Trustees are not meeting during those months. Normally you will get a decision from us within 6-8 weeks but over August and December it will take up to 12 weeks.
Is there a deadline for applying each month?
No, we do not have set deadlines. You can apply at any time and once we receive it, it will take around 6-8 weeks for us to give you a decision (up to 12 week s over August and December). We would rather see you spending time in filling in the application form properly rather than rushing it to send it off as soon as possible.
Do you also have surgeries for applying for an UnLtd Level 2 Award?
The Level 2 application process is quite different to that of Level 1. Level 2 is designed for projects that are able to demonstrate they are creating measurable social impact, and have the potential to scale up or replicate. It is a separate Awards scheme from Level 1 and is a much more competitive. It is not necessarily the case that Level 1 Award Winners go on to become Level 2 Award Winners. For more information go to our
Level 2 page( or contact one of our Level 2 Development Managers.
Roughly how many successful applications did you have last year?
Our latest statistics show that we fund around 35% of the applications that we receive at Level 1 each year.
Do you fund continuation of an existing project?
No. A Level 1 is for designed as start-up funding only.
What costs can I include in my budget?
You can apply for project costs that you need to cover to get your project up and running. However, we will not be able to pay for your own time and you will not be able to pay someone to run the project for you. Eligible costs include venue hire, equipment, volunteer costs, marketing, a website if you can demonstrate a strong need for having one etc. The money cannot pay for 1 item alone, and any item purchased with the money (at a cost of over £500)is the property of UnLtd. If you will be working with children, young people under 18 and other vulnerable groups and adults and you do not have a CRB check you can include that cost too in your budget.
