Yesterday we announced the launch of a new fund to support social ventures impacted by COVID-19, in partnership with five social enterprise support agencies. Big Issue Invest, The Key Fund, Resonance, the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and UnLtd will jointly deliver £18.7 million in grants. The partnership delivering the Social Enterprise Support Fund is one of five The National Lottery Community Fund is supporting as part of its COVID crisis response.
UnLtd will be awarding £6.3m of the £18.7m, and applications are open from 1pm on Monday 13th.
The Social Enterprise Support Fund is aimed at social enterprises in England supporting people whose health is at greater risk from COVID-19, and those supporting people facing increased social and economic challenges as a result of COVID-19.
It is crucial that these grants genuinely reach the people who have been, and continue to be, the most impacted by this pandemic. As others have said, although COVID-19 has hurt people all over the world, it has by no means been a ‘great equaliser’.
The research on COVID-19 has shown that the UK’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are disproportionately impacted by health inequalities, and that the social and economic effects are hitting them harder too.
All partners behind the Social Enterprise Support Fund have a commitment to inclusion, with a shared goal of 30% of grants going to people who use their first-hand experience of a social issue to create positive change. We call these individuals ‘Leaders with Lived Experience' and they are rooted in the communities they serve, designing solutions with their peers in these communities.
UnLtd is committed to being an anti-racist organisation focused on social justice. We are putting this commitment into practice through the distribution of this COVID-19 funding in the following ways:
UnLtd’s commitments
For more information and to apply visit: socialenterprisesupportfund.org.uk/
Your help in outreach will make a huge difference. Please help us ensure the funds go to where they are most needed and share this with your networks, encouraging those you think will be eligible to apply.
I joined UnLtd as CEO in May 2016. I have over 20 years’ experience in the charity and social entrepreneurship sectors, most recently as Chief Executive of CW+, the charity for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Prior to this I was a Partner at Leader’s Quest, developing a global community of purpose -driven leaders across private, public and social sectors. I was also a Trustee of the foundation of impact investor Bridges Ventures. Before this I grew INSEAD’s Executive MBA to be a top 5- ranked program and co-founded the business school’s Social Innovation Centre. I have an EMBA with distinction from INSEAD and studied Psychology and Philosophy at Oxford University.
More information on the Social Enterprise Support Fund and eligibility critieria can be found on its dedicate website.
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