Other funding and support available for social entrepreneurs

The social entrepreneurship ecosystem is vast, and we want to help you find the right support for you and your enterprise. Below we have listed other organisations who might be able to help you progress in your journey

Grants and investment

Big Ideas Programme by Business Wales

A programme aimed at supporting social entrepreneurs under 25 to start their ventures.

  • Grants up to £2,000 for young people living or returning to Wales to become self-employed.

Esmée Fairbairn

One of the UK’s largest independent funders focused on improving our natural world, securing a fairer future, and strengthening communities.

  • Grants from £50,000 to £100,000
  • Average investments of £430,000

Foundation for Future London

A funder for the East London boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest, supporting local people and communities to benefit from the arts, education, culture, innovation and placemaking.

  • Grants from £5,000 to £50,000

Friends Provident Foundation

A charity that provides flexible grants and investments towards a fair and sustainable economic system, focusing particularly on social enterprises tackling the root problems behind complex challenges like inequality, poverty, and climate breakdown.

Funders Forum NI

Over 22 different funding pots listed.

King's Trust

A programme to help young people aged 18-30 develop the skills and knowledge to launch and grow their business.

  • Funding from £500-£30,000.

Launch It

A series of start-up support programmes for young entrepreneurs wanting to start up, develop, and launch their products and services to market.

  • Grants up to £5,000.

Lankelly Chase Foundation

An organisation that funds people, organisations and networks taking action to change systems of injustice and oppression that result in the mental distress, violence and destitution of people subject to marginalisation in the UK.

  • Grants from £10,000 to £350,000

National Lottery Awards for All (Wales)

Supporting voluntary or community organisations promoting social connections and focusing on creating healthier and happier lives.

  • Funding from £300 to £20,000

Postcode Lottery

Schwab Foundation

A global platform to promote social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems.

Skoll Foundation

An organisation that accelerates entrepreneurial approaches and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Bethnal Green Ventures

Europe’s leading Venture Capital (VC) firm, investing in ambitious early-stage tech for good founders.

Big Issue Invest

The UK’s first ‘social merchant bank’ on a mission to finance the growth of sustainable social enterprises.

Community Finance Ireland

A social enterprise providing long-term and short-term loans to organisations looking to make a social impact.

  • Loans are tailored and range between €/£10k–600k.

Good Finance

An organisation helping charities and social enterprise navigate the world of investment and connect with the right investors.

Nesta Impact Investment

A branch of Nesta providing financial, knowledge and network capital to innovative tech ventures tackling school readiness, obesity, household carbon emissions and productivity.

  • Investments from £500,000 to £1 million

Social Investment Business

An organisation that offers grants, loans and flexible support to social enterprises making a positive difference to the communities they work within.

  • Loans from £15,000 to £1.5 million
  • Grants from £5,000 to £15,000

Social Investment Scotland

A social enterprise and charity offering loan funding and business support for social enterprises, charities, and community groups.

  • Flexible loans from £10,000 to £1.3 million

Learning, coaching and mentoring support

Acumen Academy
A training organisation unleashing a new generation of social innovators and leaders ready to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Directory of Social Change

Their training covers a wide range of issues such as fundraising, governance, finance, personal development, communication, management, and leadership.

Future Learn

An online learning platform offering bite-sized, flexible learning on a range of topics including social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Go Succeed

A programme supporting voluntary, community and social enterprise leaders at all stages in their journey. It offers online and in-person training opportunities for participants across Wales including peer learning and networking.

Social Leaders Cymru

The new go-to source for expert business advice led by Northern Ireland's eleven local councils, providing tailored support and guidance to help you achieve your business goals.

  • Funding from up to 70% of costs for capital and/or revenue items up to a maximum of £4,000.

The School for Social Entrepreneurs

An organisation that runs courses for people to start, scale and strengthen organisations that make a positive difference. They also provide funding and mentoring.

  • Grants from £5,000 to £10,000

Ashoka

A global organisation that identifies and invests in social entrepreneurs. Their global support network and changemakers school are equipping hundreds of people with the skills and support they need to make change.

Business in the Community

The UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network dedicated to building a fairer and greener world together.

Cwmpas

A Welsh social enterprise support organisation providing one-to-one specialist business advice focusing on setting up new social enterprises.

Expert impact

An organisation providing business mentors for social entrepreneurs and impactful speakers for any kind of event.

Impact Hub

An organisation supporting networks innovators and entrepreneurs across the globe through accelerators, incubators, and other support programs.

Locality

The national membership network supporting local community organisations to be strong and successful, providing specialist advice, peer-learning, resources, and campaigns to help every community thrive.

Power to Change

Providing community businesses with the support network, learning and flexible funding to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.

  • Grants from £10,000 to £25,000

Senscot

An organisation that supports local and national networks for social entrepreneurs in Scotland.

Social Business Wales

Made up of a team of specialist business advisors focusing on setting up and supporting social enterprises. Their website offers a variety of resources to help you start or operate your social business.

Social Enterprise NI

The representative body for social enterprises and social entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland. Connecting, supporting, developing and sustaining vibrant businesses to create social change.

Social Enterprise UK

A leading global authority on social enterprise and large network of social enterprises in the UK. Explore their directory for learning resources and tools.