We provide specialist support for social entrepreneurs at the start of the journey to help them grow as social leaders. We 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. We can offer you awards from £500 to £15,000 across three separate startup packages.
- Try it awards support social entrepreneurs to test their hunches and ideas
- Do it awards provide funding and support to help you get started and create a clear social impact
- Grow it awards help social entrepreneurs already thriving to grow their impact and build a sustainable financial model
Important information
Due to Covid-19 we are taking a new approach to award-making for the next few months.
Award Managers are working to identify current and past award winners whose businesses are put at risk, and for whom our support will make a real difference in this critical period. These entrepreneurs will be invited to apply for funding directly.
We have therefore chosen to close our portal for new applications for now, so we can focus our attention on those currently delivering impact.
For more details, please refer to our information on supporting social entrepreneurs through coronavirus. If you have any questions, please either contact your Award Manager, or use the chat support feature on the site.
Who we support
Thousands of people work to improve their community and not just their bank balance. They act on a hunch. They start a social venture. And they tackle the problems they care about.
These are the people we support. Often they have first-hand experience of the problem they seek to solve. They want to create jobs, develop innovative products and services, and help others to live full lives.
We can support you if you are:
- Aged 16 or over
- Living in the UK
- Willing to participate in a learning experience
- Working for the benefit of others in the UK
Your ideas and ventures are not eligible if they:
- Are part of paid employment where the social entrepreneur is an employee
- Involve political or religious campaigning
- Involve activities outside of 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
