The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language; encouraging cultural, scientific, technological and educational co-operation with the United Kingdom. Promoting UK businesses and SE through grants, training advice and more

Tel: (0)161 957 7755
email: info@britishcouncil.org/

UnLtd - The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom set up by seven organisations that promote social entrepreneurship. The organisation offers cash awards, networking and mentorship opportunities for social entrepreneurs in the UK, and has affiliate organizations in a number of other countries. UnLtd is the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, and they are committed to aiding them though some of the most difficult aspects of growing a business. They use their expertise to find, fund, and support social entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life and build sustainable social ventures. UnLtd’s core startup awards include the Try It, Do It and Grow It awards - each geared towards projects at different stages of development.

Tel: 020 7566 1100
email: https://www.unltd.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

The first Impact Hub opened in central London in early 2005, and remains open and active to this day! Located on the top floor of an old warehouse, Impact Hub Islington in London, UK, embodied the spirit of grassroots entrepreneurship. Everything was built from scratch, and the space was designed to provide a collaborative environment in which people could work, meet, and learn within a modular structure. It featured leaf-shaped tables that allowed for flexible co-working, a semi-open meeting room where users could hold workshops, a secluded library for quiet thinking, and a community kitchen where people could hold small meetings over lunch or coffee. There were no assigned work stations, so users would sit next to a different fellow user every time they visited Impact Hub. The main idea was to create a place where unlikely allies would meet by serendipity. The concept of hot desks in today’s world is commonly known, but more than 10 years ago, this was a completely new concept. Alongside their office spaces, the well-known global organisation, Impact Hub, offers multiple programmes which support those growing a social business. One example is the Impact Hub Fellowship, a topic-focused entrepreneurial idea award and one-year incubation programme designed to enable early-stage entrepreneurs to realise innovations for a sustainable world.

email: media@impacthub.net

Growing up, Bill Drayton was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and the Civil Rights Movement. Drayton wanted to mitigate income inequality through social entrepreneurship.Drayton founded Ashoka in 1980. The organization was named after the Emperor Ashoka, the ruler of the Maurya Empire during the 3rd century BC. Emperor Ashoka recognized the suffering that he had caused by unifying his empire, and he promoted religious and philosophical tolerance and the paramount importance of morality when working for the public. They promote SE fellows. Ashoka fellow receives a financial stipend that the fellow can use to pay for their personal expenses so the fellow can fully devote the fellow's time in pursuit of the fellow's innovative social ideas. The size of the stipend is decided on a case by case basis, according to the cost of living in the entrepreneur's local area. The stipend is available for up to three years. The organization is very clear that the stipend is only for living expenses and not for funding the social entrepreneur's initiative or organization. Ashoka’s network of social innovators begins with the Ashoka Fellowship: an association of social entrepreneurs creating systemic change. Fellows are evaluated based on the following five criteria: new idea, entrepreneurialism, creativity, social impact, and ethical fibre. Over the last 10 years Ashoka UK has selected 40 Ashoka Fellows who are support in a variety of ways including funding, accelerator programmes, workshops and network access.

email: infouk@ashoka.org

The old NESTA was set up in 1998 by an independent endowment in the United Kingdom established by an Act of Parliament, the National Lottery Act 1998. On 14 October 2010 the Government announced that it would transfer NESTA's previous status from an executive non-departmental public body to a new charitable body. On 1 April 2012 the old NESTA transitioned from being an executive to a charitable body, shortening its name to "Nesta". "Nesta, the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts, is a global innovation foundation. They are focused primarily on innovations that will shape the future, be it technical, social, health, etc. They back new ideas which are tackling the big challenges of our time by providing helpful resources and toolkits as well as funding opportunities. You’ll find more information on how they can help you innovate here. Creative economy, arts and culture: Growing the creative economy (through research and policy influence) and developing new ways of generating finance for organisations in the arts. Focus on: Education: Helping all learners be prepared for future opportunities and challenges, and making the most of new digital technologies in education. Health: Creating a health and care system that empowers people to lead healthier and more independent lives. Innovation policy: Developing better ways of understanding and supporting innovation in the economy for public benefit, from data to experiments. Government innovation: Helping governments and communities reshape public services and recraft the role of public servants to be fit for the future."

Student hubs is a lose network of student association that goes back to the 1880s when the first universities were founded. First formal registered student hub was set up in oxford connecting like minded students. Since then more and more hubs grow throughout the UK Student Hubs was founded in 2007 by a group of students who hope to create a society in which every student engages with social and environmental challenges during their time at university, empowering them to become active citizens for life.

Tel: 07970495688
email: info@studenthubs.org

Mutual Ventures was set up in 2011 by our three Directors (David, Andrew and Oliver) after they saw the potential to help public services achieve more through combining a strong public service ethos with an entrepreneurial culture. Since then, we have grown steadily, working with more than 150 different services, and developing a reputation for quality. Mutual Ventures is a socially focused consultancy with extensive experience supporting organisations to become investment ready and to develop new social impact approaches, resulting in organisations securing funding or winning new contracts. They support organisations on the whole journey to accessing social investment: from identifying the right social investment offer to developing a business case and brokering relationships with investors.

Tel: 020 3714 3900
email: talent@mutualventures.co.uk

The first Regulator of Community Interest Companies (CICs) was appointed on 01 April 2005. The Regulator's powers and duties are set out in the Act and Regulations. The Act requires the Regulator to discharge her functions in accordance with good regulatory practice. The Act requires the Regulator to discharge her functions in accordance with the law. The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies decides whether an organisation is eligible to become, or continue to be, a community interest company (CIC).

Tel: 029 2034 6228
email: cicregulator@companieshouse.gov.uk

Founded 2011 as a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 2787912. Vat no: GB 197465750. Registered charity number: 1036460. They focus on its national membership network for community organisations. "Locality supports local community organisations to be strong and successful. Our national network of over 600 members helps more than 400,000 people every week. We offer specialist advice, peer learning and campaign with members for a fairer society. Main areas of work: Peer learning and connection through the membership network Resources for local people to get involved & create change in their community Specialist advice and support Campaigning to create a better operating environment for community organisations"

Tel: 0330 202 0559
email: info@thekeyfund.co.uk

Tel: 020 3096 7900
email: info@sibgroup.org.uk

We began in 2002 as the Adventure Capital Fund, a partnership of several third sector organisations. This £2m fund was created by government to work out how to create sustainable community enterprises through social investment. By 2006 we had received £17m from the Home Office to invest into community enterprises as a mixture of grant and loan. In 2011, we were endowed with the repayments from the Communitybuilders fund. This meant that we now had our own money to invest and provided the opportunity to partner with others. The Social Investment Business is the trading name for the Social Investment Business Foundation, Registered Company No. 05777484 (England), Registered Charity No. 1117185 (England & Wales).

Social investment provider Big Issue Invest provide finance to social enterprises, community organisations, charities and businesses that are socially-driven.

Tel: 020 3780 8000
email: info@bridgesfundmanagement.com

Social investment provider. Seeded by the Bridges Charitable Trust in 2008, the fund was launched in August 2009 and has raised nearly £12m for investment in scalable social enterprises and charities delivering high social impacts and operating sustainable business models.

Tel: 020 3096 7600
email: info@can-invest.org.uk

Social investment provider. CAN Invest supports voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) to build sustainable businesses by providing capital and business support.

Tel: 03000 123 000
email: info@cafonline.org

Social investment provider. CAF Venturesome offer financial support of between £25,000 and £350,000 to social enterprises and charities. They have made over 500 social investments, totalling over £40m.

Tel: 017 3244 1900
email: enquiries@charitybank.org

Social investment provider. Charity Bank offers loans from £50,000 up to £3.25 million to charities, social enterprises and other organisations.

Tel: 020 7812 3700
email: info@esmeefairbairn.org.uk

Social investment provider. Since 2008 Esmée Fairbairn have made over 109 social investments. The foundation commit up to £35m in social investments and invest in a diverse range of organisations including charities, social enterprises, community benefit societies and other social investment funds.

Tel: 01865 403 304
email: help@ethex.org.uk

Social investment provider. Online market for positive investments. Supporting social businesses and uniting ethical investors.

Tel: 0330 202 0559
email: info@thekeyfund.co.uk

Social investment provider. The Key Fund provides investments and development support to Social Businesses based or operating in Northern half of England.

Tel: 0191 229 2770
email: hello@northstarventures.co.uk

Social investment provider. The North East Social Investment Fund invests in Social Enterprises with individual investments ranging in size from £100k to £1m. Organisations should be located, or have substantial operations in the North East of England. The Fund will also invest in organisations that are willing to relocate to the region.

Tel: 0161 546 5665
email: impact@resonance.ltd.uk

Social investment provider. Resonance help social enterprises raise capital from investors who share their values. They can help you in a number of ways, including investment readiness and/or deal arranging.

Tel: 020 3874 3330
email: info@socialandsustainable.com

Social investment provider. SASC provide between £250,000 to £3 million in the form of loans, participation loans and equity to organisations that consider the delivery of their social mission a core part of their long term strategy.

Tel: 020 3096 7900
email: enquiries@sibgroup.org.uk

Social investment provider. SIB is a social investment specialist and manage one of the largest social investment portfolios in the UK of over £110 million. They manage a variety of funds for VCSE organisations.

Tel: 0131 558 7706
email: hello@socialinvestmentscotland.com

Social investment provider. Social Investment Scotland (SIS) is the largest not for profit provider of business loans to the third sector in Scotland as well as being a social enterprise and registered charity.

Tel: 020 7255 4499
email: acf@acf.org.uk

Grant information providers. The Association of Charitable Foundations is primarily an information and support organisation for grant-making trusts and foundations in the UK. It does not make grants itself but it represents the interests of its members by promoting good practice in grant-making and the effectiveness of trusts and foundations. Other activities include providing framework for sharing experiences and good practice, research, policy and influencing work, but also venture philanthropy and social investment.

Tel: 020 7697 4200
email: cs@dsc.org.uk

Grant information providers. The Directory for Social Change produce several pay to register search engines which provides access to a wide range of funders including trusts, government funds, company giving and grants for individuals.

Grant information providers. There are many sources of grant funding, and new initiatives are launched all the time by national bodies such as the BIG Lottery Fund as well as various trusts and foundations. It can be very time consuming to keep a track of all of the various grant opportunities, so we recommend that you use an internet-based tool to take the strain out of your search. This free website will help you search under particular themes. It will also keep you up to date with new opportunities tailored to your needs.

email: tricia@grantsonline.org.uk

Grant information providers. Grants Online is a comprehensive funding information service. It provides information on grant funding opportunities from the European Union, UK Government Agencies, the Lottery as well as Grant making Trusts and Foundations. This site operates on a subscription basis.

Grant information providers. j4bgrants is a free-to-register website with a database of European, UK Government and other sources of grant funding. The site is available to social enterprises; charities; voluntary and community organisations; social businesses; cooperatives/mutuals; unconstituted community groups.

Tel: 0161 934 4317

Grant providers. The Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from the Government and the National Lottery.

Tel: 0345 410 2030
email: general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Grant providers. Gives grants to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment.

Tel: 0345 609 0015
email: pudsey@bbc.co.uk

Grant providers. Gives grants each year to organisations supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Grant providers. Gives grants to organisations and usually only supports work which most closely measures up to its published priorities and delivers good outcomes.

Tel: 020 7820 2000
email: info@comicrelief.com

Grant providers Comic Relief’s UK grant giving strategy is based around five themes: Better Futures, Healthier Finances, Safer Lives, Stronger Communities and Fairer Society.

Tel: 020 7713 9326
email: info@ukcommunityfoundations.org

Grant providers With more than £224m in endowed funds and providing about £70m in grants a year, community foundations are one of the UK’s biggest non-statutory community grant-makers. Community foundations manage funds donated by both individuals and organisations.

Tel: 020 7812 3700
email: info@esmeefairbairn.org.uk

Grant providers Gives grants across four main areas: Arts, Children and Young People, Environment and Social Change as well as the Food funding strand. Three types of support are available: grants, social investments and Grants Plus support.

Grant providers Recent funding has supported projects in the following categories: Arts, Community, Education, Welfare, Medical, Religion, Youth and Environment.

Tel: 020 7264 4970

Grant providers Gives grants for work with groups experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage (e.g. people with disabilities) and to work that tackles problems in areas of high deprivation.

Tel: 020 7591 6151
email: london@hlf.org.uk

Grant providers Gives grants to sustain and transform the UK’s heritage.

Tel: 020 7812 3300
email: information@phf.org.uk

Grant providers Gives grants to sustain and transform the UK’s heritage.Gives grants to organisations that help people realise their potential and improve their quality of life through the arts, education and social projects.

email: grants@santander.co.uk

Grant providers Operates a Community Plus scheme providing grants of up to £5,000 to small local UK charities; and a Central Fund for projects in the UK that meet one or both of the Foundation’s priorities – Education & Training, or Financial Capability – and must directly help disadvantaged people.

email: support@crowdfunder.co.uk

Grant providers "Santander has £200,000 to support Changemakers who turn to the Crowd to make great ideas happen. The Changemaker Fund has been created to support projects that help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future by building skills and knowledge or innovative ideas that help communities prosper."

Tel: 020 7582 5117
email: info@londoncf.org.uk

Grant providers Gives grants to small community groups and charities across London to projects tackling a variety of social issues.

Tel: 0870 411 1223
email: enquiries@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk

Grant providers Funds charities working with people aged 17 plus who are experiencing multiple disadvantage at one of the critical ‘transition’ points in their life and helping promote practical approaches to lasting change.

Grant providers Sport England focuses investment on organisations and projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sports, create opportunities for young people to excel in sport and support local authorities to unlock local funding.

Tel: 020 7727 8522

Grant providers Gives grants to individuals that have great ideas for creating social change in their local area.

email: 

Grant providers Between £3m - £4m of funding will be available and you can apply for grants of £5,000 - £15,000.