Funding opportunities
Social Investment Fund
Deutsche Bank has launched a £10m social investment fund in the UK to support social projects with a financial return. he bank’s Impact Investment Fund will operate as a ‘fund of funds’, working with portfolio managers to channel investment into sustainable social businesses over the next three years. t aims to generate a return that more than covers its costs over the next 10 years. Read more at: www.socialenterpriselive.com
Growing Places Fund
The Growing Places Fund is a capital fund of £500m. The purpose of the capital fund is to enable the development of local funds to address infrastructure constraints, promoting economic growth and the delivery of jobs and houses. If a building or a piece of land owned by the local voluntary sector was awaiting development or rehabilitation and some investment would create local jobs, you might be able to secure some funding through your Local Enterprise Partnership. For more on the Growing Places Fund visit www.communities.gov.uk
Community Loan Fund
The RBSG Micro-finance Fund is set up to help potential and existing social entrepreneurs who are unable to access finance through the normal mainstream channels. The fund offers financial support for the purpose of starting or expanding a community-based business. http://www.rbs.co.uk/business/banking/g3/community-business-loan-fund.ashx#tabs=section2
Leadership and Management Advisory Service - Training grants available
Match-funded grants of up to £1,000 are available to SMEs and social enterprises in the South East for people management training. To qualify, organisations must have between 2 and 250 employees on PAYE and have aspirations to grow their business by 20% each year for the next three years. Download the flyer and application form. Read more at: www.skillssoutheast.co.uk
Equitable Charitable Trust
This education charity supports projects for children and young people with disabilities or who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Applications can be submitted at any time. For more details visit: www.equitablecharitabletrust.org.uk
Growth and Innovation Fund
Secretary of State for Industry, Vince Cable, has launched this £50m a year fund to help businesses develop skills needed to increase growth. The Fund will help businesses overcome barriers to growth by offering new training to boost innovation and productivity, enable industries to set new professional standards, or support new or extended National Skills Academies. Three types of projects are suitable for applications: ‘Best Market Solutions', ‘National Skills Academies' and ‘Joint Investment Programme'. For more information visit www.ukces.org.uk/news/growth-and-innovation-fund-press-notice
Co-operative and Community Finance
Loans are available to co-operatives, community businesses, voluntary sector businesses and social or green businesses who wish to own and democratically control the business in which they work, or which operate in their local community. Further information. Co-operative and Community Finance, Head Office, Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE, Tel: 01179 166750 Email: info@co-opandcommunityfinance.coop Web: http://www.co-opandcommunityfinance.coop/
Help for Rural Social Enterprises - Grants are available to help establish and develop social enterprises that provide vital services for rural communities.The help comes from the Rural Development Programme for England LEADER programme, which has nearly £4 million over 5 years (until December 2013) to help businesses, farms and communities in rural Sussex. The funding will help a wide range of rural development projects aimed at strengthening the rural economy or providing facilities and services for rural communities. Grants are available towards capital expenditure, up to a maximum of £37,000 in the Sussex Downs and Low Weald LEADER area and up to a maximum of £25,000 in the Three Harbours and Coastal Plain LEADER area.For more information on the LEADER programme visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/rdpeleader or call the LEADER programme team on 01243 756606 / 756755.
Capitalise Business Support - Their aim is to encourage entrepreneurship by considering loan applications from people who cannot access loans or credit from banks or building societies. The scheme is aimed at working with Sussex, Kent and Surrey based micro and small enterprises and social enterprises in order to achieve positive social change and to bring increased prosperity to disadvantaged or under-represented groups. Loans may be provided to assist businesses and social enterprises to start up and, if established, to grow and prosper. Once the loan has been provided we will provide invaluable mentoring support throughout the term of the loan. http://www.capitalise.org/index.htmContract Finder
A new free facility for small businesses to find online public sector procurement and contracting opportunities above £10,000 went live in April 2011. This provides access to new public sector contract opportunities in addition to closed contract documents. To go to the Contract finder please follow the link: Contract Finder
Coalition of companies offers £10m service to encourage social enterprise growth - The Social Business Trust will provide cash and staff time to about 20 social enterprises. A coalition of six companies has launched a £10m service aimed at helping social enterprises grow. The new venture, called the Social Business Trust, will provide about 20 social enterprises with cash and staff time from the management consultants Bain & Company, the legal firm Clifford Chance, the investment bank Credit Suisse, the accountants Ernst & Young, the private equity company Permira, and the media company Thomson Reuters. It will operate over the next three to five years and the £10m figure includes the value of staff time as well as cash. http://bit.ly/h3FYid
New businesses given a helping hand - Jobless people refused credit by their banks can get help to start up their own businesses with a new £60,000 fund. The Fredericks Foundation charity was set up in 2001 as a social enterprise to help young people who had made bad decisions to get back on track. Because of the credit crunch, with banks less willing to lend to small businesses, it has branched out to help existing companies rejected by their banks, as well as lending to the long-term unemployed. http://bit.ly/hRofVn
Big Issue Invest Social Enterprise Investment Fund - Big Issue Invest (BII) has raised £3 million for its Social Enterprise Investment Fund and is looking to invest in more successful social enterprises looking to scale-up their social impact. Read the press release [pdf, 34kb].
Energy Grant 500 - This is a unique project to help businesses understand their energy use and identify where savings can be made. Businesses are loaned an energy meter to see where most energy is being used. The information pack will help motivate staff to ‘switch off’, and a walk-around survey to help identify energy saving opportunities within your business. Once the main energy savings have been identified, businesses can apply for a grant for up to £500. Measures typically installed include heating and ventilation systems, lighting, office equipment and adaptations to the building fabric. Energy Grant 500 is offered by Business Link, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). For more details contact Business Links on 0845 6009 006 or email info@businesslinksoutheast.co.uk
Funding towards training to develop leadership skills! - Under the Train to Gain’s Leadership & Management programme, companies in the South East with between 5-250 staff can access up to £500 grant for owner managers, company directors, or up to £500 (match-funded) grant for any senior manager or the senior management team. This money can be put towards one or a combination of training solutions, eg, training programmes, workshops, on-line training, bespoke training options, peer learning, business/mentor coaching, etc. For more details phone Train to Gain on: 0845 026 4298.
West Sussex County Council Funding - free service to businesses, voluntary organisations, charities, community groups and social enterprises, to search for sources of funding. WSCC have produced guidance and factsheets which applicants should read prior to making applications. www.westsussex.gov.uk/your_council/council_services/grants_and_funding.aspx
Impetus Trust Fund - makes grants to charitable organisations involved in social enterprise. Visit www.impetus.org.uk
Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund - £4.25m is available to social enterprises to provice equity-like loans to mid-range organisations that can demonstrate 'high social impact' and have viable plans to expand. For more details visit www.bridgesventures.com
Charities Aid Foundation - The Charities Aid Foundation is a registered charity that works to create greater value for charities and social enterprise by transforming the way donations are made and the way charitable funds are managed. www.cafonline.org
Pro-funding - source of funding information for charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, local authorities, social enterprises and other not for profit organisations throughout the UK. Available on subscription only. Free trial is available. www.fundinginformation.org
Government Grants - website with access to government grants for the voluntary and community sector. For more details visit: www.governmentfunding.org.uk
Challenging a Funding Cut
NAVCA has updated its guide for voluntary and community organisations who want to challenge a cut to their funding. The guide covers 'Challenging the decision' and 'Campaigning to change the decision'. Download the guide
A guide to loan finance for charities and social enterprises
In the current economic climate, fear of debt can be understood. But with the right kind of loan, charities and social enterprises can thrive – and have greater control over their future. View the guide