Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to assist charities and social enterprises in England that require extra support to become ‘investment ready’. Through this programme, social investors (Access Points) can refer charitable organisations to the Reach Fund to apply for grants to pay for the support they need. Reach Fund grants can be used to fund specific pieces of work to help secure investment. This could include anything from legal to business planning costs. Applications will be accepted at any time from organisations who have been referred to the Reach Fund by a designated Access Point. A directory of Access Points can be accessed from the Reach Fund’s website. Applicants who have not been referred can register their interest and once approved can apply. Contact SIB for further information grants@sibgroup.org.uk

Loans of between £20,000 and £200,000 are available for social enterprises and registered charities in England to help them grow and continue the good work they are currently doing. The funding can be used for a variety of projects, including:

• Working capital
• Buying equipment
• Contract fulfilment
• Business development
• Hiring new talent.

Applications will be accepted at any time. Applicants are advised to email the Impact Loans England Team for further information.

Loans are available to social enterprises and registered charities based in the UK to support them in growing and extending their social impact. SEIF II loans and investments for £250,000 to £3 million can be provided. Grants are not provided. Secured and unsecured loans, equity and loans with performance-related repayment terms are considered. Applications may be made at any time.

Investments are available to fund managers and social banks who provide financial and other support to charities and social enterprises for projects tackling major social issues. Deadline: ongoing.

The Community Enterprise Fund (formerly known as the First Steps Enterprise Fund) is a small pilot fund to support community organisations that is managed by Social Enterprise Business and part funded by the Asda Foundation. A loan/grant funding package of up to £25,000 (up to 20% grant) is available to support community-led charities and social enterprises in England. The loan element is unsecured with a term of 4-7 years. Funding can be used by community organisations for any purpose except refinancing. Applications can be made at any time.

Financial aid is available for the support of the development of cooperatives or employee-owned businesses and social enterprises in the UK for general business needs, including loans on property, business purchase, capital equipment and working capital. Loans from £10,000 to £75,000 are normally available, however, from other funds under the sponsor’s management they are able to lend up to £150,000.  Loans to new businesses are usually part of a larger financial package and not normally more than 50% of that package. Loans may be used for a wide range of purposes, eg start-up costs, recovery costs and expansion costs. This is a rolling programme. Applications can be made at any time.

Loans are available to assist the start-up and development of co-operative enterprises in the UK. The Fund aims to help communities develop co-operative, mutual or social enterprise solutions to face social or economic challenges.  Loans are available for viable co-operative, mutual and social enterprises to assist with expansion or the set up of such an organisation. The scheme offers the following:

• Loans of between £10,000 and £85,000
• Unsecured loans with no personal guarantees
• Interest charged on reducing balance
• Unique understanding of co-operatives
• No set lending terms (flexible between 1-20 years)
• Lending will be at or near market terms
• Ongoing support throughout the term of the loan

Applications may be made at any time.

Charity Bank provides affordable loan finance and advice to enable charities, social enterprises and organisations with charitable goals across the UK to grow. It often lends where banks or building societies either will not make a loan at all, or will only do so on unaffordable terms. Loans of up to £4 million are available. Support may be accessed at any time.

Loans and equity investments are available to community based, locally led charities and social enterprises in England that are providing essential health, social care, education and training services to improve the quality of life of local individuals, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. Long-term investments of between £250,000 and £2 million are available. Investments could be in the form of flexible loans, as well as equity type funding such as revenue participation notes. There are no deadlines. An online application form can be found on the SASC website and can be submitted at any time.

Grant funding and matched equity investment are available for community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue. The Booster Fund relaunched in May 2022 to support new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue. The fund will remain open for applications until 2025, with monthly assessment panels.

The following support is available in 2023:

• Pre-grant support: A few days support for early-stage activity to get started.
  Development grants of between £2,000 and £10,000, averaging around £5,000, to prepare a community share offer. This support can cover financial planning, governance support, marketing costs and being assessed for the Community Shares Standard Mark.
• Equity match investment ranging from £10,000 to £100,000, although the typical investment is expected to be £20,000 to £50,000. This is an offer of investment to match money raised from the community, providing the minimum share offer target is achieved. Applications for equity match are open to community businesses that are investment ready, including those that have already launched their share offers.
• Subscription underwriting: If affordability is an issue for community investors, Co-operative and Community Finance (CCF) can offer an interest-free repayable loan to enable people to buy shares through instalments over a maximum of 12 months, with the society receiving the full investment upfront.
• Loan finance: may be available from Co-operative and Community Finance (CCF).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Loans are available to early stage growing social enterprises and charitable organisations in the UK to address the structural barriers that diverse organisations face. Applications can be made at any time. There are three flexible types of investment available. Applications can be made at any time.

Vouchers worth up to £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps. The new UK Gigabit Voucher launched on 8 April 2021 and is only available through a supplier who is registered with the scheme. You are now able to check whether your premises is eligible for a voucher, find a list of registered suppliers, and see those who are active in your area.

The Foundation supports organisations that aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, now and in the future. It is keen to fund groundbreaking projects that may appear too risky to other funders. Of particular interest are projects relating to community building, strengthening nonprofits, environment and supporting families. Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available. Apply any time.

Grants up to £1,000 are available for individuals or groups of young people who need finance to help make their social enterprise happen. Deadline: Ongoing.

A flexible grant scheme is available to increase growth, productivity and resilience through the purchase of assets. Applicants can apply for capital grants of £1,000 to £10,000. This scheme does not include running costs or leases.

Grants up to £1,000 are available for social enterprises in the city of Sheffield to develop their businesses and services. The fund aims to support social enterprises by promoting the creation of new employment opportunities and is partly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). (Deadline: Ongoing).

A package of professional business support and targeted grant funding is available for social enterprises across all sectors in the UK to help them grow and to achieve greater social impact. Support is available for business models which are sustainable and capable of driving growth. To apply, please contact the Social Business Trust for an initial discussion by email:  info@socialbusinesstrust.org.

Loans are available to support UK charities and social enterprises that need funds to help them to invest and grow.

Loans are available for a term of one to six years in the following sizes:

• Between £100,000 and £1.5 million
• Upwards of £50,000 for BAME-led organisations and those based in Wales and Scotland. (SIB defines BAME-led as having a board or senior management team made up of 51% or more members from BAME backgrounds
• Unrestricted grants of £25,000 to £200,000 (ranges from 50% to 100% of the loan amount) to support BAME-led charities and social enterprises that meet the criteria. The scheme offers a capital repayment holiday for up to one year, with regular payments thereafter.

Applications can be made at any time.

Unrestricted funding of between £25,000 and £150,000 is available to unlock the growth of eligible charities and social enterprises who are trading and looking to grow or diversify their business models. Organisations must work in the environmental or poverty sector and have been operating for two years or more, with a turnover of more than £100,000. Applications will be accepted at any time.

Loans up to £1,000,000 are available for social enterprises, charities and community groups to grow and sustain their social impact. Deadline: ongoing.