25 November 2011

Big Lottery Fund (BLF) is making £6 million available (as loans) to test the potential of social investment projects (projects that lead to positive social change whilst also making money). As loans are a new area for them, BLF want to see how this kind of funding works in practice. You will have to pay the money back (possibly with interest).

They are interested in funding:

• Investment ready proposals - to set up a social investment vehicle that will achieve outcomes for people in need
• ‘Nearly there proposals'- to complete the development of a social investment vehicle that will achieve outcomes for people in need
• Pilots - to test out a social investment concept and/or establish its feasibility.

Projects need to achieve both of the following outcomes:

• improving the lives of communities and people most in need through the development of robust social investment vehicles
• learning more about social investment ‘in practice'.

Further information and guidelines are available from the website. Initially, you need to send an expression of interest through the website, go to the apply section.

Deadline: 14 December (for expressions of interest)
Contact: Big Lottery Fund
Tel: 0845 4 10 20 30
Email: general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_supporting_social_investment