# Big Society Capital seeks social impact investment ideas to support

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/01/21/big-society-capital-seeks-social-impact-investment-ideas-support/
- Published: 2021-01-21T10:35:46+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Big Society Capital is offering funding for social impact investment ideas with
potential to scale that address a UK social issue.**

 

The social impact investor is offering up to £30,000 of development funding along
with in-kind support and connections for a selection of ideas with the greatest 
potential to transform people’s lives in the UK.

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It is calling on fund managers, social enterprises and charities to [submit their ideas](https://bigsoccap.typeform.com/to/RIeoTndA)
by 1 March 2021. Applicants are encouraged to explain the social issue, business
models and potential for investment associated with their idea.

 

Ideas could relate to changing a part of the existing investment system that does
not work, bringing together partners in new ways, or aligning the needs of charities,
social enterprises and investors with a solution that is more effective than those
currently available. They should demonstrate potential to scale through a fund or
similar structure which could take on investment from [Big Society Capital](https://bigsocietycapital.com/)
and/or others in future.

 

The initiative has been launched to start to address a scarcity of funding available
for fund managers, charities and social enterprises to test and develop early-stage
ideas.

 

The selection panel comprises a range of experts and leaders across the social enterprise
and social impact investment sector, amongst them Andrew Croft, SEUK; Ben Smith,
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; Matthew Bowcock, The Beacon Collaborative; Sarah Colston,
Access Foundation; Paul Nicoll, Triodos; and Victoria Bew from Nesta.

 

Camilla Parke, Investment Director at Big Society Capital, said:

 

> “Fund managers, charities and social enterprises have often been at the forefront
> of developing social impact investment solutions to UK social challenges – but
> there is currently a scarcity of funding to support them in the early stages of
> development. So, we’re thrilled to be launching Ideas for Impact – which will 
> support them in taking the lead on developing more ideas to help improve people’s
> lives.”

 

Toyin Miller, Senior Relationship Manager at Triodos and member of the panel, added:

 

> “The opportunity for social impact investment to deliver greater innovation is
> not a new concept. The ability for finance to ‘seed’ fresh ideas, from those with
> lived and first-hand experience has been proven to be successful. “I look forward
> to discovering how the Ideas for Impact applicants have used social innovation
> through investment to play a key role in creating a more inclusive and equitable
> society.”

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