We offered webinars, a video and additional support to help people plan their applications (including accessibility support)
Please note the fund has now closed for applications.
This page outlines the support we offered people to support their applications.
Drafting your application
The Word document below is to help you prepare your application off line before you submit. It is not a requirement, just a tool to help you to draft your answers.
Download: Drafting Your Application (Word document)
You will then need to cut and paste your draft answers into the online application form. Do not upload this document.
Video about the application process
Chukumeka Maxwell is founder of Action To Prevent Suicide CIC, and one of last year’s successful applicants. He introduces our video from round 1 about applying to SESF and this year’s guidance. Watch below or via this link.
Support for people with access needs
If you have specific access needs, and need support with completing forms, we may be able to provide additional support with your application. Please email us at [email protected] to and tell us about your needs and what would help. We can offer telephone support to help you complete your application, and can provide information in accessible formats where possible.
Additional support from our development partners
We have engaged six development partners to help us to work with social entrepreneurs to address any barriers that may prevent them from being able to apply. This includes barriers faced by:
- disabled people
- people form Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds
- those who identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community
If you belong to one of these groups and would benefit from barrier-removing support, we can put you in touch with one of our Development Partners and they can provide advisory support to you with your application. They may also be able to support you to manage the award should you be successful.
If you would like some additional support from our development partners (listed below), please email us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you are welcome to get in touch with one of the development partners directly if you already know them or they feel like an obvious fit for your needs.
In your email, please tell us a bit about your organisation, and specify the type of support you require, such as:
- help with filling in the form
- help with preparing and attaching the documents
- specific advice on the process
The development partners:
Diversity And Ability
Diversity and Ability is a social enterprise led by and for disabled people. We champion intersectional neurodiversity and disability inclusion, creating positive and lasting culture shifts through bespoke workshops, consultancy and support.
We’ll help you break down or navigate the barriers you may face in bringing the best of yourself to your SESF application and beyond. Our specialist trainers and coaches combine their lived experience of disablement with expert knowledge of tools and strategies to equip you with the skills and resources to create the strongest application possible. We’ll provide everything from training in free assistive technologies, to coaching in time management strategies, to proofreading support. And it’s all completely tailored to your needs, working style, and organisational goals.
Email [email protected] and/or find out more in our FAQ.
For Business Sake
For Business Sake s a certified social enterprise, we support, underrepresented, overlooked and excluded Women-Led and Black and minoritised, social enterprises, trading charities and start-ups to create social impact.
We also support Local Authorities, Schools, Public, Private, and Infrastructure Third Sector Organisations who work directly with beneficiaries from marginalised communities, to communicate, establish and maintain positive effective relationships and strategic partnerships with beneficiaries, funders, commissioners and social impact investors.
Email Jacy on [email protected]
Impact Hub Bradford CIC
We’re a locally rooted, globally connected social innovation hub and coworking space based in Bradford’s historic Little Germany district.
We inspire, connect and support changemakers, social entrepreneurs, businesses and startups to build solutions that create positive social impact.
Our vision is designed with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and themes of Social Innovation Arts & Culture and Diaspora in mind. We focus those themes of work around on three core groups we feel hold the key to our city’s future prosperity: young people, women and people of colour.
All this is delivered through a combination of storytelling, membership schemes, development programmes, funding and events - a platform for social innovation and prosperity. Learn more.
Email Kamran on [email protected]
New Leaf New Life
New Leaf New Life (NLNL) is an LGBTQIA+ lead community support organisation. NLNL is committed to the principles of equity and diversity and inclusion. We have a formal policy which outlines our approach. We can demonstrate active commitment to the principles by the work we have been commissioned to undertake. We have worked with groups across sectors and across communities. We challenge disadvantage and seek to provide opportunities for advancement regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation.
The range of organisations we work with is a good indication of our policy into practice approach to equity, diversity and inclusion. We have created a journey into the social economy that enables the individual to take ownership for income generation and service delivery. We are empathetic to the needs of working-class neighbourhoods and people living in poverty and are driven to make sustainable change.
Email Linda on [email protected]
SAMEE
SAMEE is a Disability Confident Leader level 3 awarded charity and specialises in teaching self-employment skills to enable disabled adults in the South West to escape poverty and gain further independence through successful self-employment start-up.
Email Wayne on [email protected]
Foundervine
Foundervine opens doors for bold founders. We know that with the right support, an idea can grow into a groundbreaking enterprise. That’s why we connect businesses to entrepreneurs, helping founders of all backgrounds imagine, launch and grow new ventures.
We have a lived understanding of the distinct challenges these founders face. We give them a space to ask questions, learn and share experiences. Then we combine training, networking and ongoing mentorship from professionals across a variety of industries.
Through all of this, we act as vocal advocates, working to change policy, evolve workplaces and educate businesses on the way diversity strengthens their offering.
We exist to help shape a better future. One that includes all people, regardless of who they are or who they know. We’ll continue working with founders, educating businesses and being vocal advocates until we can make it a reality.
Email Phil on [email protected]
Webinars
We also ran three webinars to support people interested in applying. The dates for these have now passed.
In 2021/2, the fund delivered £16.1m of funding to 500 social enterprises.