Start a social enterprise

Various financial schemes and programmes provide dedicated assistance specifically for social enterprises, to help them start or grow.

Support schemes for starting and expanding social enterprises

The October Club

The October Club aims to support small UK charities delivering transformational projects. Charities supported are typically UK-based, doing impactful work with plans to expand their reach.

Find out more about the October Club.

Seeding Grants

Grants to assist with set up, programme and running costs of newly formed community/voluntary groups.

Find out more about the Seeding Grants.

Community Bursary Scheme 2025/26

The Community Bursary Scheme supports individuals to access routes to community development/education, sports, music, language and/or culture opportunities.

Find out more about the Community Bursary Scheme 2025/26.

Thomas Wall Trust Grants

The Thomas Wall Trust Grants offer of up to £5,000 to UK charities for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports people into employment.

Find out more about the Thomas Wall Trust Grants.

Kristina Martin Charitable Trust Grants

The Kristina Martin Charitable Trust is providing £400,000 for projects improving mental health by tackling homelessness, social media impacts, and youth isolation.

Find out more about the Kristina Martin Charitable Trust Grants.

Digital Inclusion Fund

The Digital Inclusion Fund aims to improve access to employment for blind and vision impaired individuals by supporting digital inclusion at key stages of their journey into work and career development. Find out more about the Digital Inclusion Fund.

Connect Fund

The Connect Fund offers up to £1 million to support partnerships between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. It aims to tackle shared challenges and create new opportunities that benefit communities in Northern Ireland.

Applicants can bid for projects from £300 to £50,000. Funding can be provided for both standalone projects and for a more recurrent project - find out more about the Connect Fund.

Grants for Good

The programme offers unrestricted funds that organisations that are making a big impact on communities, people, or the environment. Funding can be used for any of their costs, including core running costs - find out more about the Grants for Good.

Rural Action Awards

The Rural Action Awards are open to constituted rural community-based organisations, including social enterprises, charities, not-for-profit community groups, sporting and cultural organisations, heritage groups.

Three funding calls will run until March 2026, with four projects selected at random after each round to receive £1,000/€1,000 following verification - find out more about the Rural Action Awards.

Funding Futures Programme

The Funding Futures Programme aims to harness the power of young people to find solutions for those who have been sidelined by the financial system.

Through funding and a package of support, the programme will give young people the power to make their communities fairer places to live - find out more about the Funding Futures Programme.

Social Enterprise Thematic Programme

Support is offered for social enterprises to elevate their skills through one-on-one mentoring and online workshops, focusing on fundraising, digital marketing, and social impact planning - find out more about the Social Enterprise Thematic Programme.

Social Enterprise Bootcamp

Bespoke mentoring and exclusive workshops is provided to help enhance the skills of social enterprises which are actively trading with ambitions to grow - find out more about the Social Enterprise Bootcamp.

Social Enterprise and Co-operative Support

Assistance is available for individuals or groups interested in starting a new social enterprise or co-operative, or for organisations currently relying on funding and wanting to explore moving to a social enterprise or co-operative model – find out more about the Social Enterprise and Co-operative Support.

Growth Impact Fund

The Growth Impact Fund is for all social purpose organisations operating in consumer business, education and learning, employment and training, and health and social care - find out more about the Growth Impact Fund.

Harnessing Heritage Programme

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) helps communities across the UK find enterprising new ways to revitalise old buildings through advice, grants, and social investment loans - find out more about the Harnessing Heritage Programme.

Village Catalyst Programme

The Architectural Heritage (AHF) funds the Village Catalyst Programme, an innovative partnership scheme aiming to help target rural poverty and social isolation via the reuse of historic buildings - find out more about the Village Catalyst Programme.

Millennium Awards Trust

The Millennium Awards are open to any social entrepreneur aged 16 years and older tackling a range of social issues - find out more about the Millenium Awards Trust.

National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland

The National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland provides funding from £300 to £20,000 to support community-led projects for up to two years - find out more about the National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland.

Community Finance Ireland Loan

The Community Finance Ireland Loan is available to social enterprises, community projects and sports clubs across all of Ireland - find out more about the Community Finance Ireland Loan.

PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme

Funding to support the implementation of projects through a small grants programme. 

Various organisations are eligible to apply, including voluntary sector organisations. Organisations that operate for private profit are not eligible to apply. Find out more about the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme.

Open Grants Programme

The Clothworkers' Foundation now accept applications for the Open Grants Programme, open to UK registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), social enterprises and other registered UK not-for-profit organisations. Find out more about the Open Grants Programme.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council programmes for the community and voluntary sector

Financial Assistance - Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)

Financial assistance is available for the community and voluntary sector for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) projects.

Grants are between £1,000 minimum and £25,000 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).

Financial Assistance - Tourism Events

Applications are welcomed from the community and voluntary sector for tourism events projects.

Grants are between £5,000 minimum and £15,000 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Tourism Events.

Financial Assistance - PCSP Community Safety Support

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for community safety projects.

Grants are between £500 minimum and £2,000 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - PCSP Community Safety Support.

Financial Assistance - Sports Programmes

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for the delivery of sports programmes and competitive sports events.

Grants are between £500 minimum and £2,500 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Sports Programmes.

Financial Assistance - Minority Communities

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for minority community projects.

Grants are between £500 minimum and £1,000 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Minority Communities.

Financial Assistance - Irish Language

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for Irish Language projects. 

Grants are between £500 minimum and £3,000 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Irish Language.

Financial Assistance - Suicide Prevention and Promotion of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for suicide prevention and emotional wellbeing projects. 

Grants are between £500 minimum and £1,500 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Suicide Prevention and Promotion of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing.

Financial Assistance - Local Biodiversity

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for biodiversity projects. 

Grants are between £500 minimum and £1,500 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Local Biodiversity.

Financial Assistance - Community Growing

Applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector are invited for Community Growing projects. 

Grants are between £500 minimum and £1,500 maximum.

Find out more about Financial Assistance - Community Growing.

Business finance and support finder

Our Business Support Finder helps you find publicly funded assistance specific to your business. It lists support in various forms, including financial aid and free or subsidised advice services. Search the Northern Ireland business support finder.