GrantRadar

UnLtd

UnLtd Awards

UnLtd Awards give individual social entrepreneurs in the UK funding plus a package of support (a Support Manager, workshops, business mentoring and legal advice) to start or grow a social venture. Starting Up Awards are up to £8,000 for ventures trading under a year; Scaling Up Awards are up to £18,000 (which can also cover the entrepreneur's living costs) for ventures trading 1-4 years. The award goes to the founder, not to an organisation, and applications are taken in rounds after a compulsory online eligibility checker; the current round closes on 30 November 2026 or earlier if 650 applications are reached.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £18,000
Deadline
43 days left
30 November
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Individuals aged 16 or over (16-30 for the Funding Futures Programme) who are the founder or leader of a social venture, currently live in the UK and have the right to work for the 12-month Award period, and need both financial and non-financial support
  • The venture must be clearly driven by a social purpose, show a clear need, benefit people or places in the UK, be unincorporated or incorporated for less than 4 years, and have turnover under £250,000 in its last financial year
  • Starting Up Awards are for ventures trading under 1 year; Scaling Up Awards are for ventures trading 1-4 years that earned £18,000 or more in the last 12 months
  • Applicants cannot have received the same Award type before
  • The award is made to the individual entrepreneur, not to an established charity

What it funds

  • Social venture costs for ventures that are clearly driven by a social purpose and benefit people or places in the UK
  • Starting Up Awards (up to £8,000) cover social venture costs for ventures trading less than a year
  • Scaling Up Awards (up to £18,000) cover social venture costs and the social entrepreneur's living costs for ventures trading 1-4 years that earned at least £18,000 in the last 12 months
  • Each Award comes with a Support Manager, workshop series, business mentoring and legal adviser consultancy over a 12-month Award period
  • Programmes include the Millennium Awards Trust (age 16+, any social focus) and the Funding Futures Programme (age 16-30, financial inclusion focus, which adds financial literacy resources and a peer community)

What it will not fund

  • Applications primarily for formal or academic qualifications
  • Applications primarily for overseas travel
  • Applications primarily for paying others to deliver the work on your behalf
  • Activities that have been running for 4 years or more
  • Political or religious campaigning
  • Illegal activities or activities causing harm to communities
  • Ventures that only raise awareness without delivering tangible action
  • Ventures with turnover of £250,000 or more in the last financial year
  • People who have already received the same type of Award

How to apply

  1. Read the eligibility criteria, then complete the online eligibility checker (required first step; it matches you to the most suitable Award and programme)
  2. Complete the application form on the UnLtd portal, including the financial data workbook, and submit before the round closes (30 November 2026, 10:00) or capacity (650 applications) is reached
  3. Application review (2 Dec 2026-16 Feb 2027): Support Managers assess against the eligibility criteria and three key areas - social impact, inclusion and financial sustainability
  4. Panel (17 Feb-5 Mar 2027): strong applicants discuss their venture with staff and experienced social entrepreneurs; recommendations go to the Awards Committee
  5. Result (23-25 Mar 2027): successful applicants receive their award amount and budget, an invitation to a welcome workshop and an introduction to their Support Manager

Applications are accepted through the online portal only, unless alternatives are arranged in advance; one-to-one help is available for people with additional support needs.

Information sessions are run during the round (e.g. Funding Futures Programme sessions on 13 Oct and 3 Nov 2026).

Have ready

  • Financial data workbook (UnLtd's Excel template: 12 months of financial history and 12 months of forecast, including the UnLtd grant, with assumptions)

Most recent full accounts should also be uploaded if you have them.

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