🌟 UnLtd's Do It Award offers £8,000 in funding for social entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that create positive social impact.
📊 Eligible projects must be in early stages (0-2 years old), demonstrate clear community benefit, and have potential for sustainable growth.
🎯 The application requires a detailed business plan, social impact measurement strategy, and clear use of funds - £8k (this can not be used for staff pay. focus should be on business growth)
💪 Applicants can be CIC's or individuals and able to show how their project addresses specific social issues.
🤝 The grant comes with valuable mentoring support and training opportunities. As well as help to the scale to £18k growth grant.
📅 Applications are assessed quarterly, with decisions typically made within 12 weeks. If you are successful you will be invited to do a zoom call panel interview.
💡 They particularly value projects that empower marginalised communities and create lasting social change.
📋 Application Success Tips:
1. Personal Narrative (Your Voice)
- Write your personal journey authentically
- Share how your idea came about, detail any life transformations
- Explain your passion for helping others
- Use YOUR words, not relying on AI text as it can sound flat
2. Impact Numbers 🔢
- Annual participants numbers across our programs
- Report impact i.e "78% reported reduced anxiety levels" or "68% reduction in self-harming behaviours"
- State estimated state savings i.e £180,000 saved in crisis intervention costs"
3. State Financial Projections Numbers. Examples;💰
Year 1:
- Grant funding: 80% of income
- Sales (clothing/books/online course): 20% (£12,000)
Year 2:
- Grant funding: 50%
- Sales: 50% (£30,000)
Year 3:
- Grant funding: 20%
- Sales: 80% (£48,000)
4. New Income Streams. State breakdown of income achieved so far and projected income 📈
-Income in year one achieved i.e £10,000 in online course and in person workshop sales.
Projected ambition to grow to sell these new products and services;
- DTG printed clothing: £25-45 per item
-Online course sales £3000 per month £87 per course
- Custom zine collections: £15-30 per set
- Workshop fees (paid sessions): £45 per person x 10 per session
- Projected monthly sales: £3,500-7,000
5. Measurable Outcomes to mention 📊
- Track improvements over 6 months of participants health, behaviour etc
- Monitor sales and customer feedback
- Document participant progression stories
- Record workshop attendance and retention rates
-Record social observations in a diary to build case studies
-Monitor any environmental gains and carbon footprint
6. Include Community Impact Details 🤝
- Number of local partnerships, mention by name
- Any referral statistics
- Employment opportunities created
- Skills development metrics
-Always stress the difference your intervention will make
7. Innovation Highlights ⭐
- What problem are you solving?
-Why is your intervention unique ie 'we combining mental health support with creative enterprise'
-What we offer that extra to statutory services i'e Digital platform integration
8. Growth Strategy. Tell them your ambisions📱
Examples could be
- Online shop development
- Workshop expansion plans
- Employment pathways for participants
- Geographic expansion targets
9. Risk Management. Mention who you will mitigate risk🛡️
- Market research data
- Competitor analysis
- Contingency plans
- Quality control measures
10. Sustainability Plan 🌱
- Reducing grant dependency timeline
- Environmental considerations
- Community reinvestment strategy
- Long-term impact measurement
Key Tips:
✅ Use real numbers and specific data, percentages and results
✅ Include participant testimonials in their exact words
✅ Show clear progression from grant to earned income
✅ Demonstrate both social and financial sustainability
✅ Include specific impact metrics
✅ Show innovation in combining therapy with enterprise
Remember:
❗ Be authentic in your writing
❗ Show passion through specific examples
❗ Include real participant stories
❗ Demonstrate clear financial planning
❗ Highlight unique selling points of your clothing line
❗ Show how it extends your mental health impact