UnLtd

UnLtd - The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom^[2][3] set up by seven organisations that promote Social entrepreneurship.^[4] The organisation offers cash Awards, networking and mentorship opportunities for social entrepreneurs in the UK.

History

UnLtd was formed in 2000 by seven leading non-profit organisations working with social entrepreneurs both across the UK and internationally: Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, Changemakers, Community Action Network (CAN), Comic Relief, The Scarman Trust, SENSCOT, and The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE).

UnLtd’s Awards are funded by the income generated by a £100 million endowment from the Millennium Commission as a permanent source of grants for individuals throughout the United Kingdom to develop their skills and talents, and to contribute to the community; the income from the endowment is held by the Millennium Awards, of which UnLtd is the sole Trustee.^[2] This legacy is invested as a permanent endowment so that it generates sufficient income to fund UnLtd’s Millennium Awards in perpetuity.^[5]

In addition, UnLtd raises funds from government, foundations, companies and others. UnLtd is accountable to its Board of Trustees; trustees have a responsibility to act collectively to ensure the proper administration of the charity. They must safeguard the assets of the charity to ensure that these assets and resources are only used in furtherance of the objects of the charity.

Current practice

UnLtd provides an individually tailored combination of cash funding, practical support and networking opportunities. In addition to funding support, it provides dedicated Award Managers offering business and mentoring support, networking opportunities, training and development opportunities and access to wider support and pro bono services.

UnLtd’s core Millennium Awards Scheme is for people:

• Over the age of 16
• Resident in the approved territories (essentially the UK)
• Who are applying as an individual or informal group
• Who want to run projects:
  • that benefit the public or a community in the UK
  • that need an UnLtd Award to ensure its success
  • that offer a learning opportunity for the applicant(s)
  • that are a new initiative

UnLtd offers different levels of Award:

• Do It Awards offer an average of a £2,500 cash Award, 1 to 1 support, expert advice, and access to resources
• Build It Awards offer an average of a £15,000 cash Award, 1 to 1 support, pro bono and networking opportunities, and help to develop your team and board
• Fast Growth Awards offer up to £20,000 (average £15,000), 1 to 1 support, expert advice, pro bono and networking opportunities, and access to resources

UnLtd's funding throughout the UK is divided throughout 5 regions; London, The South and the East of England, The North of England and the Midlands, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

UnLtd Ventures

UnLtd Ventures provides consultancy support to a number of outstanding social entrepreneurs, helping them to scale up or replicate their projects. These are individuals who have already established themselves as successful social entrepreneurs, either through the UnLtd Do It and Build It Awards or independently of UnLtd.

This is achieved by providing support through in-house resources of business consultants and experienced practitioners, as well as through partnerships with external providers of specialist services where appropriate. UnLtd Ventures also acts as a broker between ‘Venturers’ and providers of a range of different types of funding.

UnLtd Ventures also explore potential partnerships with organisations that have experience in raising and distributing investment funds, which would complement UnLtd Ventures experience in sourcing and supporting entrepreneurs. The market place for investment in Social enterprise and social entrepreneurs is evolving rapidly and Ventures remain committed to providing an innovative approach based on the experience of the wider organisation within Do It and Build It Awards.

UnLtd Research

UnLtd Research studies the impact of the support UnLtd gives to early start social entrepreneurs, and the impact they have on the worlds in which they live. UnLtd believes that in-depth research into the individuals they support, their learning, needs and impact is the best way to improve the work of UnLtd to enhance the contribution which early start social entrepreneurs make to the world. UnLtd has partnerships with academic institutions UCL, Open University, Middlesex University, University of Birmingham.

Unltd India

UnLtd supports Unltd India^[6] which funds and supports social entrepreneurs. Unltd India is based in Mumbai and also runs Bombay Connect. Other initiatives of UnLtd India are Bootcamp, Journeys for Change and Social Mashup.

Unltd South Africa

UnLtd supports Unltd South Africa^[7] which funds and supports social entrepreneurs. Unltd South Africa is based in Cape Town.

Unltd Thailand

UnLtd supports UnLtd Thailand^[8] which funds and supports social entrepreneurs. Unltd Thailand is based in Bangkok.

UnLtdWorld

On March 4, 2008, UnLtd launched UnLtdWorld, an online community for socially minded people. UnLtdWorld was an online platform that connected social entrepreneurs and attempted to empower the way insight and information was shared, and exchanged, within the social enterprise sector and market. UnLtdWorld aimed to provide social entrepreneurs with the most powerful possible platform to dynamically connect, and through a community share knowledge and find the tools they need to succeed.

Alongside fostering a vibrant community, UnLtdWorld's goal was to improve the way targeted information, business intelligence and critical social and market insight are accessed and exchanged by all relevant stakeholders within the social enterprise sector and market.

This was done through the UnLtdWorld Research Lab, which graphs information fed from the UnLtdWorld platform (around community, content and trends). Through an API all the data was made accessible and dynamically usable, by anyone, everywhere.

It was sold to The Guardian in 2011.

See also

• Social entrepreneurship
• Social enterprise
• Social firm
• Social business enterprise

Notes and references

External links

• UnLtd
• UnLtdWorld
• Ashoka
• Changemakers
• Community Action Network (CAN)
• Comic Relief
• The Scarman Trust
• SENSCOT
• The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE)