This funding round has closed.

Social Investment Gateway Programme

Applications closed

Funding: Up to £24,000
Deadline: 6 November 2026
Location: North West England
Applications: Applications closed

Overview

The Social Investment Gateway Programme is a free 12-month support programme run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). It helps charities, social enterprises and community organisations strengthen their trading and move closer to being ready for social investment within the next three years.

The programme will support 75 leaders across four cohorts. Cohort 2 runs from 1 March 2027 to 1 February 2028, and applications are now open. Face-to-face sessions take place in London and Manchester at the start, middle and end of the programme.

You can choose between two types of grant. A Match Trading Grant of up to £18,000 is designed to challenge your trading, and you can only draw it down as your trading grows. It is paid over 12 months in five instalments. A repayable grant of up to £24,000 is also available, with an average of around £22,000. SSE is piloting repayable grants, and 10 are on offer across both rounds. SSE will share the risk with you and wants to learn with you how repayable grants might help organisations get into social investment.

The programme suits organisations that have a trading model and plans to grow over the next year. You might want support with market development, pricing and sales, financial strategy, systems, governance, demonstrating impact or managing risk.

The deadline is noon on Friday 6 November 2026. One practical point: you should usually have an annual income above £100,000, counting all income and not just trading income. Groups below that level with a strong trading model are encouraged to contact SSE.

Official source: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/social-investment-gateway-programme. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

charity cic social enterprise

CIC grants in the UK explains which funders accept community interest companies, with the grants that are open now.

Also open to: community groups

Key requirements:

Open to England-based organisations
Annual income should usually be above £100,000, counting all income
You need an active trading model with plans to grow over the next year
You should be planning to apply for social investment, usually within three years
The Match Trading Grant of up to £18,000 can only be drawn down as trading increases, in five instalments over 12 months
The repayable grant of up to £24,000 is a pilot, with 10 available across both rounds
Face-to-face sessions are held in London and Manchester

The programme is open to England-based charities, social enterprises and community organisations. You should have applied for, or be planning to apply for, social investment, usually within three years. You need a trading model with plans to grow over the next year, and a need for extra support to be investment ready. You should have annual income above £100,000 (all income counts) and an active trading model. Groups below that level with a strong trading model are encouraged to contact SSE.

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

England-based charities, social enterprises and community organisations with an active trading model and income above £100,000, who want to grow and become ready for social investment within the next three years.

Sectors

Charities & Non-Profit Social Enterprise

Regions

National (UK-wide)

Full details from School for Social Entrepreneurs

Aims/priorities: This free 12-month support programme is a gateway to social investment for charities, social enterprises and community organisations that want to strengthen trading and move nearer to investment readiness within the next three years.Applicants must be intending to grow their organisation through applying for social investment in the next three…

How to apply

Register your interest on the SSE website to get the online application form and guidance notes. Round 2 is open now, and the deadline is noon on Friday 6 November 2026. You can email the School for Social Entrepreneurs at sig@sse.org.uk with any questions.

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