Tag: Big Issue Invest

Social investment fund tackling UK social inequality hits the £1m mark with latest investments

Stuart Mitchell

A social impact investment fund developed by Big Issue Invest (BIIFM) and UnLtd, has provided a further £500,000 in investment to two social purpose organisations, taking the Fund’s total investments made to £1m. The Growth Impact Fund is a £25m evergreen fund, investing in early and growth stage organisations, delivered by UnLtd: The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and BIIFM, to help create a more equitable Britain. The Fund has attracted close to £10 million of capital so far, including grant capital from cornerstone investors Access – the Foundation for Social…

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Pioneering Fund focused on supporting Social Enterprises and alleviating poverty releases final Impact Report

Stuart Mitchell

Big Issue Invest (BII), the investment arm of the Big Issue, has released the Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF I) 2022/23 Final Impact Report, highlighting the success of the Fund in driving social and economic change for people affected by poverty in the UK. Established in 2010, SEIF I has prioritised social impact over profits, while still delivering a financial return. SEIF I invested in organisations with innovative, socially-driven, and sustainable business models that improved the lives of the most disadvantaged individuals and communities. By 2022, SEIF I had recovered…

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Social Enterprise leading the charge in tackling prisoner education secures £150,000 of investment

Stuart Mitchell

Doing What Really Matters (DWRM), a social enterprise that works with universities to offer degree courses to facilitate prisoner rehabilitation, has received £150,000 in funding. The Growth Impact Fund, a social impact investment fund developed by Big Issue Invest (BIIFM) and UnLtd has provided the backing in order for the organisation to increase the number of students in prison accessing Further and Higher Education to 25% of the prison population within 10 years – an increase of 20,000 students.  It is well-documented that both prisoners and prison leavers have limited…

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London and South East based social enterprise has received £150,000 in investment from Big Issue Invest

Stuart Mitchell

Big Issue Invest (BII) has announced a £150,000 investment in Meanwhile Space CIC, a social enterprise that transforms vacant and underused spaces into community hubs for micro-enterprises, the money will help them undergo a major restructure. BII, the investment arm of the Big Issue Group, has a long-standing relationship with the social enterprise, and has provided £375,000 in loans to Meanwhile Space over the last five years. Meanwhile Space is a social enterprise that has been operating for 13 years across London and the South East. It creates vibrant communities…

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UnLtd. and Big Issue Invest’s £10 million pound Fund announces new investment into neurodivergent talent startup

Stuart Mitchell

The Growth Impact Fund, a social impact investment fund developed by Big Issue Invest (BII) and UnLtd, has made its first investment aimed at tackling the underrepresentation in the workplace of people from neurodivergent backgrounds. The Fund has invested £300,000 in neurodivergent talent platform Neuropool, which aims to get more than 10,000 neurodivergent people into employment by 2030. The company was established by Jack Dyrhauge, an Autistic / ADHD Entrepreneur. The tech-for-good organisation builds neurodivergent talent pools for leading brands like Universal Music Group, the Financial Times and universities like…

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