Image of a charity shop

SNG launches new fund for social enterprises

• 4 min read

SNG has launched a new fund for social enterprises based in local communities across the South of England. Our Social Enterprise Commercial Fund will offer organisations £50,000, with grants available up to £4000 for each one.

The fund is specifically targeted at not-for-profit organisations which trade from shops and commercial spaces within the communities where SNG customers live. The housing association wants to ensure that organisations and businesses set up for social good continue to play a long-term role in creating vibrant commercial spaces in neighbourhoods.

Those looking to apply must be able to demonstrate that they fall into one of the categories below: 

  • Helping people enter employment and training – funds can be used for training volunteers who are SNG residents, or costs associated with work placements (training in areas such as health and safety).
  • Supporting vulnerable or under-represented groups or communities – for example, a dementia cafe or a social space for ethnic minority groups.
  • Addressing poverty and inequality – for example, charity shops, community stores and shops in the centre of our neighbourhoods or in rural locations.

Jamie Ratcliff, SNG Chief Communities and Sustainability Officer, commented: “Our vision is for thriving communities, over generations and we’re committed to supporting not-for-profit enterprises which help SNG customers and their neighbourhoods. Many businesses based in commercial centres across the country have already battled the Covid-19 pandemic and are now facing rising costs. This is even more of a challenge for not-for-profit organisations who often only have fixed grant funding for their activities. Therefore, this fund couldn’t come at a better time, and we would urge those social enterprises who qualify to come forward and apply.”

The SNG Social Enterprise Commercial Fund opens on Monday 5 February and will close at 5pm on Friday 1 March. If you want to find out more please visit our SNG Commercial Support Fund here and you can apply by emailing grants@sng.org.uk.