UnLtd’s Spaces 4 Change project ran from January 2016 to July 2021. Social entrepreneurs benefitted from an award of up to £5,000 to start their venture which aimed to improve a space for the benefit of the community and environment. Award winners were given access to expert advisors, support from an UnLtd Award Manager, and opportunities for peer-to-peer networking.
Spaces 4 Change made 83 awards, totalling £273,725. This is an average award of £3,297.89
37% of its award winners were from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds and 36% came from the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country
The ventures funded have ultimately supported several thousand direct beneficiaries and indirect beneficiaries in the tens of thousands
As a result of the award, four out of nine social entrepreneurs feel more able to create, or have increased, their professional networks. Social entrepreneurs stated that they had developed skills and knowledge as a result of the award. Almost all social entrepreneurs said they developed leadership and problem solving skills. Read more about the impact of Spaces 4 Change in its evaluation report here.
Several award winners secured further awards after Spaces 4 Change to grow their spaces. The organisation that one young person worked within to develop her project won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service and other award winners were invited to the wedding of the Duke of Sussex in acknowledgement of services to their community – read their story here.
