Deadline: 03-Aug-2026
The Shackleton Foundation Seed Funding Programme provides early-stage financial support and leadership development to aspiring social entrepreneurs across the United Kingdom who are launching innovative ventures for disadvantaged young people. Alongside up to £15,000 in seed funding, the programme also offers structured leadership mentoring through the Shackleton Leadership Programme to help founders develop sustainable, high-impact social ventures.
Programme Overview
The Shackleton Foundation aims to support individuals and organisations that demonstrate:
- Innovation and entrepreneurial thinking
- Courage, ambition, and leadership potential
- Commitment to social change for young people
- Strong motivation to address inequality and disadvantage
- Early-stage readiness for venture creation and growth
The programme focuses on supporting bold ideas at a very early stage, especially those that may not yet qualify for traditional funding.
Target Beneficiaries
Funded projects must exclusively benefit disadvantaged young people in the UK aged 0–25.
Disadvantage may include:
- Poverty and financial hardship
- Homelessness or unstable housing
- Mental health challenges
- Barriers to education or employment
- Disability or health-related challenges
- Discrimination or social exclusion
- Youth offending or risk of offending
Thematic Focus Areas
Projects may operate across multiple social impact sectors, including:
- Education and learning support
- Life skills and employability development
- Physical and mental health support
- Youth offending prevention and rehabilitation
- Community development and social welfare
Funding Details
- Funding amount: up to £15,000
- Form: Grant or loan
- Stage: Early-stage ventures (maximum 12 months old)
- Requirement: Funding must represent at least 25% of total annual project cost
Funding is designed as seed capital to launch or scale early social ventures.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be individuals or organisations based in the UK
- Be establishing a new organisation OR running one registered within the past 12 months
- Demonstrate a clear focus on disadvantaged young people (0–25)
- Show innovation, measurable impact, and sustainability potential
- Present a viable and scalable social enterprise model
Shackleton Leadership Programme (Non-Financial Support)
Successful applicants also receive leadership and mentoring support, including:
- Assigned Leader Partner for guidance
- Quarterly advisory sessions
- Annual leadership forums
- Access to networking and visibility opportunities
- Introductions to follow-on and scale-up funders
This support is designed to strengthen leadership capacity and long-term sustainability.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Develop a social venture idea focused on disadvantaged youth
- Establish a new organisation or early-stage entity (≤12 months old)
- Define impact goals and target beneficiaries clearly
- Prepare financial and sustainability plan
- Submit application to Shackleton Foundation
- Participate in evaluation and selection process
- If selected, receive funding plus leadership programme support
Key Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Level of innovation and originality
- Social impact potential
- Clarity of need and target group
- Leadership strength and lived experience
- Sustainability and scalability of the model
- Feasibility of delivery within early-stage constraints
Purpose and Impact
The programme aims to:
- Support early-stage social entrepreneurs
- Improve outcomes for disadvantaged young people
- Encourage innovation in youth-focused social services
- Build resilient and sustainable social ventures
- Develop future leaders in the UK social impact sector
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who can apply for this programme?
UK-based individuals or early-stage organisations less than 12 months old working with disadvantaged young people.
2. What is the maximum funding available?
Up to £15,000 as a grant or loan, depending on the project.
3. Who must the project benefit?
Only disadvantaged young people aged 0–25 in the UK.
4. Can existing organisations apply?
Yes, but only if they are newly registered (within the last 12 months).
5. What additional support is provided?
Successful applicants receive leadership mentoring through the Shackleton Leadership Programme.
6. What types of projects are supported?
Innovative social ventures in education, health, employability, youth justice, and community welfare.
7. Is full funding available from this grant?
No, applicants must show additional funding sources since this grant must cover at least 25% of total project costs.
Conclusion
The Shackleton Foundation Seed Funding Programme is designed to empower early-stage social entrepreneurs in the UK by combining financial support with structured leadership development. It enables innovative, high-risk ideas focused on disadvantaged young people to move from concept to implementation while building long-term social impact and sustainability.
For more information, visit Shackleton Foundation.