The Social Innovation Challenge (SIC) is a grant-funding and support programme that seeks innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges of our times. The winner will receive a £30,000 grant and tailored support for the duration of their award to help them kick-start their solution. The other finalists will receive £10,000 each, in addition to signposting or introductions to alternative sources of funding or capacity-building programmes.
Key Criteria
To support solutions to the deepest issues currently present in Scotland, Firstport is looking for eligible applications addressing any one of the following four themes:
- Eradicating child poverty: innovative ideas which help the families of children living in deep poverty increase their long-term wellbeing and economic resilience.
- Growing the economy: projects providing innovative routes to meaningful employment for individuals facing significant barriers (such as disability, stigma or discrimination).
- Tackling the climate emergency: projects proposing innovative ways of reducing reliance on fossil fuels or delivering regenerative environmental solutions (such as increasing biodiversity, improving soil health or addressing water pollution).
- Ensuring high quality and sustainable public services: ideas that alleviate pressure on essential services by offering support to those who need it most, through innovative means.
