£1.6m fund for social schemes
Social entrepreneurs with bright ideas that will provide training, employment and independent living opportunities to tackle homelessness are being challenged to bid for a share of a £1.6 million investment fund.
The Spark 2010 Challenge – building on the success of 2008 and 2009 – was launched this week by founders John Montague, CEO of The TREES Group, and Nigel Kershaw, chairman of Big Issue Invest, with the continued support of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Mr Montague said: “Spark is much more than a competition or a grant application.
“It is a cross-sector collaboration that brings together leading organisations and social enterprises from the public, private and third sector to work together to build sustainable solutions to homelessness.
“For the third year we are immensely pleased to announce the involvement of Spark partners PricewaterhouseCoopers, Places for People and BT, and welcome Willmott Dixon to the partnership.”
Entrants for Spark 2010 need to submit their business case via www.sparkchallenge.org.uk by 5pm on August 13.
