The Growth Fund aims to tackle the gap in the provision of finance of under £150,000 for charities and social enterprises. We will do this by providing a blend of loan and grant capital to SIFIs allowing them to offer more simple investment products for the sector. Access will not make investments directly in charities and social enterprises.

If you are a SIFI who will on-lend to charities and social enterprises in England, or an organisation with good reach into the sector ( such as an infrastructure organisation) intending to operate in partnership with a SIFI, then you can now express your interest in making an application to the Growth Fund.

Access has published further about how the Growth Fund will work, including eligibility criteria, detailed guidance for SIFIs and dates of forthcoming investment committee meetings.

Charities and Social Enterprises are not able to apply directly for funds from the Growth Fund. If you are a charity or social enterprise you will be able to apply for investments of under £150,000 from SIFIs who have received funds from Growth Fund later in 2015. In the meantime if you are seeking investment then please see this comprehensive list of open funds on the website of our sister organisation Big Society Capital.

The Growth Fund has been developed in partnership with Big Society Capital and the Big Lottery Fund.