From Doubt to Success: A 2022 Social Innovation Challenge Winner’s Journey
The 2022 Social Innovation Challenge winner share their experience of applying to Firsport’s social innovation grant.
“Thank goodness we had the confidence to apply (…) and the openness and drive to keep going”
2022 Social Innovation Challenge winner
The 2024 Social Innovation Challenge (SIC) is currently open for expression of interest. This year, the theme is Breaking Barriers to Better Health and Wellbeing, inviting applications for social enterprise solutions that can tackle the deep-rooted inequalities preventing many in our society from living fulfilling and healthy lives.
If you think you have an idea that is a good fit for this year’s theme but are unsure whether to pursue this opportunity – we get it. Working on a funding application takes time and effort. We are also aware that with only one £50,000 award available each year, it may feel like the chances of success are low.
Whilst we try our best to make this process simple and valuable for applicants, why not hear it directly from someone who has gone through the process to understand what’s involved?
We asked our 2022 winners, Iona Energy Ltd, to share their experience, and this is what they told us:
In autumn 2022, the two-person team at Iona Energy Ltd saw the opportunity to apply from our tiny remote island for the national-level Social Innovation Challenge prize. We all know that competition for funding demands a lot of our resources. But some funding processes are designed in a way that genuinely stimulate reflection and strategic thinking. They offer rewarding experiences like pitching to a panel (scary but worth it). They have benefits regardless of the outcome. The SIC is one of these.
I must admit we had a mini-crisis when we realised there was one single Scotland-wide award. We thought of lots of reasons why it wouldn’t come to us. But we decided to keep going and take what we could from the experience.
This is one of our biggest lessons: if it is in an intuitive fit and a well-designed, thoughtful process – even if highly competitive – go ahead and apply because you’ll get something out of it. If you reach the stage of pitching to the panel, feel the fear and do it anyway. The panel is supportive and enabling, and they want you to do well. The SIC has a single award but it’s not a single ‘winner takes all’ model. By the panel stage, you’re shortlisted for the prize and therefore a winner, and Firstport actively aims to give a platform to its finalists.
At each stage, we had no expectations. We went on to win the 2022 award. The funding continues to be invaluable to our community-led company and our pathbreaking low carbon heat project. At least as importantly, hand on heart, Firstport has been the best, most flexible and enabling funder we’ve worked with. They understand that innovation is hard, they don’t balk when it’s not plain sailing – it certainly hasn’t been for us – and they are always ready to offer any support they can from all corners of their organisation.
Thank goodness we had the confidence to apply for the Social Innovation Challenge, and the openness and drive to keep going. If this year’s prize matches your vision, we urge you to do the same.
Shiona Ruhemann
Iona Heat Network Project Lead at Iona Energy Ltd
We hope Shiona’s testimonial encourages those of you considering an application. In recent editions, we introduced an Expression of Interest stage to make things easier for you. Once you tell us you’d like to apply, we invite you to a session to cover the application process and documents in depth and answer any burning questions.
We have also prepared two additional support sessions, one on cash flow projections and one on what funders look for. In terms of what you might get out of applying, everyone will get constructive feedback on their application and outcome. We have also partnered with our colleagues at The Ventures Lab to allow you to share your application with them with only one click – essentially putting your idea in front of two separate organisations for no extra effort.
And finally, the 2024 Social Innovation Challenge winner will be announced at the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards in November, offering additional networking opportunities to all finalists.
So, if you want to take the plunge, send us an expression of interest before 7 August. We’ll accept applications from those who expressed interest between 8 August and 4 September.
And for any questions or queries in the meantime, contact the Social Innovation Challenge Programme Manager, Carmen Paputa-Dutu by email carmen@firstport.org.uk.