Spring Impact Spring Impact

Social Impact at Scale

Spring Impact Spring Impact

Scale Accelerator

Scale Accelerator helps mission-driven organisations to maximise their impact on people’s lives by offering £30,000 worth of consultancy from a dedicated team of experts.

“It’s really helped us take a step back as an organisation, and work out where we are now and where we would like to be” (Evolve, Current Scale Accelerator participant)

Applications for the next cohort of Scale Accelerator will open in 2021.

Is there a pressing social issue that you are passionate about addressing? Do you feel that your organisation should be doing even more to solve it?
   
Scale Accelerator is a fully funded 6-month Accelerator Programme for UK based charities and social enterprises who are ambitious about impact.
   
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (formerly known as Big Lottery), organisations get access to a dedicated team of expert consultants and join a small group of other organisations on a similar journey. 
  
Applications for the next cohort of Scale Accelerator will open in 2021.

Think it might be for you?

Register your interest

Register interest in the 2021 cohort

What you'll leave with

Organisations will leave Scale Accelerator with:
  • A clear strategy for maximising your impact, built collaboratively with your team
  • An understanding of the implications of your strategy, and a plan to take it forward
  • An understanding of the financial implications of your plans, and a tool to keep track of these ongoing
  • A strong case to bring to funders and partners
  • The clarity, confidence and capabilities to take your plans forward
  • A supportive network of other social leaders
We will provide a detailed report, financial model and clear roadmap for you to take with you on your journey.

Meet our current cohort

We have selected six brilliant organisations to take part in our current cohort – receiving support to reach more people and meet the scale of social need across the UK. Meet them here.

The current cohort has two tracks.

Do you have a great solution that you know needs to reach more people? Want to figure out how to make that happen in a sustainable way?

Track 1

Track 1 will help you work out how to scale your impact (without necessarily needing to grow your organisation!) We’ll work collaboratively with you to think through what your programme could look like in new locations, which partners might implement your solution elsewhere, and what your relationships with those partners could look like.

“There was a lot of demand but we didn’t have a concrete way to partner with the people driving it forward… now, through Scale Accelerator, we have a more formalised route forward” (Wevolution)

Register interest in the Spring 2021 cohort

COVID-19 has changed so much. Are you looking to make a step change in the way you work to maximise impact in a very different world?

Track 2

Track 2 is for organisations who are at a critical point and need to pivot, prioritise and adapt to have as much impact as possible. Maybe you are facing one of the following questions:

  • Your resources are stretched. Where do you invest your efforts to sustain your impact and do more for less?
  • You want to work more in partnership. But how do you  build strong and long-lasting collaborations?
  • You have a great solution. How do you adapt it so it’s ready to take to more people?

Whatever key strategic question you have, we will work collaboratively with you to give your team confidence and clarity on how to maximise impact.

Register interest in the Spring 2021 cohort

“

The programme was truly transformative for us, giving us clarity, guidance and a plan that accelerated us forward!

”
— Mayday Trust

What does Scale Accelerator involve?

Bespoke Consultancy

Tailored support

Organisations on both tracks will receive £30,000 worth of consultancy support from a dedicated team of consultants (meet them here!)
  
Your consultants will work collaboratively with you over the 6 months to:
  • Define a strategy for how to maximise your impact
  • Explore different routes to scaling and maximising impact and consider what is right for you 
  • Understand the financial implications of your plans for impact
After this period, the consulting team will provide lighter touch support for your organisation over the following year, helping you tackle challenges as you roll out your plans.
  
“It’s made a huge difference to the work we’re going to do in the future” (Franklin Scholars)

Joining a cohort

Learning together

Alongside the bespoke consultancy, a series of cohort events will allow you to: 
  • Build supportive, long lasting relationships with other social organisations
  • Share experiences and learn from organisations on a similar journey
  • Up-skill your team and create a shared language and framework around scaling and maximising impact

Networking Opportunities

Alumni Network

Enter our prestigious cohort of Scale Accelerator alumni. Continue to make connections and support one another in your journeys.

Keep track of updates

Register your interest

Ring us for a chat

Contact us

Phone: +44 (0) 203 1943060 Email: hannah.barker@springimpact.org

FAQs

We’re not a UK organisation. Can we still apply?

Unfortunately this programme is only for the UK based organisations looking to maximise the impact of interventions in the UK, as this is a condition of our funders The National Lottery Community Fund. If you’re still looking for scale support, please see our consultancy support and don’t hesitate to get in touch to explore what options could be good for you. 

What will be expected of us?

Organisations chosen to take part in Scale Accelerator receive fully funded consultancy support.
In return, successful organisations are expected to:
  • Engage fully with the programme, committing around 12 days of time for 2 team members over a 6 month period 
  • Engage in the programme evaluation (taking part in short interviews and completing surveys)
  • Support with marketing of the programme, including social media activity; inclusion of logo on website; drafting blog(s) about the programme
  • Take responsibility for engaging, influencing and informing their internal team and trustees 

How much time will be required from our team?

We tailor our support to the needs of each organisation so it can look quite different from organisation to organisation. However, as an indication, the time required from you might look something like this:
• ~4 full days for 3-4 members of your leadership team to attend collaborative workshops tailored to your organisation (or~8 half days) 
• ~1hr a week for communication with Spring Impact team
• ~2 days each for 2 members of your team to be upskilled in financial modelling 
• ~2 days for someone in your team to test your plan with stakeholders 
• ~3-4 days for 2 members of your team to attend cohort events

What about COVID-19? How will that impact the programme?

We are planning for workshops and cohort events to take place remotely initially. We have proven our ability over the last few months to adapt our approach to online and are confident that organisations will continue to benefit from high quality interaction with their consulting teams. When it is safe to do so, we will aim to complete these activities in person. We will of course engage you in this decision.

Does my organisation need to work in a particular sector to apply?

No. We are not focusing on any particular sector for the next cohort. As long as you are a UK-based non-profit that meets the eligibility criteria, you can apply.

Will organisations in particular locations be favoured over others?

We are looking for a geographical spread of organisations across the UK. We are particularly keen to hear from organisations based in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. 

How ambitious do I need to be about scale?

We are looking for organisations that are ambitious about the impact they want to achieve. Either you have a drive to scale your impact and reach more people (track 1). Or you don’t feel in a position to think about scale right now, but you know you want to make a step change to have as much impact as possible in a changing world (track 2). 

Scale Accelerator Case Studies

Learnings and insights

Previous Scale Accelerator participants

Scale Accelerator

Age UK Cheshire provides care and support services to elderly people including physical and mental health and be an active member of their community. This in turn empowers them to love later life. We worked with Age UK Cheshire to explore how their Men in Sheds programme could be scaled up.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

A Band of Brothers is a nonprofit established by men committed to positive social change through personal development and community building. A Band of Brothers was a participant in our first UK Scale Accelerator  programme.

Scale Accelerator

Bikeworks is a London based non-profit social enterprise that uses cycling as a tool to tackle social and environmental challenges in the community. It aims to build a diverse cycling community, initiate capability of mechanical skills and supports businesses to be greener.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

Groundswell is a nonprofit which works to tackle homelessness by working with homeless people and enable othem to take more control of their lives, have a greater influence on services, and therefore set a chain reaction of togetherness and opportunity. We worked with Groundswell to scale the impact of their Homeless Health Peer Advocacy Programme that partners former homeless with current homeless, to ensure health appointments are met.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

Leonard Cheshire Disability is a nonprofit supporting disabled people in the UK and around the world to remain active members of society, fulfil their potential and establish their independence.  We specifically helped Leonard Cheshire to scale their CAN DO project: a volunteer programme for 16-35-year-olds across the UK.

 
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

RECLAIM is a social change organisation that challenges the homogeneity that exists in the leadership profiles across UK society and supports youths and the working class people.

 
Scale Accelerator

Safer Places is a nonprofit which provides a comprehensive range of services to adults and children affected by domestic and sexual abuse, not only offering safe accommodation (West Essex, Mid Essex, Hertfordshire and Southend) but helping victims to overcome these experiences and build a better future for themselves.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

Staying Put is a UK nonprofit which offers a range of services to victims and survivors of domestic abuse and aims to empower them to safely remain in their own home and community.

Scale Accelerator

Street Doctors is a UK nonprofit who change the lives of high risk young people by giving them the skills they need to deliver life-saving first aid. Through the programme Street Doctors aim to increase the confidence and aspirations of youths, give them a sense of responsibility for their actions and help them to change their attitudes towards violence.

We facilitated an initial workshop with Street Doctors to consider their replication potential and are now providing ongoing support and advice to Street Doctors as they develop a replication model for international expansion.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

The Reader is an award winning UK social enterprise working to connecting people with great literature through shared reading. Furthermore, it pioneers the use of shared reading to improve well-being, reduce social isolation and build resilience across diverse communities.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator

Vi-ability, based in North Wales, is a social enterprise working with young adults to transform struggling community sports clubs into viable, thriving businesses and hubs, using this as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and engaging youths into local communities. It provides opportunities to develop skills by offering training, work experience and qualifications in commercial sports management.

Scale Accelerator
Scale Accelerator
Action West London is a social enterprise that runs Acton Street Market, which brings diverse communities together by creating entrepreneurial opportunities and an inclusive, high profile public space.
Scale Accelerator
Urban Uprising is a Scotland-based charity using rock-climbing to improve the wellbeing of at-risk 8 to 18 year olds in the UK who are disadvantaged by poverty, health and other inequalities.
Scale Accelerator
Settle is a London charity that supports vulnerable young people moving into their first home, as part of a mission to break the cycle of youth homelessness
Scale Accelerator
PeacePlayers International is a cross-community charity that uses basketball to unite, educate and inspire young people in Northern Ireland, as a means to promote peace and reconciliation
Scale Accelerator
Social Bite is a social enterprise running an employment support programme for vulnerable and marginalised people experiencing homelessness across Scotland
Scale Accelerator
Humber All Nations Alliance is a charity promoting the  well-being of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and migrant communities throughout Hull and the Humber.
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