Big Issue Invest Trust

BIIT funds initiatives addressing economic and social exclusion, including employability and skills training for marginalised groups, digital and financial capability building, inclusive enterprise opportunities, and capacity-building for social trading. Signature programmes support Big Issue vendors starting micro-enterprises and early-stage social enterprises catalysing community transformation. The Trust operates UK-wide with a focus on deprived areas. It supports project, seed, capacity-building, and core costs that help organisations become sustainable and grow their traded income.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and social enterprises, especially small, early-stage, grassroots, or beneficiary-led organisations. The Trust prioritises those facing barriers to mainstream finance and delivering high social impact in deprived communities. No religious restrictions apply, but strong community ties and a commitment to systemic change are important. Beneficiary groups include marginalised individuals, Big Issue vendors, and excluded communities.

BIIT avoids short-term relief and emergency aid, emphasising lasting empowerment and self-help. It does not fund purely commercial ventures without a clear social mission. The Trust focuses on sustainable interventions rather than immediate relief.

The Trust provides grants alongside mentoring and capacity-building support. It funds through targeted programmes such as the Vendor Enterprise Programme and Power Up London. BIIT welcomes unsolicited applications. Grants support project, seed, capacity-building, and core costs tied to sustainability and traded income growth. The emphasis is on building resilient social enterprises.