Early action

We want to tackle social issues at an early stage, either to stop them occurring or to prevent them from worsening.

Third

Key stats

  • £81.8m

    Total invested by Big Society Capital

  • £187.3m

    Total invested by Big Society Capital and other investors alongside us

  • 47,000

    Number of people we expect to support through social outcomes contracts

  • The challenge

    Many social challenges, from obesity to unemployment, and preventing mental ill health, are tackled best by acting early to address their root causes. But too often the systems and interventions we have in place are not set up that way and instead try to pick up the pieces later. By then it is often too late, with issues becoming deeper and more complex.

  • Our approach

    We work with partners on issues where early action can make a difference, seeking to understand people’s needs to bring a range of skills, experience and resources to the table. Only then can we create ideas and investment solutions to address root causes and prevent issues from occurring or escalating.

    We develop new approaches with the potential to replicate and scale, and do so mainly through outcomes contracts and social ventures.

Current work

Working with expert partners, we seek to understand people’s needs first. Then, using our knowledge and capital, we collaborate and invest with fund managers who also want to create a better, sustainable future.

Funds in early action

Fund manager Fund name Investment type Fund size Focus area Investment status
Ananda Ventures Ananda Social Venture Fund III Enterprise equity <£50 million Early action Current
Bethnal Green Ventures Bethnal Green Ventures Enterprise equity <£15 million Early action Current
Big Issue Invest Big Issue Invest Outcomes Investment Fund LP Outcomes contract <£15 million Early action Current
Bridges Fund Management Bridges Social Outcomes Funds Outcomes contract <£50 million Early action Current
Social Finance Care and Wellbeing Fund Outcomes contract <£15 million Early action Current
Connect Ventures Connect Ventures III Enterprise equity <£250 million Early action Current
Eka Ventures Eka Ventures Fund Enterprise equity <£15 million Early action Current
Ascension Ventures Good Food Fund Enterprise debt <£15 million Early action Current
Impact Ventures UK Impact Ventures UK Enterprise equity <£50 million Early action Current
Nesta Impact Investments NESTA Impact Investment Fund Enterprise equity <£50 million Early action Current

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Contact

We want to work with social entrepreneurs, charities and public bodies to help tackle social issues at an early stage.