I’m delighted to let you know that our Beyond Boyle food charity has won a substantial amount of Spark funding that will enable us to better help the homeless.

Spark is a pioneering development and investment programme that aims to inspires organisations to build social enterprises that will prevent and tackle homelessness using sustainable business models.

Beyond Boyle wins funding for homeless

I’m delighted to let you know that our Beyond Boyle food charity has won a substantial amount of Spark funding that will enable us to better help the homeless.

Spark is a pioneering development and investment programme that aims to inspires organisations to build social enterprises that will prevent and tackle homelessness using sustainable business models.

Each year, Spark provides funding to enable organisations to advance their social enterprise plans. Beyond Boyle is one of the 15 winners for 2009, selected from among 139 applicants.

The total value of the prize package available for 2009 is £1.6 million, which will be allocated among the 15 winners according to the specific needs of each organisation.

As part of the prize package, during March, April and May we are working through an investment readiness programme to prepare investment materials and develop our business case. Then in June, we and the other winners will pitch our business case to Spark’s high-profile panel of social enterprise, homeless sector and business leaders in an opportunity to win further investment money.

We will also be matched with a corporate partner such as BT or PricewaterhouseCoopers in order to enhance our skills and resources and help the charity element of our business grow as a sustainable enterprise.

This is an excellent opportunity for us to expand our social enterprise activities with expert support and guidance, and we are delighted that everyone’s efforts at Beyond Boyle are being recognised and supported in this way.

To learn more about Beyond Boyle, visit http://www.beyondboyle.com

To learn more about Spark, visit http://www.sparkchallenge.org/

BB served 6,000 people at 150 events in 2008
We all know that 2009 is going to be difficult, but we firmly believe that it will be those that are prepared to stick their necks out that will succeed.