Social Innovation Challenge 2026: Scotland’s search for social innovators reopens
The Social Innovation Challenge supports pioneering ideas that tackle Scotland’s most pressing social and environmental issues.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Social Innovation Challenge, which supports pioneering ideas to tackle Scotland’s most pressing social and environmental issues.
Delivered by Firstport, the Challenge offers a £30,000 top prize, along with hands-on support to develop and scale the winning idea. Two runners-up will each receive £10,000.
Since launching in 2022, the programme has backed innovative, theme-led solutions across Scotland. Previous winners include Thrive East Lothian CIC, a Haddington-based childcare provider delivering a low-cost, inclusive nursery model to address childcare gaps and create a blueprint for communities nationwide. Earlier winners include Glasgow-based ApparelXchange and Building Futures Galloway in Newton Stewart.
This year, the Challenge is again seeking ideas that address one or more of four key priorities: child poverty, the climate emergency, economic growth, and public services improvements.
The programme is open to individuals and organisations with social enterprise ideas that can deliver meaningful, lasting impact. To be considered, applicants should demonstrate that their innovation has the potential to solve the priority areas in new ways: a new product, service, business model, or a novel use of an existing approach.
Kirstie Penman, Head of Programmes at Firstport, said:
We’re excited to launch the 2026 Social Innovation Challenge. We know there are individuals and organisations across Scotland who are using their skills, lived experience and networks to develop bold, creative solutions to complex problems.
The Social Innovation Challenge offers a unique opportunity to tap into significant funding, combined with tailored, hands-on support to turn their idea into reality. We look forward to hearing their ideas and helping bring them to life.
Last year’s winner and founder of Thrive East Lothian CIC, Anisha Yaseen, said:
The Social Innovation Challenge was about more than money. It was about providing a platform where we could be seen and heard. The hope and dream for the future is to change the way society looks after children and how deeply embedded inequality is in Scotland, reducing those gaps and bringing people together.
Expressions of interest are now open until Monday 20 July. To learn more and apply, visit the Social Innovation Challenge page.