Founded In 2014 by BSC in co-operation with the Big Lottery Fund and the Cabinet Office, Access offers grants and investments (blended finance) through intermediary organisations. Specifically, it is able to offer investments in smaller size (average investment is £62,000).

Access works to make charities and social enterprises in England more financially resilient and self-reliant, so that they can sustain or increase their impact. It does this through supporting the development of enterprise activity to grow and diversify income, and improving access to the social investment which can help stimulate that enterprise activity; and sharing the learning from how these programmes work.

Access is primarily funded via a £61 million endowment from DCMS (of which £52 million has been received). This endowment will be spent over the next seven years to deliver Access’ programmes.

Access is a registered charity with its own Board of Trustees. BST is its sole corporate member.