Bridges Social Outcomes Funds

Pioneering funds dedicated to supporting Government-commissioned outcomes contracts.

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The challenge

Public sector commissioners are looking for more flexible ways to drive innovation and improve lives in key policy areas such as homelessness and youth unemployment by using outcomes-based contracts. But social enterprises and charities often lacked the upfront working capital to deliver these contracts.

Our approach

We issued a call to establish a specialist fund that could provide social enterprises and charities with the capital and support they need to deliver outcomes-based contracts. As the first fund of its type in the world, this would also help catalyse the broader market. There have since been over 40 of these projects commissioned by Government in the UK.

The fund

The original Bridges Social Outcomes Fund was designed to offer mission-driven providers with the working capital and management support they need to deliver these contracts, where payment is dependent on measurable improvements in the lives of service users.

This fund was the first of its kind; so as well as delivering demonstrable social impact, the intention was to develop a replicable fund model that allowed socially-motivated investors to support these contracts.

Its successor fund – Bridges Social Outcomes Fund II – is building on these learnings to support larger projects and help this market succeed on a bigger scale.

Find out more about Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, a social enterprise that supports impact-driven delivery organisations to develop and deliver outcomes-based contracts.

  • Fund size

    £22.5 million first fund, £35 million second fund
  • Better Society Capital commitment

    £23.6 million

Key information

  • Geography

    UK wide
  • Investment type

    Outcomes contract
  • Fund manager

    Bridges Fund Management
  • Investment status

    Current
  • Investment date

    2013
  • Term

    10 years

Impact

  • £28m

    £ committed across social outcomes contracts

  • £46m

    Social outcomes achieved to date

  • £78m

    Short-term value of outcomes to government to date

Sustainable development goals

  • 1: No Poverty End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • 3: Good Health and Well-being Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  • 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • 10: Reduced Inequality Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Other investors

    Cabinet Office

    Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

    Bridges Impact Foundation

    Nesta

    European Investment Fund

    Panahpur

    Bank Workers Charity

    Development Bank of Japan

  • Merseyside Pension Fund

    The Prince's Charities

    Ceniarth

    QBE Premiums4Good

    Trust for London

    Omidyar Network

    Guy's & St Thomas' Charity

    Snowball

    Pilotlight