Funding & Finance

Adventure Capital Fund

The Adventure Capital Fund is an ambitious new style of funder for community enterprise.

Our pioneering work is already transforming neighbourhoods across the country, and we intend to do much more in the future.

Take a look at this website to find out more about what we do, to be inspired by the stories of some of the enterprises we’ve helped to date, and to discover how to apply for our support.

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Access Funds

Grants information for the British charitable and non-profit sector.

This site aims to provide the latest funding information from Government, National Lottery, Charitable trusts, and the EU.

Access Funds also contains directories of funding programmes and guides to funding.

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Awards for All

Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme funding small, local community-based projects in the UK.

Each country is running its own updated programme from April 2009, so find out how our grants can help your project by choosing the relevant country below.

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Bridge House Trust

Distributes £17m+ in charitable grants each year to charitable projects in the Greater
London area.

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Bridges Community Ventures Ltd

Responsible for the management of a £40 million venture capital fund, Bridges
Community Ventures Ltd invests in entrepreneurial small and medium-sized
enterprises in the most deprived 25% of England (using the Index of Multiple
Deprivation). The website includes a postcode checker showing areas where
investment is considered.

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British Business Angel Network

The UK-wide association of networks linking business angels (that is, private venture
capitalist investors looking to invest in new and fast-growing enterprises).

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The Capital Fund

A new venture capital fund which has raised £50m to back fast-growing small and
medium sized enterprises in Greater London.

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Charity Bank

Charity Bank is the UK’s first not-for-profit bank that lends to charitable organisations
and social enterprises. It offers loans of up to £500,000, normally in situations where
traditional lending from commercial banks is not available.

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Comic Relief

Distributes money raised through the regular Red Nose Days, through grants to
charities and voluntary organisations with charitable objectives.

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Community Development Finance Association

This is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions.
They will be able to help find a CDFI near to you.

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Co-operative Bank

Provides normal banking services for customers but also has experience working
with co-operatives, social enterprises and small organisations.

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Co-operative and Community Finance

Formerly ICOF (Industrial Common Ownership Finance), Co-operative and
Community Finance has specialised in lending to co-operatives, employee-owned
businesses and social enterprises for thirty years. It was one of the founders of the
Community Development Finance Association. It has raised its own capital from
various sources, including public share issues.
CCF offers business loans (£5,000-£50,000) with terms up to 10 years. In London,
loans of up to £250,000 may be possible, through access to other funds which CCF
manages. Personal security is not taken, but loans are normally secured against
business assets. Loans are available for a number of purposes, including bridging
loans against delayed grants, loans on property and working capital and loans to
replace inappropriate existing finance.
Loans are subject to an ethical policy, which supports social enterprise, co-operative
values, social responsibility and environmental concerns.

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Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grantmaking
foundations in the UK, providing £29m worth of grants in 2006.

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Frog Capital

Frog Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in British and European businesses
involved in the field of environmental and ‘clean’ technology. Each project is
evaluated against a number of financial criteria, including return on investment,
a well-developed and achievable business plan, and a realistic exit strategy.

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Greater London Enterprise (GLE)

GLE has a number of funds available to SMEs, although there is no specific policy
on social enterprises. London Seed Capital is a £4.8m early stage venture capital
fund launched in late 2002, which operates in conjunction with the London Business
Angels Network. GLE provides, among other things, loan finance, cashflow finance,
and asset finance services.

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HBV Enterprise

Formerly Hackney Business Venture, HBV Enterprise has a long history of supporting
and advising businesses initially focusing on east London. It offers an Access to
Finance service, and also can provide business loans (£3000-£25,000) to enterprises
in Barnet, Brent, Camden, City of London, Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Harrow,
Islington and Waltham Forest. Small grants to new entrepreneurs are also available
in certain circumstances.

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Impetus Trust

Uses the experience and techniques of the venture capital industry in making grants
to charities – what is known as ‘venture philanthropy’.

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Islamic bank of Britain

The first UK-based bank specialising in financial services which are compatible with
Islamic (Sharia’a) law.

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J4B

Website which aims to provide a comprehensive database for voluntary organisations
and small businesses of business grants and soft loans. Some services available only
to subscribers.

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Local Investment Fund

Set up in 1995 by the government and the private sector led by NatWest, the
Local Investment Fund offers loan finance for not-for-profit organisations,
including community ventures and social enterprises, particularly in disadvantaged
areas. Loans are from £25,000 to £250,000. Applicants must have previously been
unable to acquire sufficient funding from traditional sources (or require top-ups).
They must have a viable business plan that shows a desire to reduce grant
dependency and be able to demonstrate how their community enterprise will
contribute to social inclusion.

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London Development Agency

The government’s regional development agency for the London area.

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London Rebuilding Society

The London Rebuilding Society provides financial support and advice to voluntary
organisations, charities and community groups across London.
Its Social Enterprise Fund provides loans of between £5,000 and £50,000 for a range
of uses - start-up capital for new enterprises, bridging loans, or resources to
purchase equipment or refurbish run-down property.
In some boroughs, the LRS also manages a larger loan fund (£50,000-£250,000) for
social enterprise growth, using finance provided by the London Development Agency
and Barclays Bank.
London Rebuilding Society also manages the Mutual Aid Fund, which can make
small loans available to groups beginning to think about creating a social enterprise
and not yet ready to incorporate.

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The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, government money for regeneration of
disadvantaged areas, is routed through Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs)
linking local authorities with community and business organisations in the areas
affected. For initial information, a good place to go can be your local authority’s
regeneration unit.

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Prime Initiative

A national organisation working with over 50s who want to establish themselves in
business. At time of writing, an original start-up loan scheme had been discontinued
but a replacement scheme was under development.

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Prince's Trust

Offers low interest loans (typically between £2000-£3000) for young people aged
18-30 who are starting in business. Grants are also sometimes awarded. Business
support and advice is also offered, through volunteer mentors.

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Social Enterprise Coalition

Includes information on accessing finance. SEC publishes a number of booklets
including Unlocking the Potential, on finance for social enterprises.

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Triodos Bank

Triodos offers a comprehensive range of banking services for social businesses,
charities and groups along with a variety of savings accounts for individuals. Triodos
Bank lends money to organisations that pursue positive social, environmental and
cultural goals. Triodos manages a £40m social venture capital fund that invests in
social and environmental businesses in order to help them grow without detracting
from their social mission.

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UnLtd

UnLtd is a charity which supports ‘social entrepreneurs’, which it defines as
“people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the
world for the better”. It makes grants from an endowment fund to individuals and
to informal groups. Two forms of award are available: Level 1 awards of between
£500 and £5,000 (typically £2,000) and Level 2 awards of between £10,000 and
£205,000 to individuals whose ideas are beginning to take off. UnLtd also offers
advice and support.

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Unity Trust Bank

The Unity Trust Bank provides banking services and support to trade unions,
charities and not-for-profit organisations. This includes offering various types of
bank accounts. Unity also offers a number of funding services for voluntary
organisations, including bridging loans to cover delays in receiving grant finance
or fundraising income.

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Urban Partnership Group

The Urban Partnership Group operates in support of social enterprises and
community engagement in west London. Social enterprises may be eligible for
£2000 of consultancy support and (in certain areas of Hammersmith & Fulham,
and Brent) for £20,000 grants. There is a special emphasis on black, Asian, minority
ethnic (BAME) groups, women, community and voluntary sector, self-employed,
and other socially excluded groups.

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Venturesome Fund

Venturesome is a risk capital vehicle for charities established and funded by the
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). The basic idea is to employ ‘mezzanine’ financing
mechanisms, commonly available in the commercial sector, in the voluntary and
community sector.
Venturesome has made two equity investments in social enterprises with a specific
charitable purpose, but it does not regard social enterprises as a sector likely to
supplant charities as its main market.

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Futurebuilders

Futurebuilders offers loan financing at great rates, often combined with grants and professional support, to social enterprises and other third sector organisations in England that need investment to help them increase their public sector business.

For more information visit the website www.futurebuilders.org.uk or call 0191 261 5200. They have offices and advisors in London and Newcastle.

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Knowledge Base

join the network

visit the social enterprise directory