To do this, we partnered with leading investment manager Schroders to launch the Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust plc. Following a successful initial raise of £75 million, the trust listed on the London Stock Exchange. The trust offers a diversified portfolio providing sustainable returns, demonstrable social impact and low correlation to traditional financial markets. Not only does this bring millions of pounds of additional capital to help social enterprises and charities, it allows ordinary investors access to private market impact investment for the first time.
The Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust will focus on investing in high impact housing (Real Lettings Property Fund, UK Affordable Housing Fund and Social And Sustainable Housing), debt for social enterprises (Charity Bank Co-investment Facility, Rathbones Charity Bond portfolio and Bridges Evergreen Holdings) and social outcomes contracts (Bridges Social Outcomes Fund II). By managing other investors’ funds as well as our own capital, we will bring considerable further investment into the social impact market. We want to raise awareness of and interest in social impact investing and see the launch of the Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust plc as a key step towards achieving this.