Social lending

We want to see a social lending market that meets the needs of a diverse range of social purpose organisations and investors alike.

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Growing enterprises and building resilience to improve people’s lives

Social enterprises, charities and small businesses play an important role in their communities. They support vulnerable people, create jobs and contribute to the local economy. Many viable and sustainable enterprises struggle to access affordable finance. This is because they lack security, a track record, and traditional lenders perceive them to be high risk.

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Supporting vital services during COVID-19

St John Ambulance Cymru is a charity that provides ambulance and hospital transportation, as well as first aid training; alleviating the strain on the Welsh Ambulance Service. After its bank rejected a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) application, the charity received a loan from the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund which meant it did not have to spend its vital reserve investments.

Better Society Capital worked with Social Investment Business and other social investors to establish the £25 million fund to make CBILS loans available to charities and social enterprises. This facility was established from scratch in a record four weeks by significant partnership work across the social impact investment sector.

  • £3.5bn

    Size of social lending markets

  • 64%

    Percentage of enterprises that have received investment are located within the most deprived areas of the UK

  • £270m

    In 33 blended capital funds to broaden reach

  • Blended finance

    Our goal is to make social investment accessible and useful – both to a broad range of front-line organisations and investors alike. Blended finance, bringing together different kinds of capital from different partners, is one tool we can use to achieve this goal.

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  • Enterprise-level data and findings

    The social investment market aims to support more social enterprises and charities to deliver impact. To track progress, we annually collect data on how much capital is being committed to these organisations.

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Supporting a diverse range of enterprises

Across our portfolio, organisations are supporting people in some of the most overlooked communities.

More on social lending

Social lending funds

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# Fund manager Fund name Asset class Fund size Investment status
1. Sporting Assets Amateur British Gymnastics Investments Limited / Club Capital Social lending <£15 million Current
2. Figurative Arts and Culture Impact Fund LLP Social lending <£15 million Current
3. Charity Bank Charity Bank Social lending £250+ million Current
4. Charity Bank Charity Bank co-investment facility Social lending <£50 million Current
5. Rathbones Investment Management Charity Bond Support Fund Social lending N/A Current
6. Bristol & Bath Regional Capital City Funds LP Social lending <£15 million Current
7. Social Investment Business Community Builders Fund Social lending <£15 million Current
8. Pure Leapfrog Community Energy Fund Social lending <£15 million Current
9. Social Investment Scotland Community Investment Enterprise Fund Social lending <£250 million Current
10. Social and Sustainable Capital Community Investment Fund Social lending <£50 million Current

28 results found