Try the New Case Study Mapper!

Browse 100+ case studies via our interactive Case Study Mapper to explore examples of social investment in action in your area!
 

Share your story

Have a great story of taking on social investment? We're looking for new case studies to share - submit yours below or email aconstable@goodfinance.org.uk

Image
Zion Community Cafe

Zion Community Cafe is well-loved Cafe in Bristol that runs a large variety of community events, children’s groups, support groups, ticketed events and provides spaces to hire for meetings, groups and private events. They used Community Shares and the Community Ownership Fund (COF) to save their venue. 

Duration
NA (Community Shares)
Cost of capital
Intention to pay 3%
Turnover
£214,730
Investor Details
Co-operative and Community Finance
Amount invested
£234,908
Product type
Community shares
Image
Hemlington Lake Recreation Centre

Tees Valley Community Asset Preservation Trust is a registered charity (CIO) which was established in 2015 in response to local government spending cuts.

 

Duration
7 years
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£126,000
Investor Details
Key Fund
Amount invested
£35,600
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
Image
Image shows 3 people behind the desk at a cafe

Café van Gogh is a restaurant with a social and environmental mission in Brixton. Apart from serving delicious vegan and seasonally changing food, the restaurant also provides employment and training opportunities for people additional needs, like learning disabilities and mental health challenges.

Duration
3 years (extended to 5 due to the pandemic)
Cost of capital
7.5%
Turnover
£427K
Investor Details
Big Issue Invest
Amount invested
£19,200 (unsecured)
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
Image
Photo of school children with solar panels

Egni Co-operative was established in 2013 and provides rooftop solar on schools, businesses and community buildings. It has installed solar panels on almost 100 sites across Wales.

Duration
20 Years
Cost of capital
4%
Turnover
£460,000
Amount invested
£5m
Product type
Community shares
Image
Wolverton Communtiy Energy - outside of a building with solar panels on

Wolverton Community Energy are based in Milton Keynes. They develop and manage community-owned solar PV and supply greener, cheaper solar energy to local businesses, the majority of which are charities and social enterprises. In addition, they run projects which help to improve energy efficiency within their community. This includes the Home Energy MK programme, supporting homeowners wishing to stop heat loss from their homes and cut energy costs.

Duration
14 years
Cost of capital
5-6%
Turnover
£55,000
Investor Details
Big Issue Invest
Amount invested
£257,000
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
Image
Kidsbrook Sports Centre

Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group is a CIO set up to save and then re-open Kidsgrove Sports Centre. Following extensive refurbishment the sports centre re-opened in 2022 and is now operated by the charity. Through the charitable community ownership model, every penny spent in the centre gets reinvested. Back into the Centre and back into the community. No shareholders. No profit-making. Just local community facilities for all.

Duration
4.5 Years
Cost of capital
8%
Turnover
£842,000
Investor Details
Sporting Capital
Amount invested
£130,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
Image
An image showing an hall full of gymnastics equipment

Tumble Gymnastics and Activity Centre is a facility that offers physical activity and wellbeing for everyone regardless of age and ability in a family fun environment creating a unique experience. Focused on gymnastics, their social mission is to encourage and support young people and adults who are currently physically inactive to increase their activity levels to improve their physical and mental health.

Duration
6 years
Cost of capital
8%
Turnover
£240K
Amount invested
£150,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
Image
A big grade II listed building in Bacup, Lancashire

Valley Heritage is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2015. It seeks creative approaches to bring historic buildings back into use while simultaneously supporting the growth and development of the local community. 

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
5.6%
Turnover
£25,585
Investor Details
The Architectural Heritage Fund
Amount invested
£195,000
Product type
Secured loan
Image
Man and two children gathered around a laptop

Fair for You improves people’s lives through responsible lending, helping families access the things they need and supporting them along the way. They believe that affordable finance should be accessible to a wider range of people including many of the 17.5 million people excluded from mainstream finance due to low or fluctuating income or life events.

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£2.2m
Investor Details
Key Fund
Amount invested
£115,000 Loan, £35,000 Grant
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
Image
Louis encourages a young client – building core strength.(Taken as a still from video on theitr website)

Omnis Circumvado CIC is a specialist sports coaching company dedicated to providing inclusive and adapted physical activity opportunities to people of all ages with complex needs.

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
Repaid £25,075
Turnover
£110,000
Investor Details
Key Fund
Amount invested
£20,530
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
Image
Woman drinks from pretend tea cup with two children

LEYF runs 40 nurseries across 12 London boroughs, delivering high quality Early Years education and care to children aged from birth to five years old. 

Duration
7 Years
Cost of capital
4.7% (average)
Turnover
£27.1m
Investor Details
Triodos Bank - Corporate Finance team
Amount invested
£1.5m
Product type
Charity bonds
Crowd-funded investment
Image
Woman smiling inside house

Contento Social Homes exists to improve the support for survivors of domestic abuse and their children by providing safe accommodation and skills to improve their wellbeing.

Duration
6 years
Cost of capital
7.9%
Turnover
£358,000
Investor Details
Social Investment Business
Amount invested
£267,500 (£130,000 loan, £130,000 grant, £7,500 restricted support grant)
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan