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

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Front room in a Juno children's home

We are Juno is a not-for-profit children’s residential service, creating a sustainable alternative to profit-driven models that dominate the children’s residential landscape. 

Duration
7 years
Cost of capital
7%
Turnover
£596,750
Investor Details
Postcode Innovation Trust
Amount invested
£250,000 (£125,000 grant, £125,000 loan)
Year of Investment
2023
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
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Lightning Reach team photo

Lightning Reach is a financial support portal which makes it easy for people to find and apply for a wide range of personalised support (including grants, benefits, help with bills and other resources) in one place. The platform can be used by organisations to streamline or enhance the support they offer to vulnerable customers, using innovative technology like open banking and ID verification, or by individuals seeking to improve their financial wellbeing. Lightning Reach has registered >100,000 users and enabled >£10m in funding to individuals. Partners include The Royal British Legion, Lambeth Council, British Gas Energy Trust, TSB and more.

Duration
NA
Cost of capital
NA Equity (2% of business)
Turnover
£330,000
Investor Details
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Amount invested
£100,000 (part of £1m package)
Year of Investment
2023
Product type
Equity investment
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Empower Community Foundation

Empower Community is a social enterprise that balances the interests of all stakeholders by developing projects that benefit all participants while providing high-quality, risk-mitigated investment opportunities.

Duration
16 years
Cost of capital
4.25% (2022) and 6.5% (2023)
Turnover
£4.4m
Investor Details
Triodos Bank - Corporate Finance team
Amount invested
£2.35m (2022) and £2m (2023)
Year of Investment
2023
Product type
Crowd-funded investment
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Image of 2 storey white building with black sign and white lettering reading The Energy Training Academy

The Energy Training Academy (ETA) is a community interest company that specialises in providing high-quality training and education in the gas and renewables industry. ETA works with young people, veterans, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure they gain valuable skills for the green energy transition.

Duration
c.10 years
Cost of capital
1.27x to 1.5x amount invested
Turnover
n/a - Start-up
Investor Details
Firstport
Amount invested
£300,000
Product type
Quasi-equity
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Image of the Robin Hood - YMCA building

YMCA Robin Hood Group provide a range of frontline services across Greater Nottingham, York and East Riding, plus Newark & Sherwood, to encourage young people to belong, contribute and thrive. This includes residential settled care homes, supported housing and numerous support programmes. Explore how they used social investment to grow and innovate their service offering. 

Duration
20 years
Cost of capital
Base + 2.8% for 3 years, then Base + 2.3% for 17 years
Turnover
£11.3m
Investor Details
Triodos Bank - Corporate Finance team
Amount invested
£9.75m
Year of Investment
2022
Product type
Charity bonds
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Corsham Gymnastics Academy

Corsham Gymnastics Academy (CGA) is an established gymnastics club based in Wiltshire. The club offers programmes that are inclusive to all from baby gym, pre-school, recreational and disability gymnastics which provide the opportunity for everyone to learn gymnastics.

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
4%
Turnover
£419,000
Amount invested
£173,000
Product type
Secured loan
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The Urban Factory

The Urban Factory is 13500 square foot manufacturing unit that was upgraded to provide the regions first dedicated training facility for cheerleading, tumbling and parkour. 

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
8.5%
Turnover
£0 (pre-trading)
Investor Details
Northstar Ventures
Amount invested
£150,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Câr-Y-Môr

A community owned business using regenerative ocean farming, food security and sustainable job creation to improve both the coastal environment and the well-being of the local community.

Duration
12 Months
Cost of capital
7.9%
Turnover
£783
Investor Details
Social Investment Cymru
Amount invested
£425,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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East Belfast Mission

Hosford is the homeless service of East Belfast Mission (EBM) based in the Skainos Centre on the Lower Newtownards Road in East Belfast, and for over 20 years, Hosford has provided services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

Duration
7 years
Cost of capital
2% rising to 4%
Turnover
£2.6 million
Amount invested
£550,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Carrick Greengrocers

Carrick Greengrocers is a community-owned greengrocer established by people who live in, work in, or are otherwise passionate about Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. They aim to trade in a way that supports a sustainable environment and economy and all profits are directed back into the business and local initiatives. 

Duration
NA (Community Shares)
Cost of capital
2%
Turnover
NA - pre-trading
Investor Details
Co-operative and Community Finance
Amount invested
£34,000
Product type
Community shares
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The Ledge Inverness

The Ledge is a registered Scottish charity dedicated to changing lives for the better via the medium of climbing. Climbing helps build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. It helps develop diverse skill sets, improves focus, and increases co-ordination. On top of all that, it’s a whole heap of fun!

Duration
10 Years (12 months bridging)
Cost of capital
6.25%
Turnover
£900,000
Investor Details
Royal Bank of Scotland Social & Community Capital
Amount invested
£250,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Projekts Manchester

Projekts MCR is a skatepark and community development organisation in Manchester that provides a space for young people and their families to enjoy skateboarding, meet and connect with others, and access wider social support. It’s one of the largest outdoor, concrete skateparks in the UK. 

Duration
5 Years
Cost of capital
6.6%
Turnover
£264,027
Investor Details
GMCVO
Amount invested
£50,000 (£10,000 grant)
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan