What we do

Financing the future economy

The right kind of finance – at the right time – can ultimately make or break the success of community businesses.

When there is affordable, flexible and accessible finance available, community businesses can thrive. Using the breadth of our learning and experience, we advocate for more affordable, flexible, and accessible finance for community businesses. We leverage investment into the community business sector through working in partnership. And we invest in new financial models to increase the sustainability of the community business sector, testing ways to break the cycle of grant dependency.

We shape the conditions for the future economy – a fairer economy that works for people and planet. To do this, we influence decision-makers – from funders to regional authorities – to grow the social economy and shape finance that works for everyone.

Want to work with us? Contact our Practice and Innovation Manager, Natalie White.

Email Natalie

Current projects

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Community Shares Booster

The Booster Fund supports new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue.

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Energy Resilience Fund

This finance enables community businesses to retrofit energy-generating or saving technology on community-owned or managed buildings, with a focus on stabilising or reducing energy costs.

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North East Flexible Social Finance fund

The Flexible Social Finance fund for the North East provides community businesses and other socially trading organisations across the region access to the flexible and tailored finance and support they need to thrive.

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Trading for Good

Trading for Good will support you to develop your community business through a specialist programme of support. This includes a Match Trading™ Grant and a learning programme that will support you to develop trading income streams and build a resilient community business.

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Current and past projects

Resources for community businesses

Whether you’re wanting to start a community business or looking to do something different for your community, we have resources and tips that can help. Including resources and funding opportunities from our partners.

Explore our resources

Research and reports

Evidence on why accessible and flexible finance works for communities

Lessons in local growth

Lessons in local growth

‘Lessons in local growth’ highlights how strategic authorities can harness the power of the social economy to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The report takes learnings from partnerships with the West Midlands Combined Authority, North East Combined Authority, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to set out ten practical lessons to growing regional social economies.
‘No-code’ but not alone

‘No-code’ but not alone

A guide for community businesses developing the right tech with the right type of support, drawing on lessons from our Powering Up programme. This guide is designed to help community businesses explore a model of digital development that balances the strengths of no-code solutions with the benefits of expert collaboration.
Powering Up diversity, equity and inclusion reports

Powering Up diversity, equity and inclusion reports

The Powering Up Programme offered deliver capacity building support for the organisationThese interim and final reports outline the diversity, equity and inclusion approach taken during the Powering Up programme.
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Our reports

News and views

Our latest thinking and updates on high streets.

Five high street innovators join new learning partnership

Five high street innovators join new learning partnership

News
Community-Led High Street Innovators invests in community-led action to revitalise high streets and town centres across England.
Equity and inclusion in community business support

Equity and inclusion in community business support

Our thinking
The Powering Up programme placed equity and inclusion at its heart, recognising the additional barriers faced by minoritised and racialised communities. This blog shares key lessons from our approach, from simplifying access and embedding culturally competent support, to building trust through lived experience and continuously evolving the programme design.
Community business is a catalyst for growth and cohesion

Community business is a catalyst for growth and cohesion

Our thinking
Our latest research on the economic contribution of community business illustrates the key role they play in economic growth. But their value goes beyond economic measures, playing a vital role in fostering connection, social value, and resilience in our communities.
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More insights

Get inspired

Stories of the power of accessible and flexible finance

Café Laziz

Café Laziz

This Kindred investee is using food to support refugees and asylum seekers, build connections, and break down barriers with the local community.
Friends of Stretford Public Hall

Friends of Stretford Public Hall

After saving a cherished Victorian grade II listed ballroom through a community share offer, Friends of Stretford Public Hall have transformed the space into a vibrant community hub. They've now set their sights on helping the community have more say over their town centre's regeneration, including through participation in our Community Improvement District pilot.
Sister Midnight

Sister Midnight

The young women on a mission to establish Lewisham’s first community owned live music venue.
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More community business stories