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!
 

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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

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Beverley Tree Community Centre

Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre is a charity based in East Yorkshire.  Located on the Cherry Tree Estate, it works with those in the community struggling with varying degrees of poverty.

Duration
18 months
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£213,880
Amount invested
£10,000
Product type
Blended – part grant, part loan
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P.A.C.E

Promote Ability Community Enterprise CIC (P.A.C.E) delivers affordable services and housing for disadvantaged people in Derby and Derbyshire. To support this agenda, they offer a range of other services to the public and private sector; these include supported housing, a craft centre, community support and a café. 

Duration
12 months
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£1,400,000
Amount invested
£20,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Doncaster Refurnish

Doncaster Refurnish complete a wide range of work, collecting, restoring and selling furniture on to low income families. They run a handyman service and a women’s group with a focus on anxiety issues. They also offer training and employment to those on the margins of their local community; including rehabilitation and integration opportunities for prisoners due for release, and placements for young offenders.

Duration
2 years
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£1.61 million
Amount invested
£10K
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Nottingham Counselling

Nottingham Counselling Service (NCS) is a long-standing charity specialising in working long-term with people who present complex and enduring problems, such as anxiety, depression and abuse.

Duration
3 years
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£186,170
Amount invested
£30,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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The Spotted Cow

The Spotted Cow is a community hub that offers a bar, restaurant, Post Office and B&B under one roof.

Duration
3 years (min)
Cost of capital
3%
Turnover
£100K
Amount invested
£277,000
Product type
Crowd-funded investment
Community shares
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Southville Community Development Association

The Chessel Centre will offer additional quality nursery care for children in Bristol.

Duration
6 years
Cost of capital
4%
Turnover
£1.62 million
Amount invested
£560,000
Product type
Crowd-funded investment
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Barnsley Community Build

Barnsley Community Build (BCB) is a registered charity with a trading arm, BCB Trading Ltd. They develop and deliver a range of community services, and provide employment and training in the construction industry.

Duration
1 - 5 years over the six loans
Cost of capital
6.5%
Turnover
£645,790
Amount invested
£405K over 6 investments (average loan size - £63,000)
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Furnistore

Furniture is a furniture re-use charity that supports lower income families. It used social investment to purchase a permanent base.

Duration
20 years
Cost of capital
6%
Turnover
£158,948
Amount invested
£160,000
Product type
Secured loan
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Golden Lane Housing

Golden Lane Housing, the housing arm of Mencap, used social investment to buy homes for people with a learning disability.

Duration
7 years
Cost of capital
4.375%
Turnover
£20.72 million
Amount invested
£11 million
Product type
Charity bonds
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Building site

K10 is tackling youth unemployment by providing apprenticeships in the construction industry. It used social investment to professionalise the business and increase sustainability. 

Duration
3 years
Cost of capital
Not available
Turnover
Not available
Amount invested
£600,000
Product type
Unsecured loan (incl. overdrafts)
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Ecodynamic

Local residents in Redruth funded the building of a wind turbine through buying community shares.

Duration
4 years
Cost of capital
7%
Turnover
£45,000
Amount invested
£75,000
Product type
Community shares
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Togetherall

Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall) is a digital mental health and wellbeing service, which used social investment to scale their social business.

Duration
5-7 years
Cost of capital
Not available
Turnover
Not available
Amount invested
£1 million
Product type
Equity investment