INCREASING THE FLOW OF CAPITAL FOR GOOD - INVESTING AND GIVING
Big Society Bank launched
The Big Society Bank has been launched and officially named Big Society Capital. The bank is set to receive £600m in equity capital in the coming months. The funds will go to socially-orientated financial organisations who will allocate it to charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups. Visit: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Cabinet Office announces new fund to assist charities and social enterprises in accessing capital
The £10m Investment and Contract Readiness Fund aims to help charities and social enterprises develop the skills and infrastructure to attract more capital investment and public service contracts. Visit: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
‘Investor Perspectives on Social Enterprise Financing’ report published
The report, jointly commissioned by the City of London Corporation, City Bridge Trust and the Big Lottery Fund, and authored by ClearlySo, provides an insight into the attitudes of institutional investors towards social investment.
Visit: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Office for Civil Society launches social impact bonds trial
Ministers are calling on investors to help raise up to £40 in social impact bonds which will be spent on projects assisting deprived families tackle multiple problems such as addiction, crime and poor education. Investors will be paid a dividend by the taxpayer for any successful project. www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Social Enterprise Coalition calls for mainstream investment alongside Big Society Capital
The Coalition has urged the government to create a bold package of measures to encourage social investment by businesses and other investors.
Visit: www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Bates, Wells and Braithwaite and NESTA outline framework for the regulation of community and social finance
‘Investing in Civil Society’ sets out how a proportionate social finance legal and regulatory regime could be established in order to achieve the growth of the social investment market.
Visit: www.nesta.org.uk
The Co-operative and CARE International partner to launch ‘lendwithcare’ microfinance scheme
The scheme, which hopes to raise £1.5m, encourages people in the UK to lend to small scale entrepreneurs running their own enterprise in developing countries.
Visit: www.lendwithcare.org
Triodos lends £1.3m to Glasgow Housing AssociationThe Yorkhill Housing Association will use the funding to purchase new-build residential flats and offices. The Yorkhill project marks Triodos’ first housing association loan in Scotland.
Visit: www.triodos.co.uk
EU publishes consultation on the promotion of social investment funds
The consultation aims to gather feedback on various options for increasing investment to social businesses through investment funds.
Visit: http://ec.europa.eu
NCVO launches Social Investment Working Group
The Group will review tax incentives to stimulate the social investment market ahead of the March 2012 budget with a focus on foundations and high net worth individuals.
Visit: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Responsible Research publishes paper on impact investing in emerging markets
‘Impact Investing in Emerging Markets’ highlights some of the key issues and current opportunities and includes case studies of successful projects.
Visit: www.responsibleresearch.com
Social Investment Organisation report estimates Canadian impact investing market at $4.45m
SIO, the Canadian Association for Socially Responsible Investment, has compiled a report on the size and scale of impact investment in Canada.
Visit: www.socialinvestment.ca
National Ethical Investment Week: 16-22 October
The Week brings together individuals, community and financial organisations and charities through events and other activities to let people know that they have green and ethical options that may help them ‘make money and make a difference’.
Visit: www.neiw.org
Good Deals 2011 UK Social Investment Conference: 24 November
The Conference connects innovative investors and inspirational social entrepreneurs.
Visit: www.good-dealsuk.com
Contact Lisa Wootten at lisa.wootton@uksif.org
