Award-winning special educational needs and disability charity Birtenshaw is seeking to raise £3 million of crowdfunding with a new bond offer, launching today on Triodos Bank UK’s crowdfunding platform (triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk).
Founded nearly 70 years ago in Bolton, Birtenshaw supports young people with significant physical impairment, complex health needs, learning disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Conditions to lead independent and fulfilling lives through highly acclaimed services.
The group operates special schools in Bolton and Liverpool, a specialist college in Bolton, several children’s homes, Adult Supported Tenancies and further services including a community café, a horticultural project and a sports and activity centre.
The new bond offer will seek to raise £3 million for Birtenshaw to redevelop its further education college in Bolton to create a purpose-built site with high-quality facilities, including therapy rooms, wet rooms and improved access to outdoor space.
The six-year charity bond offer will have a minimum investment of £50, with 7.75% gross interest per year. As with all investments, interest payments and return of capital are not guaranteed.
The bond is eligible to be held in a Triodos Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) that allows interest to be received tax-free. Like all ISAs, the Innovative Finance ISA is subject to eligibility criteria and tax treatment depends on individual circumstances. ISA eligibility does not guarantee returns or protect consumers from losing their money.
David Reid, Chief Executive at Birtenshaw Group, commented: “This finance will bring to life our mission to create a bespoke specialist college, which will transform the lives of young people with special education needs and disability, and in particular those with autism. This will enable them to lead independent, interesting and fulfilling lives whilst being a useful member of their local communities.”
The funds raised from the crowdfunding launch will contribute to the £18 million required for the project and will be used together with a further £6 million loan facility from Triodos Bank UK.
Triodos Bank UK has a well-established relationship with Birtenshaw, after a loan from the bank in 2021 helped the organisation to more than double the capacity at its school in Bolton for children with special educational needs and disability. The new extension features state-of-the-art facilities that help children make progress with their education, social and independence skills.
Phillip Bate, Director of Business Banking at Triodos Bank UK, said: “Creating meaningful social impact is at the heart of our approach to finance at Triodos, and we’re committed to helping ensure that all children and young people can access education and enjoy a good quality of life. For over 60 years, Birtenshaw has championed children’s wellbeing and development, so we are delighted to support this £18 million project through our lending and crowdfunding activity. The launch of the crowdfunding offer gives investors the chance to directly use their money for good and witness positive change happening within communities.”
Important information
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Investments offered on the Triodos crowdfunding platform are not readily realisable, which means that they may be difficult to sell, and you may not get back the full amount invested. Investments are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and your capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed. Repayment of capital and interest will be dependent on the success of the organisation’s business model and past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance. You should always read the offer document in full before deciding whether to invest as it will cover risks specific to an individual investment. You can read more about the general risks associated with making these types of investments here. If you are unsure if any of these investments are right for you, you should contact an Independent Financial Adviser.