UK social impact investment market swells to a record £6.4 billion in year of the pandemic

Social impact investing in the UK has increased by almost eight-fold over nine years from £833 million in 2011 to £6.4 billion in 2020, according to new figures released by Big Society Capital, the UK’s leading social impact investor. The data, from Big Society Capital’s Annual Market Sizing Report, shows there has been consistent growth year-on-year with a particular acceleration between 2019 – 2020, the year of the pandemic, which saw a 26% increase in the value of social impact investments in the UK (26% 2019-2020 vs. 21% increase 2018-2019).…

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Seven schemes selected by Big Society Capital for “Ideas for Impact” development funding

Big Society Capital, the UK’s leading social impact investor, has announced the seven winners of “Ideas for Impact” – a unique new programme to develop ideas for new impact funds which can invest in the next generation of social impact enterprises.  The competition attracted a lot of interest, with Big Society Capital receiving 106 applications. The proposals aimed to tackle a wide range of social issues – with the three most common being health & wellbeing; employment, training & education; and housing & local facilities. The winners will receive a…

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Big Society Capital launches call for innovative social impact investment ideas

The social impact investor has called on fund managers, social enterprises and charities to submit their ideas by 1 March 2021 – and is offering up to £30,000 of development funding plus in-kind support and connections for a selection of ideas with the greatest potential to transform people’s lives in the UK. Applicants are encouraged to explain the social issue, business models and potential for investment associated with their idea – which would allow multiple social sector organisations to access investment. Ideas could relate to changing a part of the…

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Pioneering Sustainable Bank First To Launch Crowdfunding Platform

Triodos Bank, a global pioneer of sustainable banking, has become the first bank in the UK to launch its own crowdfunding platform. The platform (www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk) offers a range of crowdfunding opportunities enabling people to invest directly in equity or bonds issued by organisations delivering positive social and environmental impacts. The bonds are eligible to be held in the Innovative Finance ISA, allowing investors to receive the interest they earn on these investments tax-free. People can invest as little as £500 – some offers will have lower investment minimums – in…

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UK Government unlocking £330 million from dormant accounts to build a fairer society

Up to £330 million from dormant bank and building society accounts will be used to help the homeless, disadvantaged young people, local charities and other good causes in the UK over the next four years, Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, announced today. Around £280 million will be allocated to initiatives across England to help disadvantaged young people into work, provide housing for families and vulnerable people, and tackle problem debt. Of this, up to £135 million will be used by Big Society Capital (BSC) to fund stable…

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