Supportive loan finance to help people take control of their economic lives and create social benefit.
We exclusively serve the co-operative and social enterprise sector.
Over the last 40 years we’ve supported hundreds of businesses, from small community-led enterprises to large award-winning organisations. All of our funds are democratically owned and controlled by our members. We lend to those that practice the principles of co-operation, social ownership and sustainable development. Our rates are competitive and we don’t require personal guarantees.
more about borrowing from us >>
Recent lending
Co-op pub buys second building in village
A community benefit society that saved the pub in an Essex village last year has bought a second property that it will convert into a restaurant and affordable rented accommodation. On 19 September Great Oakley Community Hub Ltd completed the purchase of the property known as the Red House which stands next to the Maybush […]
Village action saves the ‘painters pub’
An historic village inn that is reputed to have been frequented by two of the most famous English landscape painters has been saved by the local community. The Lamarsh Lion, near Bures in Suffolk, has been bought by a community benefit society of 320 members. There are now over 50 co-operative pubs in England and […]
Another Co-op Pub in the Essex/Suffolk Cluster
A 400-year-old village inn that had been closed since September 2016 has become the seventh co-operative pub in a cluster of community ownership in the counties of Essex and Suffolk. On 29 June 2017 The Kings Head at Pebmarsh near Halstead was bought by a community benefit society of 320 members. There are now over […]
News & Views
Community Co-operative Awards
Once again we are proud to be a sponsor of the Community Co-operative Awards. If you have a community-run business in your area that you feel goes above and beyond to support the community then please persuade them to enter (communityownershipawards.com). It’s free to apply and entrants get good publicity. Applications close on Friday 27 October […]
Invest now in Community Business
After helping many communities to raise finance we are now holding our own community share issue. We are inviting you to invest ICOF Community Capital (ICC) and help us make a positive change for workers, communities and the environment. ICC is a loan fund set up to support the growing number of UK communities taking control […]
New co-op partnership to help communities
The Co-op Foundation has appointed Co-operative & Community Finance as its advisory partner in the development of a new programme of grants and social investments, which will support community-run enterprises in disadvantaged areas of the UK. An initial pilot will focus on four areas of community life: community centres, housing, transport and green spaces. A […]