October 2021

Meet our new Directors is a short profile series our five brilliant new Directors , elected to our Board at our June AGM.

Here we meet Jaye Martin.

CCF: Hi Jaye! Thanks for talking to us today. Could you start us off by tell us what your day job is?

JM: I’m currently taking a career break while my children are very young; however, until recently I was a specialist adviser in the Co-operative Development Scotland team within Scottish Enterprise (Scotland’s main economic development agency).

CCF: Fantastic – so you are familiar with the coops world then. What interested you about joining CCF as a director?

JM: I was aware of CCF’s great work and impressively long track record. Having worked with co-ops and employee owned businesses, and having previously had an equity investment role, I hoped that I had some useful experience and skills which could fit well with the CCF Board.  More generally, I think co-ops and community businesses can be transformational and as much as possible should be done to help their start-up and growth, including access to finance.  I’m also sure I’ll learn lots from the other Board members and staff team as this is my first experience of holding a Board position.

CCF: Lovely of you to say such kind things there! Can you tell us a little more about your previous experience in the social investment field?

JM: Yes – In previous roles I’ve worked with various partners in the field of social investment, such as Big Issue Invest Scotland, Community Shares Scotland and Social Investment Scotland.

CCF: Some great organisations there- and we just love Community Shares! It’s clear that you see the importance of social investment matters – can you go into a bit more detail as to why?

JM: As I said above, I think co-ops and community businesses can be transformational and as much as possible should be done to help their start-up and growth, including access to finance.  The role these types of businesses can play in communities and in facilitating socio-economic change shouldn’t be underestimated – the past 18 months has only served to highlight this.  Having a social investor like CCF, who really understands these organisations, is crucial to their sustainability.

CCF: Thanks so much for your time – for our last question, can you tell us – if you could make one change to civil society what would it be?

JM: Interesting question!  Probably increased, democratic, access to sports/exercise facilities for everyone and more education about the link between exercise and improved mental health.  For example, a couple of years ago I was inspired to hear about Projekt 42 in Edinburgh, the UK’s first wellness centre to combine exercise classes, personal training and mental health services all in one membership subscription, using a circular revenue system to deliver free and low-cost classes and funded counselling sessions to members of the community.

Meet our new Directors is a short profile series our five brilliant new Directors , elected to our Board at our June AGM.

Here we meet Adrian Smith

CCF: Hi Adrian! Let’s get started! Could you tell us what your day job is?

AS: I’m the Chief Executive of Reclaim Fund Ltd, a financial services company that manages the UK’s dormant assets scheme

CCF: That’s fantastic – such a useful thing to do! We can see a connection to our work but tell us – what interested you about joining CCF as a director?

AS: I have a strong background in the Mutual and Co-operative sector and believe that my skills complement the Trustee role at CCF. I very much like what CCF stands for as an organisation and hope that I can play a small part in helping the organisation to develop.

CCF: We agree and are looking forward to working with you! What previous experience have you got in the social investment field?

AS: My day job is heavily focused towards social investment and, more personally, I am also part of the Committee of a community-owned pub.

CCF: We are HUGE fans of community-owned pubs! We’ve been part of More Than a Pub for five years and love seeing pubs come to life under community ownership. It’s clear you agree with us that social investment matters – can you explain a bit about why?

AS: Yes. Social investment enables organisations to start up and grow, where that might not be possible with more traditional forms of commercial finance. Measuring social return is so much more than just a pound note exercise.

CCF: We could not agree more! Aside from what you’ve mentioned above, what co-ops, community businesses or social enterprises have you got, or had, involvement in?

AS: I have worked with a number of CCF’s partners over recent years, as a former senior leader at The Co-operative Bank and, the pub society that I am part of are borrowers with CCF.

CCF: Wonderful! So you understand the issues deeply. For our final question, could you tell us, if you could make one change to civil society what would it be?

AS: Build a greater public understanding of civil society and how it is a force for good.

Today, October 21st 2021, is the 73rd anniversary of the first International Credit Union Day!

Through the pandemic, we have been heartened to see news stories of Credit Unions providing opportunities – and removing the space for loan sharks and payday lenders.

If you’ve not encountered Credit Unions before – what are they?

Credit unions are an alternative to banks and building societies – and also to payday and doorstep lenders.  They are financial co-operatives owned by the people who use their services. The members have something in common – it might be that they live or work in the same place.  Typically, they offer savings and lending to their members. Some operate online while others operate in physical locations. Some have a direct connection with an employer, enabling payroll savings – so easy! Like other co-ops, each member has one vote and volunteer directors are elected from the membership, by the membership.

Globally, Credit Unions bring loans to some of those who find accessing traditional finance hardest – to rural communities, low earners, and it is estimated that around 300 million people are members of some 86,000 Credit Unions in 118 countries.

Looking for a Credit Union near you? Check this website or our Twitter list here – if your Credit Union isn’t on it let us know and we’ll add you!

Meet our new Trustees is a short profile series our five brilliant new Trustees , elected to our Board at our June AGM.

Here we meet Nankunda Katangaza

CCF: Hi there Nankunda! Great to meet you. To start, could you tell us what your day job is?

NK: I am a co-founder and director of a small research, advisory and consulting company based in the City of London. Our clients are companies, government departments, institutions and multilateral entities operating in legal and professional services sectors globally.

CCF: That sounds really varied and interesting! What interested you about joining CCF as a director?

NK: As a relatively recent entrepreneur and co-founder of a women-owned and led SME in the services sector, I am all too aware of the financial challenges facing small business but also more broadly in accessing advice, information and other support to grow a business. I am also very keen to learn more about businesses that straddle the private and public sectors, who have a clear social purpose and, as such, have the potential to make a positive impact beyond a purely commercial one.

CCF: We love that last sentiment. What previous experience have you got in the social investment field?

NK: Absolutely none! I occasionally volunteer for a friend’s social enterprise working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to secure internship and work placement opportunities which are often inaccessible to them as they don’t have the family and social networks that often facilitate those. That was how I found out about social enterprises and became interested in that business model.

CCF: Given that your background is in ‘traditional’ business, why do you think social investment matters?

NK: To me, social investment means investment that does not just benefit a company but investment that has far-reaching impact in a community or society. This type of investment not only builds individual capacity, but also provides the means for that person to contribute to the growth and progress of their community as well as their own individual or family’s prosperity.

CCF: What co-op’s, community businesses and social enterprises have you got involvement in?

NK: Again, none apart from regularly shopping at my local co-op store. Also, as a grad student many years ago, I worked part-time in a co-op grocery store which paid my bills!

CCF: Co-ops are there in the background then! Finally – if you could make one change to civil society what would it be?

NK: To take an even broader perspective, to look beyond the narrow confines of our immediate society and its needs and to take a wider, global view. There are lessons to be learned from other societies and how they address the same issues all of humankind (and non-human inhabitants of the planet!) face and opportunities to share perspectives and create a bigger collective voice to address the challenges.