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We are helping to roll out a major initiative to support charities and social enterprises to access the investment they need to grow and diversify their income streams.

Co-operative & Community Finance is one of just 10 organisations in England to be approved as an Access Point for the two-year, £4m Reach Fund which will provide grants to organisations that need specific support to be able to take on a loan. The initiative, funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment and managed by Social Investment Business, is designed to test a new model of investment readiness support.

Could you be eligible?

Reach Fund can offer up to £15k in grant support to get you investment ready. As your nominated Access Point we can help you through the application process. Please note that the Reach Fund is only open to organisations based in England.

You may be a start up organisation who has developed your business plan, but need to work on your financial forecasts or need to pay for professional help to get those last agreements ready to be signed off. Or perhaps you are an established organisation taking on debt for the first time and need someone to review your governance structure or help put financial systems or social impact monitoring in place.

To be eligible to apply with us as your nominated Access Point you need to meet our lending criteria. For further information, go to the Reach Fund website.

“We often see applications from co-ops that have great plans or growth strategies but aren’t quite ready for us to offer them finance. Before we can offer finance we need to see strong financials, a polished business plan, confidence in the governance and drafted or in place legal agreements.” Tim Coomer, Co-operative & Community Finance’s Business Development Manager

Often groups have done most of the hard work but falter before the last hurdle. This is because they need to pay for that bit of legal advice or haven’t been able to pay for the sector specialist to check the numbers. This is where Reach Fund can really help get groups over the line.”

If you want to chat through your eligibility or discuss how to apply, please contact Tim Coomer tim@coopfinance.coop or phone 07342 674 673.

Access – The Foundation for Social Investment was launched in early 2015 to bridge the gap between charities and social enterprises and social investors, to help make social investment easier to find and more relevant for those charities and social enterprises. Access is funded by the Cabinet Office, the Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital.

Help us build a thriving co-operative sector

Co-operative & Community Finance is looking for a Treasurer to support the Industrial Common Ownership Finance Ltd (ICOF) board and small staff team. Our well established organisation, which supports a  range of co-operative businesses with loan finance is looking for a confident ‘numbers’ person to help us grow steadily over the next few years.

We would like someone who has a high level of financial understanding with experience of accounting and bookkeeping to monitor and challenge the operations of ICOF Ltd and its subsidiaries on behalf of the board.

A person with knowledge and experience of  co-operatives, employee ownership and community organisations would be desirable as would experience of both company and society accounting. We encourage strategic thinkers, creativity, and people with willingness to both speak out and work effectively on a board.

There is no remuneration attached to the role but reasonable expenses are paid. The role requires a commitment to attend four meetings a year and further occasional executive and audit committee responsibilities.

For further information about the role please contact Tim Coomer, Business Development Manager.
tim@coopfinance.coop
07342 674673

We’re excited to let you know about another fantastic event that we will be sponsoring in 2017.

‘Post Carbon Co-ops – Future Co-ops 2017’ will address the Post Carbon landscape and explore co-operative solutions to post carbon challenges.

We’re looking forward to working with Co-operative Futures again for what proves to be a great event.

The conference  takes place on 3rd/4th Febuary 2017 at the Jurys Inn, Cheltenham. More information and details about how to book your place can be found here: http://futures.coop/post-carbon-coops-future-coops-2017/

Here at Co-operative & Community Finance we are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring Ways Forward 5 – Roads to a Democratic Economy. This important conference aims to discuss and debate co-operative and radical alternatives to austerity and capitalism and help shape our shared vision of a prosperous, caring society based on a democratic economy. Speakers include John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor & Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP. Secure your places by booking at www.eventzilla.net/web/event/ways-forward-5-2138869147

The event takes place Friday 20th January 2017 at Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester from 9:30am to 4:30pm. We hope to see all you all there for what proves to be a fantastic event.

More details available in the flyer below:

Help us build a thriving co‑op sector.

We are seeking people to join our board and help plan the strategic direction of Co-operative & Community Finance and keep us on course.

We are looking for fresh ideas and enthusiasm from people who are committed to co-op values and community control. You do not need to have a financial background to apply.

Board members are expected to attend four meetings a year, usually held in Bristol, and to engage by email or phone in between.

For more information please contact Tim Coomer
tim@coopfinance.coop
07342 674673

I am writing to introduce myself as the New Business Development Manager at Co-operative & Community Finance. You may be aware that there have been a couple of changes to the team this year and I have been recruited to take over Ian Rothwell’s role as he moves into the Investment Manager position. This follows Ian Taylor’s pending retirement after over 25 years at ICOF and CCF.

My role is to help raise the profile of the organisation, build partnerships and develop finance packages. I have worked as a social and community enterprise adviser for over 10 years prior to taking up this position and bring experience of working with a range of charities and community and co-operative businesses.

As a development worker or adviser in the co-operative/community business sectors I am keen to make contact with you. Firstly to let you know I’m here and secondly to make myself available if you would like to discuss any opportunities to work together in future. CCF has always worked closely with development workers and advisers in the sector and I am eager to maintain these links and promote co-operation. Perhaps you have clients that would benefit from loan finance or need interim finance to support a community share issue or perhaps you have funds that require management through our FCA authorised back office facilities. Perhaps you are considering a bidding opportunity that could benefit from a lending partner? Whatever your circumstances it would be great to talk to you.

CCF has a range of finance options available with loans from£10k – £150k for organisations that are democratically controlled by their members; across a range of community and co-operative sectors. We pride ourselves on quick investment decisions, low loss rates and flexible finance arrangements for your clients.

If you wish to contact me to find out more about my role or a chat please email me at: tim@coopfinance.coop or call me on 07342 674673.

A major new support and finance programme to help people take control of their local pub for the benefit of the community has been announced by Community Pubs Minister Marcus Jones MP.

More than a Pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme is a £3.62 million, two-year programme that will see a comprehensive package of business development support, advice and loan and grant funding being delivered to community groups in England to help them establish community-owned pubs that can clearly demonstrate how they will bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits to their communities. Jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and Power to Change, the programme will be led by Plunkett Foundation and delivered in collaboration with leading organisations within the sector including Co-operative & Community Finance.

The programme aims to support 80 community-owned pubs to open over two years and will offer a flexible package of support including access to an advice line, events, workshops, peer-to-peer study visits, and business development advice. It will also offer flexible bursary awards to fund very early stage activity, such as community consultation work, and a grant and loan package.
Forty communities have already successfully taken ownership of their local pub under community ownership, and a further 1,250 have been listed as ‘assets of community value’ under community rights, highlighting the important role that pubs play in local communities.

Co-operative & Community Finance has helped several communities save their local pubs by providing long and short-term loan finance and by underwriting share issues (via the Community Shares Fund).

One example is The Fox and Hounds in Denmead on the outskirts of Portsmouth which reopened under community ownership In December 2014, after it had been derelict for over two years. The local community raised nearly £500,000 to buy and refurbish the 150 year building. The community share issue attracted £326,000 from 190 investors and the remainder came from loans from Co-operative & Community Finance and The Co-operative Loan Fund and a grant from Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

Business Development Manager Tim Coomer said: “We are delighted by the launch of this long-awaited support programme. It should make a big difference to many local communities. We have worked with Plunkett on a similar programme to support community-owned shops and so we are confident that this one for pubs will be popular and successful.”
Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of Plunkett Foundation, said: “This programme will significantly increase the number of community-owned pubs open and trading, bringing far-reaching benefits to local people. For many communities, pubs are not just a place to drink; they are central to peoples’ sense of place and identity, they provide an important place for people to meet and help to build community cohesion.”

To find out more about the programme please call the programme advice line on 01993 810730 or visit www.plunkett.co.uk.