News Archive
First loans via Just Growth
We have released our first two loans via Just Growth, the funding programme for community food and farming projects launched in July 2015. The recipients are the Ecological Land Co-operative and Veg Box People. Just Growth is a Real Farming Trust project. Eligible ventures that raise finance from community investment or crowd funding can have it […]
Message to advisers to co-ops and community businesses
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 […]
£3.62m programme for community-owned pubs
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 […]
Maybush blooms after community investment
Almost a year after it closed, the only pub in an Essex village is about to reopen with new owners – the local community. Over 130 people from Great Oakley and nearby have invested a total of more than £83,000 to finance the purchase and refurbishment of the Maybush Inn. A loan from Co-operative & […]
Bigger Co-operative Web
Software developers Co-operative Web are expecting significant growth in their 10th year in business and a large loan from Co-operative & Community Finance is helping to ease the growing pains. The Birmingham-based workers’ co-operative builds systems, web applications and content-managed solutions across a range of technical platforms. It works with many different types of business […]
Awards and growth for care provider
Award-winning, employee-owned care provider Care and Share Associates (CASA) has completed the first phase of its ambitious plan to more than double its turnover in the next five years. Co-operative & Community Finance, The Co-operative Loan Fund and Big Issue Invest are providing finance following an innovative restructuring of the business. CASA provides domiciliary care […]
The Dog Inn
Sometimes just the offer of finance can make all the difference to a community trying to raise funds. Last year a commitment by the Community Shares Fund to invest £50,000 if required gave the people of Belthorn in Lancashire the confidence to proceed with the purchase of The Dog Inn before the community share issue […]
Circus transforms mining community
We have received some unusual loan requests over the last 40 years, but never before has we funded equipment for aerial performance artists. Our loan was used to buy a new aerial rig for Organised Kaos Youth Circus, an extraordinary social enterprise based in a former mining village in south Wales. Operating from the old church […]
New base for Sparks
A popular child care co-operative in Bristol has moved premises, bought new play equipment and improved its financial resilience with the help of a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance. Sparks Play & Care, which provides high quality and convenient out-of-school childcare for some 150 families in the Ashley Down area of north Bristol, reopened […]
Before you apply
Before you start any application, make sure you have everything you might need at your fingertips; documents, contact details, photographs, promotional material, facts and figures. Preparation will make the process quicker and easier. Be sure to check out the organisation to which you are applying – check criteria, research what interests them, and follow any […]