27.06.2012
CDFA’s Sean Dennis was a guest on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme on Monday 25.06.2012. The segment looked at the growth of “microfinance’ and alternatives to mainstream banking finance for businesses, and opened with an interview with film maker John Heaney of HH Films Ltd, a successful business customer of Manchester-based CDFA member Business Finance Solutions.
John explained that his business had been unable to access loan finance from a mainstream bank but Business Finance Solutions had been able to provide a loan to enable his business to purchase specialist professional cameras, enabling him to expand into top-end film making work. John commented, “I know that if my business model is sound, I know that I would be supported by community finance.”
You and Yours’ presenter Julian Worricker then asked CDFA’s Sean to tell listeners about community finance – who uses it (businesses, individuals and social enterprises), how the community finance approach is different (CDFA’s members are community based social enterprises that understand their customers and have a double or triple bottom line, not only focusing on a financial return but also on a social return).
Sean also outlined why and how community finance needs further support.
You can listen to the segment here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01k2cp2#p00vbtyc – it’s “Chapter 5” titled “Community Financing” and is 7 minutes long.