The United Kingdom faces two momentous political turning points in the coming years. First up is the defining of the next Parliament in the general election on June 8, then follows the Brexit negotiations which will… Continue reading
Category: Opinion
Responsible Finance Manifesto 2017
We are pleased to publish the Responsible Finance Manifesto, which calls on all political parties to support the responsible finance sector in order to create a more inclusive financial services system to catalyse growth and prosperity… Continue reading
Public Banks, CDFIs and a Joined-Up Agenda
By Pat Conaty There is a growing interest by local authorities and the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland in public banks. This interest is growing in the lead up to Brexit. The Welsh government for… Continue reading
It’s all about the passion
The number of business start-ups reached a record high in 2016 – with over 650,000 new businesses started in the UK. So what makes over 1,700 people decide to set up in business every day? Being… Continue reading
How do we know responsible finance is responsible?
Introducing a quality mark for the sector 12.04.2017 The financial services market looks like a web of confusion to many consumers. Businesses, individuals and social enterprises looking for credit may all find a bewildering range of… Continue reading
5 Reasons the Government Needs to Create New Regional Growth Funds
By Katy Ford, Foundation East Earlier this year, the independent think tank Civitas called for the government to pump fresh funding into responsible finance providers (RFPs), warning that over half of their funding streams, including from… Continue reading
CIC blog: CMA’s final report into the retail banking market is a missed opportunity
The Community Investment Coalition (CIC) has described the CMA’s final report on its investigation into the retail banking market as a missed opportunity to improve competition in the retail banking sector and so improve banking services… Continue reading
Improving the financial health of the nation: ideas for the next Parliament
The United Kingdom leads the world in financial services and yet more than two million adult Britons don’t have a bank account. In the autumn of 2014, the Financial Inclusion Commission came together to find out why, and to put the issue on the political agenda ahead of the General Election. Chris Pond explains what the Commission is calling for from the next government. Continue reading
What’s the value of community finance?
The CDFA is just about to launch a new tool, providing a dynamic framework for CDFIs to comprehensively, consistently and clearly report on their social impact. By mapping the value of community finance to all its stakeholders, we can build a stron g compelling case for future investment and support – vital for the sector’s future success. Continue reading
New government = new horizons?
Ben Hughes reflects on the forthcoming election and its implications for our industry. With the three main national parties having an evident commitment to at least some aspects of the work of CDFIs, can we look forward to a time of new hope and opportunity? Continue reading