Pasta Point Leeds, a pasta stand located at the heart of the Leeds Kirkgate Market, has launched with the support of a five-figure Start Up Loan delivered with support from Business Enterprise Fund (BEF). The funding… Continue reading
Tag: access to finance
From mechanic to business owner with a £184k loan
Chris Jones began his career at FRL Auto Services, where he spent 16 years honing his skills before moving on. When he later discovered that the garage’s long-time owner, Ian Gobel, was planning to sell after… Continue reading
From access to opportunity: Lessons from America’s CDFIs for a stronger UK
A transatlantic learning journey Four weeks on from our visit to Washington DC for the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference, the Responsible Finance team, and the CDFI members who joined us, are buzzing with ideas. With… Continue reading
Podcast 5: Stephen Henderson, Ruach Music
From hobby business to supplying musicians all over the world for 23 yr old entrepreneur Stephen Henderson’s business journey began at 16 when he discovered the cajon (a traditional percussion instrument) at a party. The keen… Continue reading
CIC Blog: Ethnicity and Financial Exclusion
The UK is one of the most powerful financial centres in the world, yet financial exclusion remains a significant issue. At the same time, a recent report into racial prejudice in Britain today shows that despite… Continue reading
CIC Blog: Penny for your thoughts? ATMs & the future of cash
Recent changes by LINK to its interchange rate means that thousands of free-to-use cash machines in the UK are threatened, potentially limiting access to cash for hundreds of communities. Its plans mean that the fee banks… Continue reading
CIC Blog: tackling financial exclusion in Scotland
Using data to understand and tackle financial exclusion in Scotland – summary of a round table discussion in the Scottish Parliament, hosted by Social Investment Scotland (SIS) and the Community Investment Coalition (CIC) On a… Continue reading
We need a bold vision for the provision of affordable credit
29.11.2017 For many people on low incomes, Christmas is far from a time of cheer. This year, the combination of rising inflation and an increase in interest rates while incomes continue to stagnate will place even… Continue reading
Tackling Financial Exclusion Through Local Finance Partnerships
In 2016, responsible loan funds lent £20 million to 37,000 people and helped their customers deposit £3 million into savings accounts. Local finance organisations are innovative, responsive and resourceful but, at the moment, they don’t have… Continue reading
CIC event notes: Bank Lending Data: 3 years on, what have we learnt?
On December 12th, the Community Investment Coalition held a roundtable in the Palace of Westminster to discuss the achievements to date of the data disclosure campaign and how to move forward. Click here to download summary notes from… Continue reading