30 June 2023: Niall Alexander, Markets and Consumer Insights Manager, Fair4All Finance, on shocking research findings, a new report, and why it’s critical to expand community finance and for policy makers and mainstream banks to accept… Continue reading
News
More than 3 million may have borrowed from illegal moneylenders – new report urges boost to community lending sector
28 June 2023: Over 3 million people in Great Britain may have borrowed from an illegal moneylender in the last three years according to new research by IPSOS for Fair4All Finance. Results from a new online… Continue reading
22% rise in people and businesses turning to ‘social purpose’ lenders as cost-of-living pressures bite for households and small firms
17 May 2023: The number of people, businesses and social enterprises borrowing from the UK’s not-for-profit, ‘community development’ lenders has leaped by 22% to nearly 95,000 in 2022. New figures from Responsible Finance, which represents community… Continue reading
Pushing the boundaries of impact measurement for CDFIs: Moving from effective to compelling, by Heidi Fisher MBE
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are organisations that provide affordable lending to individuals, businesses and social enterprises that are typically underserved by traditional banks and financial institutions. CDFIs usually have a mission to support community development… Continue reading
UK public think credit scores unfair, as organisations call for reform of credit information market
27.04.2023: Seven out of ten (70%) of UK adults believe it’s unfair for someone’s postcode or location to have a negative impact on a credit score, new research reveals today. More than half (55%) of adults… Continue reading
Doggie dream come true is business success story for Caz Burness
Caz and Darron Burness already had a thriving business – doggy day care, pet-sitting, home boarding and other services – when they spotted an opportunity to purchase a kennels premises. It was the perfect fit. But… Continue reading
Coalition calls for Fair Banking Act, which public would back
27 March 2023: A large majority of the UK public would back a proposed ‘Fair Banking Act,’ according to findings from a new poll by Opinium Research for the Fair Banking for All coalition. The coalition… Continue reading
How to accelerate impact investing with Sarah Gordon – new podcast
Impact investing has moved into the mainstream. Many asset owners and managers are trying to deliver more positive social and environmental impact as well as a financial return. Yet just a few years ago many institutions… Continue reading
Responsible Finance and NatWest Hardship Grants
21 March 2023: Six Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) have received funding through the Responsible Finance and NatWest Hardship Grants programme. Our members Adage Credit, Conduit Loans (part of Five Lamps), Fair Finance, Lancashire Community Finance,… Continue reading
Community Investment Tax Relief expansion will help close finance gap
15 March 2023: In today’s Budget the Government has announced an expansion in Community Investment Tax Relief, a targeted intervention which increases access to finance for SMEs, social enterprises and charities by stimulating private investment in… Continue reading