NEWS: Groundwork UK joins Community Builders Fund partnership
Groundwork UK has joined a partnership led by Social Investment Business to ensure £17m of funding reaches organisations tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges.
The new Community Builders Fund will allow charities, social enterprises and community organisations across England, Wales and Scotland – who are improving people’s lives or the environments they live in – to apply for loans from £100k up to £1.5m.
As a community partner, Groundwork UK along with Homeless Link, Co-operative and Community Finance, Fredericks Foundation, and The Architectural Heritage, aim to drive funding to more organisations focused on big challenges facing society, including nature and environmental work, homelessness charities, co-operatives and architectural heritage organisations revitalising historic buildings.
The Community Builders Fund is open for applications from Tuesday 18 March 2025. More information – including full eligibility criteria, product details and how to apply can be found below.
We’re really pleased to be joining this partnership providing support to organisations doing vital work in their local areas. The funding environment for charities and social enterprises is tough which is leading many to seek out new forms of finance. Given the scale and urgency of the climate and nature crises – and their growing impacts in our communities – it becomes more important than ever to support innovation and develop more sustainable delivery models.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork UK’s Chief Executive
So many charities are balancing huge demand for their services with a difficult and uncertain economic environment and rising bills. The Community Builders Fund is designed to provide vital investment at a critical time, supporting communities to adapt, grow their services, invest in the assets they need and diversify their income streams. I’m delighted that we can work together with so many trusted partners, united in supporting organisations tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges while building their resilience, reserves and assets.
Nick Temple OBE, Chief Executive of Social Investment Business
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk
About Social Investment Business
Social Investment Business provides finance and support for a more equal society. We are one of the largest and oldest social investors in the UK, supporting charities and social enterprises to build stronger and fairer communities. We offer funding and flexible, adaptive support to the organisations that make up the social economy, providing them with the tools they need to make a positive difference to the communities they work within. Since 2002, SIB has deployed and managed over £500m of loans and grants, directly supporting more than 3000 charities and social enterprises.