Locality

When an organisation receives social investment, they will usually need to pay a return for using the money an investor lends them. This can be referred to as "cost of capital". Any social investor making loans expects to lend, and then be repaid. The aim of this is to cover the cost of lending and any default payments which means the money can then be recycled and lent again. Learn more about what it is and how it works via this handy Good Finance UK Hub: https://lnkd.in/dpE2wrh 

Are you working on a #zerowaste or #circulareconomy business? Do you have a tough problem to crack that free advice from the amazing minds at UCL could help you with? Then check out this amazing offer for local startups and SMEs from The Loop team at Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust. It’s a huge pleasure to see this partnership WorkWild and Paula Hirst MRICS MBA at Disruptive Urbanism helped establish bearing fruit. The road has been long and loopy but the grit and vision of CDT’s executive chair Alex Russell and the kindness and determination of UCL’s Andrew J H. and their respective teams mean that this superb support offer is out there. So please do help share widely and encourage small businesses in your networks to use this chance to take a step towards becoming more circular. (Capital Enterprise, Locality, B Lab UK, Social Enterprise UK, ReLondon, Small Business Britain, Makerversity please do share with your networks. https://lnkd.in/epmAS4cq

📢 Over 1.4 million emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in the Trussell community in just 6 months. Why? Because our social security system is falling short. But it doesn't have to be this way.    Our social security system should support us, especially when we need it most.     The UK Government must make sure Universal Credit covers the cost of essentials like food, heating and toiletries. A future where everyone can afford these essentials is possible. Today we gathered with organisations from across the UK at Parliament Square to deliver The Hardship Times to parliament. ⌛ It’s time to end hunger and hardship.

We were honoured to be shortlisted at the Locality Awards in the Building Inclusive Communities category alongside such amazing organisations across the country Sähëlï Hub Creative Sustainability CIC and Deeplish Community Centre! We’ll continue our work to support diverse groups of people and create inclusive spaces at the Upper Norwood Library Trust. #community #Locality24

At #Locality24 we hosted the Locality Awards, celebrating the people and organisations who believe in the power of community to create a fairer society. We're delighted to share the 2024 winners: 🏆Power of Community Award winner: PEACH - People's Empowerment Alliance for Custom House🏆 PEACH is a member-led community organisation in East London, focused on collective action for change. PEACH has secured major wins, including a 60% rent reduction for 250 tenants, a £300,000 rent arrears amnesty, and over £1 million in refurbishment funding. Other PEACH projects include a youth-designed community garden, a workers' cooperative, and a community land trust. Shortlisted: BASSETLAW ACTION CENTRE, Toynbee Hall, SHANTONA WOMENS & FAMILY SERVICE 🏆Transforming Lives Award winner: SHANTONA WOMENS & FAMILY SERVICE🏆 Shantona Women and Family Services empowers women and families in Leeds to address challenges like emotional abuse, financial control, forced marriage, and gender inequality. Through advocacy and by listening to women and their families, Shantona helps transform lives. Shortlisted: HappyDays UK, The Sewing Rooms 🏆Building Inclusive Communities Award winner: Sähëlï Hub🏆 Supported by Howden, the new name for Aston Lark Sähëlï Hub run services to tackle health inequalities among ethnically diverse women in Balsall Heath in Birmingham. Their Try-athlon helps people try things outside their comfort zone. Shortlisted: Creative Sustainability CIC, Deeplish Community Centre, Upper Norwood Library Hub 🏆Enterprising Organisation Award winner: HYDE PARK SOURCE LIMITED🏆 Hyde Park Source in Leeds runs weekly gardening and education projects to support mental health and wellbeing. Once fully grant-dependent, they now earn half their income through invoiced work such as designing and selling outdoor timber products. Shortlisted: The Sewing Rooms, Whitley Bay Big Local 🏆Keep it Local Award winner: West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, an integrated care system🏆 Supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales West Yorkshire ICB was the first integrated care board to sign up to the #KeepItLocal principles joining their Keep it Local Councils. They were also the first Keep it Local ICS in the country embedding Keep it Local principles in their Joint Forward Plan and empowering its places to work closer in partnership with the VCSE sector. Shortlisted: NHS Bradford District and Craven, Oxfordshire County Council Huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

“What does government – national and local – need to do? Let me make it really plain it simple: it needs to start backing you all with core funding. Not project funding, core funding. “Give people the money that you need to build in your communities and so you can do what you do, day in day out, without constantly looking over your shoulder, worrying about sustaining your organisation and the people you employ.” - Civil Society Media Ltd writeup of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham's speech at #Locality24 in #Manchester

It's impossible to sum up all the learning, inspiration and motivation that #Locality24 has brought us! We'll attempt to highlight some moments over the next few days, but for now just a big thank you to everyone who was part of it from all the Locality team 💥

We have really enjoyed attending the Locality conference this last two days. It was a great opportunity to hear from the community sector and like-minded individuals and organisations who also strive to drive economic and social inclusion in Greater Manchester. #Locality24 #PowerOfCommunity

Been back in Manchester over the last two days for the Locality Conference. Highlights for me: 🔘Hearing from Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, on the power of devolution, localising employment services and the impact of reliable core funding for the community sector. 🔘Visiting Projekts Mcr Skatepark who offer classes to those who are excluded from many skateboarding spaces, notably girls and women and those with disabilities. 🔘gathering ideas with Bryony Redwood-Turner about how to take DTAS’ environmental strategy forward and how to most effectively support our membership in taking climate action. 🔘Hearing from many inspiring women and their community projects as part of the closing plenary, Positivitree and Epping Forest Heritage Trust to name a few. #locality24 #powerofcommunity

Some wise words from Day 1 of #Locality24... thank you so much to all of our speakers, visit hosts, supporters and exhibitors for the inspiration and connection! "How do we move beyond firefighting and towards building thriving communities for the future? That is the big question for Locality and the voluntary sector." - Tony Armstrong, Locality "If the government wants to see places thrive, it needs to be radical. Bottom-up, place-based regeneration does work. Nothing about us without us is for us. Let's push this message to the government - we all need to be part of that decision making." - Jo Cooper, Back on the Map The three Cs of care: compassionate, caring and considerate." - Maqbul Rose, MANCHESTER SETTLEMENT “We know the solutions are within the people. When we work together and come from a place of love, we have the solutions (and they are a fraction of the price!)" - Cuthbert Tura Arutura, Africa House NI "Radical place leadership starts with the person." - Prof Donna Hall See you tomorrow for even more #PowerOfCommunity