Possible sources of finance
From Bristol Student Housing Co-operative
Big Issue Foundation
- https://www.bigissue.com/invest/investments-funds-programmes/
- "SCH has been working with the Big Issue to get access to big loans we could use to put money down on a deposit. But the interest rate is quite high and we would need to raise it in 12 months." (OGM on 9th November 2022)
University of Bristol
- Apparently gave £100,000 to launchpad (minutes 2020-08-28)
Co-operative and Community Finance
- https://coopfinance.coop/
- Bristol based
- Financed Edinburgh with a £15,000 loan
Bristol and Bath Regional Capital
- https://bab-rc.uk/
- "We have met twice with BBRC who have supported us by putting us in contact with key local housing stakeholders and advice on grants we can apply for to help us set-up. They have also put themselves forward as a potential source of support if we need bigger pots of funding than what we could apply for from usual community grants." (business plan)
Triodos Bank
- https://www.triodos.co.uk/sectors-we-finance/housing-associations
- Provide large loans with long repayment terms (https://www.triodos.co.uk/business-lending/large-loans/housing).
- Have a crowdfunding platform: https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/
- Have financed Bristol housing coops in the past:
Ecology Building Society
- https://www.ecology.co.uk/mortgages/community-and-commercial-mortgages/community-led-housing/
- SCH has links
Great Western Credit Union
- https://greatwesterncu.org
- We have an account with them
- They don't advertise loans to companies / housing co-ops on their website, but might be worth contacting
Radical Routes
- https://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/
- A mutual-aid network of co-ops committed to working for radical social change
- Provide loans to members, but it's probably hard for a student coop to become a member?
Screwfix Foundation
- https://www.screwfix.com/help/screwfixfoundation
- Provides grants of up to £5000 for "projects that improve, repair and maintain homes and community facilities used by those in need throughout the UK."
Lush Charity Pot
- https://www.lush.com/uk/en/a/charity-pot-funding-guidelines
- Provide grants of generally £2000-£4000 "to groups working in the areas of: animal protection, environment, and human rights (incl. social justice, peace & equality)".
