The latest ‘Championing Change’ report from NatWest Social and Community Capital (S&CC) shows that 2023 was the strongest year of lending for the charity to date.

More than £2m was committed in loans to social enterprises across the UK, doubling the previous year’s total (which had in turn doubled the lending in 2021).

• £2,270,000 total in loans approved
• £280,000 in additional support to existing investees
• 118 jobs created or maintained by investees
• Est. 10,000 people positively impacted 

The investees helped by S&CC in 2023 supported outcomes primarily in:

• Employment, training and education
• Arts, heritage, sport and faith projects
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Citizenship and community
• Housing and local facilities

Sun Pier House CIC is one social enterprise helped by S&CC in 2023. A creative arts space and venue that aims to enrich lives through arts and heritage, Sun Pier House focuses on supporting vulnerable people in Medway, Kent - one of the most deprived areas in the UK.

Founded and run by Medway residents, Heather Burgess and Ed Gransden, the organisation houses an exhibition gallery, 26 artist studios, a community room, and a café. To make it fully accessible to all, a project was launched to get a lift installed.

An Arts Council grant helped but significant challenges remained as the building work was scheduled to take more than six months, so the need to keep paying bills and wages created a financial shortfall. S&CC offered growth funding which was perfectly suited to their needs.

Ed Grandsen said: “We opted for flexible growth funding to help us cover the shortfall. This allowed us to draw the loan in two sections and pay interest only on the amounts we needed and as we needed them.

“They really understood our organisation and it was so useful to have a representative from S&CC throughout our project. Thanks to them, Sun Pier House has a bright future ahead.”

Victoria Papworth, S&CC CEO, said: “Alongside the macro-economic issues of global inflation, new and developing conflicts and a world still recovering from the pandemic, over the medium term, the UK has seen considerable disinvestment in the support it is able to give to the most vulnerable.

“Our investees work in this volatile environment, offering support to those furthest from help, and we are proud to support this work. We know how vital local decision-making can be; power in the hands of local communities can be transformational.”

Find out more about Ulster Bank Social & Community Capital and its role in creating positive social impact in the UK.