In Unity Spring 2015 No7 v2 Page 3

Bootstrap Company

Every pound that can be conserved and
used to further the work of charities is
essential. Hackney based charity and social
enterprise Bootstrap Company aims to
alleviate poverty and increase education
and enterprise within the local community.
When they refinanced their £1.3 million
loan to Unity, they saved £40,000 on
annual loan repayments.

The £40,000 saving will be driven

back into community projects such as
Bootstrap Campus, Start-up Square and
The Bunker. These will provide additional
workspace for start-ups, as well as create
an enterprise hub where young people
can get desk space and career support.

Bootstrap also offer support and training

through masterclasses run by the company
and its tenants allowing young people to
meet employers and gain career skills. This
support ranges from fundraising and PR
skills, to Social Investment courses, social
media workshops and networking events.

Sara Turnbull, Chief Executive at

Bootstrap Company

said: "It was important

to us to work with people who share our
values, and having a bank that understands
what we're here to do has made all the
difference. The refinance has allowed us
to invest in our building and staff, and
we feel confident about the future and
the projects we are investing in."

Norton Community Pub

When their thriving local pub faced
extinction by a housing developer, the
community in the Essex village of Cold
Norton came together to save the pub from
redevelopment. Seven years later, it is a
successfully run community enterprise
which has full ownership of the property.

Debbie Guppy, Director and Chair of

Norton's management committee

, said:

"Village volunteers, many of whom became
part owners of the pub, kept the business
afloat but with the high rates of rent
imposed by the landlord, it was impossible
to invest in the business or think long term.
To survive and grow, we knew we must
purchase the pub building."

The local community raised £125,000

through a community share offer. Unity
made a £175,000 loan to the committee
of the Norton Community Pub to facilitate
the purchase.

During the redevelopment of the pub, a

restaurant was built, providing employment
for a full time chef and the development
of an apprenticeship scheme to join the
kitchen staff. The pub has a core of 30
volunteers who run and manage it
alongside its growing permanent staff.

Debbie adds

: "For the first time in over

six years the Norton can now look beyond
the next month and plan for an exciting
future. The Norton is more than just a
boozer; the community is at the heart of
everything, from the volunteers to our local
breweries who we proudly support. Keeping
the pub open will keep this village alive."

GROWING

FUTURE

FOR THE

Social organisations are fuelled by a desire to make positive

changes in the lives of the people and communities they work with.

At the heart of those solutions is often the need for a suitable

space from which to deliver their life changing services.

Here are two customers that have done just that.

THINKING OF

BORROWING?

We have funds to lend to
organisations and businesses that
offer community, social or
environmental benefit.

Property Development

funding

is available to help you refurbish
existing premises or build new

Social Mortgage

means you

can purchase your own property
or refinance an existing
mortgage/loan

Our

100% loan finance

partnership

with Big Issue Invest can provide
full funding for your project,
without you needing a deposit

Organisations in Scotland and
Wales can access our

SCVO

and WCVA loan schemes

benefit from finance specifically
tailored to their needs

Community Development
Finance Institutions can provide
smaller loans. Visit
www.findingfinance.org.uk
to find out more.

Bootstrap Company run a rooftop garden where

they grow their own vegetables for their cafe

SPECIALIST

FINANCE