Background & Aims

Social and community enterprises are now recognised as vital to the successful regeneration of deprived areas within the UK.

Without a secure track record or conventional security, community ventures often have difficulty in accessing traditional sources of funding, especially if they are based within a disadvantaged community.

This is where the Local Investment Fund comes in.

Who are we?

We were set up in 1995 by the then DETR (now the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister), Business in the Community and the private sector, led by NatWest with the aim of overcoming the funding gap often experienced by social enterprise.

What do we do?

We provide loan finance to not-for-profit community organisations. Go to "Our Achievement, Our Clients" to see who we have helped already or "Borrowing from LIF" to see if your organisation is eligible for one of our loans.

What are our aims?

Developing the long-term sustainability of our projects is central to the aims of LIF. Because of this, as well as financial support we can also provide technical assistance through the organisation ProHelp.

This is a national network of architects, accountants, solicitors, public relations and marketing specialists, IT consultants and many others all of whom can provide professional and strategic support free of charge to voluntary and community groups in their local area.

For more information about ProHelp visit www.prohelp.org.uk.

The future…

We have now set up eight regional Community Loan Funds. These are:

• North East
• North West
• South West
• Merseyside
• Yorkshire and Humber
• West Midlands (ACLF)
• East Midlands
• South East

Find out about more our Regional Community Loan Funds.