The Need for Social Finance

More and more community enterprises are realising that grants cannot fully meet all of their funding needs. It is now becoming necessary for them to generate their own capital in order to fulfil both development and cash flow requirements. Consequently loan funding, and in particular Social Finance, is becoming a primary tool in satisfying these needs.

Ulster Community Investment Trust Ltd (UCIT) was established in 1995 in response to decreasing grant support from government and the difficulties experienced by community organisations in accessing commercial loan facilities. The organisation now stands as the key provider of social finance, free advice, business support and mentoring to the social economy sector in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

As a registered charity, all profits generated by UCIT are recycled for reinvestment into the community and social enterprise sector.

Why we are different

• Reaching those organisations and social enterprises that banks or building societies will not readily assist
• Solely working with community organisations and social enterprises
• Understanding of the sector
• Responsible lending of social finance
• Transparent and accountable in all our work

A copy of our publication Leading Change: Sustainable Investment in Ireland (1995 – 2009) can be downloaded here. The 42 page document charts UCIT’s history and celebrates our achievements over the past ten years.

A copy of the UCIT Annual Report 2011 can be downloaded here