Social Investment Business (SIB) has opened applications for the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF).
RRLF is a new £25 million emergency fund, which will provide repayable finance to charities and social enterprises directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The initial £25m has been provided by Big Society Capital. SIB is the lender , working initially with delivery partners Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank and Social and Sustainable Capital.
Charities and social enterprises – many of whom are facing urgent cash-flow problems and disruption to their delivery – can apply for emergency loans between £100K-£500K with flexibility in terms, including:
- A minimum of a 1-year term and a maximum of 3-year term
- Interest-free and fee-free for the first 12 months (in line with CBILS)
- 6.5% per annum for years 2 and 3
The flexibility comes because the fund provides access to the Government’s existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). SIB was one of nine new accredited lenders for the CBILS scheme announced by British Business Bank yesterday.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered through 60+ British Business Bank accredited lenders, is designed to support the continued provision of finance to UK smaller businesses (SMEs) during the Covid-19 outbreak. The scheme enables lenders to provide facilities of up to £5m to smaller businesses across the UK who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruptions to their cashflow.
It supports a wide range of business finance products, including term loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance facilities.
SIB recognises this Fund will not suit the needs of all social sector organisations and has also acted to:
- provide repayment freezes and flexibility directly to its existing customers
- work with partners Access and Power to Change on their emergency responses
- work as part of the newly-launched £6.5m Youth Endowment Fund COVID-19 grants round, as well as supporting existing grantees
- undertake two new COVID-19 data projects to swiftly understand how support for organisations and communities can be most effective
- convene social investors to share knowledge and work collectively
- commit with other funders on how we will act at this time to support our customers
Hazel Blears, Chair of Social Investment Business, said:
“Charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when their role is more critical than ever in supporting our most vulnerable communities. The Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund aims to support these organisations, so that they can continue to deliver crucial services to the growing number of those most in need.”
Nick Temple, Chief Executive, of Social Investment Business, said:
“The team at Social Investment Business has worked at speed to get the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund up and running. The social sector is under significant strain and SIB is very aware that many organisations will need grant or other funding, but we hope that RRLF will help some social organisations to survive and continue their vital work in these challenging times.”
For information on RRLF, including full eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit here.
Additional information
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy (BEIS).
This fund is only for social sector organisations: charities and social enterprises. Our initial investor is Big Society Capital – their remit (under Dormant Accounts Act) is to invest money in organisations that ‘exist wholly or mainly to provide benefit for society or the environment’.
For the avoidance of doubt, this includes:
- registered charities
- community interest companies
- community benefit societies
CBILS eligibility that applies to the fund includes that organisations must:
- be UK-based
- have a turnover of less than £45m
- have minimum 50% of income from trading (whole group – if applicable): this eligibility criteria does not apply to registered charities and further education colleges.
- self-certify they have been adversely affected by COVID-19
