Revealed: City Corporation’s social investments change thousands of lives across the UK

Disabled people, ex-offenders and people on the brink of homelessness are among thousands helped by a string of social investments over the last five years, figures reveal.

A report by the City of London Corporation’s Social Investment Fund shows its 20 investments, totalling nearly £13m since 2012, have helped marginalised people right across the UK, with particular successes in London.

Since 2012 it has achieved a return of 4.7%, exceeding its initial 2% target.

The City Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile and a major public services provider for the capital.

Its Social Investment Fund invests in charitable bodies who access funding through social investment. These organisations have gone on to tackle some of the UK’s most pressing problems.

Social investments benefit society because they seek a social outcome as well as a healthy financial return.

They range from ethical investments which incorporate environmental and social factors when selected, to funding products which make a real difference to society by focussing on good causes, such as affordable housing for homeless people.

The City Corporation’s targeted investments have funded social schemes combatting rough sleeping, employing ex-offenders and improving access to public buildings for disabled people.

Its Social Investment Fund has spent over £5m London and £7m across the wider UK.

Peter Hewitt, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Social Investment Board, commented:

“We are extremely pleased to see such good results from the last five years’ work. We have had some really successful investments that have made a real difference to many lives.

“We are showing that by making socially responsible investments it is possible to have a positive social impact without compromising on financial returns.

“I am confident that over the coming years, increasing awareness of social impact investing will mean it will become a mainstream class of investment in the future.”

The City of London Corporation manages the £20m fund to support charitable organisations that want to access funding through social investment and to develop the social investment market in the UK

The City Corporation’s vision is for London to become the global hub of social investment, as a key driver of economic growth.

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