Eastside People social investment webinar November 2025 final recording

'Understanding Social Investment' with Good Finance, Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank & Own Merit.

At Eastside People we have seen first-hand what a difference social investment (also known as repayable finance) can make to helping charities and social enterprises develop or grow their organisations through trading, but we also see that there is still a lack of awareness and wariness that limits take up of this type of funding.

This webinar explained the principles of social investment, looked at the types of organisations and projects that are typically funded in this way, reviewed the main requirements for funding and how to apply. Attendees also heard a case study from an organisation that has benefitted (Own Merit).

We hosted this webinar along with speakers from:

Social investment specialists Good Finance
Social sector savings and loans bank Charity Bank
Big Issue Invest, the investment arm of the Big Issue group
Own Merit, the Community Interest Company that aims to build a safer community by providing prison leavers with accommodation, support and sustainable alternatives to crime.

Outline agenda:

Welcome and introduction
What do we mean by social investment and where does it fit with other forms of repayable finance?
Big Issue Invest’s approach and funds, what do they offer and what do they look for?
Charity Bank’s offer and how to approach them
Case study – hear what it’s like to go on the social investment journey
Q&A.

Panellists:

Chair: Jo Simpson, Senior Fund Development Manager, Eastside People
Annie Constable, Digital Marketing & Communications Manager, Good Finance
Linda Wickstrom, Investment Manager Big Issue Invest
Carolyn Sims, Director of Impact Lending Charity Bank
Darryn Frost,Co-Founder, Own Merit.