BCFF

Barclays Community Finance Fund 2013: Applications window is closed

Introduction to the Fund:

The Barclays Community Finance Fund is part of Barclays’ strategy to tackle financial exclusion. It aims to improve the capacity of the community finance sector’s personal and business lending operations in the UK.  Barclays is committed to working in partnership with organisations like Transact, ABCUL and CDFA to increase the availability of affordable credit in local communities.

The Barclays Community Finance Fund is making £200,000 available to improve access to affordable credit in the UK by providing existing or seedling community finance providers with direct short-term grants of up to £50,000 to deliver services over the course of a 12 month period.

The Fund’s objectives are:

1. To improve access to affordable credit to those people on low incomes and living in areas where the need for affordable credit can be demonstrated
2. To increase the existing community finance providers’ capacity to deliver affordable credit to low income consumers by providing them with short-term direct financial support
3. To provide financial support to credit unions and CDFIs that are starting up, merging or forming partnerships in areas where public access to affordable credit is restricted
4. To support the organisations funded in developing and improving their business services through encouraging voluntary participation of Barclays' staff

The grant can be used for:

• Efficiency saving measures
• Infrastructure
• Product development
• Marketing
• Mergers between businesses

Who can apply?

Credit unions and CDFIs which meet the following criteria:

• You must be a member of Transact  
• You must be an operational business or have received final FSA approval to begin operations 
• You must be operational in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

If you have any further questions regarding the Fund then please email zoe.dixon@toynbeehall.org.uk or call 020 7392 2954.