The Social Enterprise Loan Fund for the West Midlands

Avril Howker
Regional Director

I've been working for the loan fund since early 2007 and I am managing East Midlands and West Midlands regions.

I'm a chartered accountant, and previously I was a financial manager in the regeneration department of a local authority where I was responsible for making loans to businesses including social enterprises. The local authority is no longer providing this service so I am delighted to be able to provide financial assistance to social enterprises via TSELF.

I love the concept of social enterprise - where the social purpose is as important as the bottom line. It's such an effective way of improving the lives of disadvantaged people.

We may be able to help you with

Examples of clients we have helped

• Future Health and Social Care
  Providing housing, health and care services to vulnerable people
• Staffordshire Community Link
  Providing community transport

Future Health and Social Care

Future Health & Social Care Association CIC is one of the country’s leading social enterprises employing 125 people throughout Birmingham and adjoining areas.

Future HSC aims to combat poverty by providing quality housing and support services to those most at risk within the community and also to provide health and social care services to vulnerable members of the community.

This company is managed on a day to day basis by Roger Telphia, Chief Executive and where annual turnover is in the region of £4m.

TSELF has helped Future HSC on two occasions and with loan finance: first to opent a day centre and then to finance the move from rented to freehold premises.

The annual saving in rental income will not only provide the company with sufficient resources to service the loans but has also enabled Future HSC to acquire a valuable freehold property.

www.futurehsc.com

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Staffordshire Community Link

This charity was established in 1993 to provide community transport throughout Stafford, the surrounding towns and large villages as well as servicing the rural areas within the county.

The company is managed by Ian Bowen and operates a dial-a-ride scheme, mileage priced trips, specific contracts for local authorities, social services and the NHS and also a voluntary car scheme.

Originally relying predominantly on grant funding, this company is gradually moving to a position of full sustainability. It now employs a total of 14 full and part-time employees together with a number of volunteers who use their own cars.

TSELF was approached to finance the purchase of 2 mini-buses with disabled access which enabled the company to provide a better service for passengers with disabilities, to replace two ageing vehicles and to reduce servicing and fuel costs by acquiring more modern vehicles.

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