The Social Investment Business response to the Labour Party leader Ed Miliband’s speech

Tuesday 28 September 2010 

Responding to the Labour Party leader Ed Miliband’s speech to his party’s conference in Manchester this afternoon, The Social Investment Business chief executive Jonathan Lewis said:

“Ed Miliband today outlined his commitment to a society where people are encouraged to make a real difference in their communities, presenting opportunities for charities, social enterprises and cooperatives to be at the forefront of running local services and saving community assets such as post offices, pubs and their local high streets.

"Whether it is Labour's "Good Society" or the Government’s "Big Society", the many organisations we work with are keen to not only help communities, but also to become involved in shaping and delivering public services at a local level, providing a cost-effective service to the community and local councils alike. We believe that now more than ever these organisations can provide local government with alternative and improved ways of meeting local needs.

“Ed Miliband’s backing of loan schemes to support viable investments in organisations that need support is encouraging for the sector’s future. We have found that a mixture of loans, grants and business support have enabled civil society organisations to become sustainable for the long term.

“It is great that we now have three party leaders who have expressed support for social enterprises and community organisations, and we believe that exciting opportunities lie ahead for civil society. It is up to us as a sector to make the most of them.”

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1. For further information or interviews, please contact The Social Investment Business press office:

Liz Banks - 0207 842 7726/ 07809 504072  liz.banks@socialinvestmentbusiness.org

Nicola Jones - 0207 842 7755 nicola.jones@socialinvestmentbusiness.org

2. The Social Investment Business, the fastest growing social investor in the UK, exists to help social enterprises, charities and community organisations do more of what they do best – supporting people and communities most in need. We help organisations prosper by providing innovative financial solutions, business support and long term strategic thinking.

www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org @TheSocialInvest

3. The Social Investment Business manages Government funds on behalf of the Office for Civil Society, the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government, with over 1,000 active investments. These range from £3,600 to help a small organisation bid successfully for a public sector contract, to £6.7million to help a large national charity establish and develop innovative new services for children and young people.