Barking & Dagenham’s GROW Fund decision makers have chosen to invest in The Growth Impact Fund, to help social businesses grow their impact.
Social ImpactThe positive or negative effect that an individual, organisation or project has on the well-being and welfare of a community or society as a whole.
About the social businesses
Almost £260,000 was invested in chocolate manufacturer Harry Specters, which provides paid employment, work experience and training opportunities for young autistic people. Founded by Mona and Shaz in 2011 as a means of supporting their autistic son, the company now employs 12 Neurodiverse individuals and has provided over two hundred autistic people with free training and work experience.
Harry Specters meets consumer demands while making a contribution towards addressing employment needs for a significantly underserved community: 71% of autistic adults in the UK are unemployed. The company employs autistic adults throughout its organisation, and offers work experience to autistic young people at school and college to help them to access employment in the future.
Zoey Clenshaw joined Harry Specters in 2021, working across the sales, customer services and admin functions. Despite her skills and degree in performing arts, Zoe struggled to find and maintain employment. At Harry Specters she has become ‘The Office Octopus’ handling a variety of different tasks.
Zoey said: “As a late-diagnosed autistic woman I had previously struggled to hold down a job due to sensory and social difficulties. Now after just over 2 years working at Harry Specters I have been able to leave an abusive marriage, live confidently by myself, and thrive in a working environment where I am understood and accepted for who I am.”
A further investment of £250,000 was made into Lightning Reach, a platform that has facilitated over £6m in grants to individuals in need of financial assistance and registered over 60,000 users. Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggests that most deprived areas of England are the hardest hit by the cost of living crisis, with 58% of people spending less on essentials than other parts of the country. 1 By providing individuals with access to financial support, Lightning Reach is tackling the cost-of-living crisis head-on.
Nicole, a mother of two from Romford, accessed grantInvesting in and for Barking & Dagenham
Now, the Growth Impact Fund is seeking to fund organisations based in Barking and Dagenham after receiving funding from BD Giving.
Sarah Faber, GIF Investment Director said “Growth Impact Fund recognises the potential that exists in the borough, just like BD Giving. We’re really pleased to be able to have the opportunity to be able to work alongside each other in order to bring money further into the borough”.
Irina, Community Steering Group Member
FundA way for people to combine their money and invest together.
Social enterprises interested in chatting further with BD Giving contact hello@bdgiving.org.uk for enquiries.
