Loans can be useful as a temporary measure (for example if your funding or a large payment is delayed) or to start up business activities.

• Banks: some banks also specialise in loans for projects that benefit the community
• Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs): lend money to social enterprises, businesses and individuals who struggle to get finance from high street banks and loan companies
• Community shares: some communities wanting to save a local service, like a shop, have raised funds through community shares

Where to look for loans and investment

Specialist banks for not-for-profits:

• Charity Bank
• Triodos
• Unity Trust

CDFIs:

• Social Investment Scotland: lends to charities, social enterprises and community groups
• Scottish Communities Finance: assist communities to raise capital from within their own communities
• CAF Venturesome: lends to charities, social enterprises and community groups
• DSL Business Finance: lends to social enterprises and small businesses

Also search Finding Finance database of CDFIs.

Community shares:

• Community Shares Scotland: support and information about how to make a community share offer