Aims/priorities: The Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) is a new fund administered by Social Investment Business (SIB) with an initial investment of £25 million from Big Society Capital.
It aims to support social-sector organisations working to improve people's lives in the UK that are facing a problem because expected income and activity has been delayed or disrupted as a result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme offers emergency loans that can be used as working capital until an organisation's normal business can commence again. The loans will have no fees or interest for the first 12 months. The fund has been established to make an existing government scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBLIS), more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises.
Loans are available to help organisations with working capital until normal business can resume. Examples of how the loan funding could be used include:
- Providing a bridge until receiving government payments (eg contracts, furlough etc).
- Covering a delay in trade payments (trade debtors).
- Supporting the rapid scaling up of an existing business model to meet an increased demand for services during the crisis.
- Providing a bridge to cover revenue shortfall for proven and profitable trading activity.
Who can apply? Applications are accepted from social-sector organisations that are improving people's lives across the UK and that meet the governance principles set out by Big Society Capital.
Eligible organisations include:
- Registered charities.
- Social enterprises.
- Community interest companies (CICs).
- Community benefit societies.
Grant amount: Loans of between £100,000 and £1.5 million are available for a term of one to five years. Loans will have no fees or interest for the first 12 months. Then after principal payments start the following interest rates will be applied: 6.5% per year (from year two) for a loan term of 1-3 years; 7% per year (from year two) for a loan term of more than 3 up to 5 years.
Application process: An online application form and guidance documents are available on the SIB website.
Deadline: 31 March 2021 (23:59). Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis and the closing date of the fund is subject to constant review.
Contact information: Enterprise and Development Team - Tel 020 3096 7900, Email RRLF@sibgroup.org.uk
Website address: Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (sibgroup.org.uk)