Social Impact Investment (SII) is a relatively new concept made with the intention of bringing together financial return and social good.  This concept makes way for a very exciting new market to develop and one we should follow with interest.

In the present economic climate where the Charities Aid Foundation has surveyed that 4 out of 10 charities are operating on less income that they have budgeted for and over half are dipping into reserves, there is an expectation of philanthropists to be market builders, prospectors and pioneers.

This is a golden opportunity for investors to shape the future of a new impact market economy.  These investors do not need to be multi-millionaires or large organisations, it could be you and people like you.  Investors who get involved now have the chance to be part of a long term strategic solution benefitting their local community as well as themselves.

So how could this investor be you when you’re simply struggling to keep your head above water?

PBO Benefits Society falls into the pioneer bracket when discussing SII’s.   Very much like their Rochdale fellowmen, The Rochdale Pioneers (Co-Operative Society) set up  in 1844, PBO is a membership scheme which offers benefits to its members and encourages all members to participate and help each other. PBO kick starts this encouragement by asking each member to select a charity or grass root community group to donate part of their membership fee to. 

This encouragement for members to keep helping each other throughout their annual membership  continues through financial and knowledge sharing initiatives to stimulate the local and wider communities.  As each individual/business/charity is unique there is a choice of membership scales to join and enjoy the benefits too.  Benefits such as:

Financial   - www.sales4.me.uk / www.clubshop.org.uk /www.pboshop.co.uk /

Commission / Vouchers / Donations /Affiliated marketing /self-employed status start up initiatives.

Quality of Life   – Serving the whole community.  Benefits of people networking, staying active and focused, sharing knowledge and experiences,  services and products and above all having a sense of value of ourselves in society.

Giving Back   – By benefitting from the membership scheme themselves, members are more likely to volunteer something to give back to its members.

Responsibility  -Members to be responsible for some positive participation in the community.

Career experience - Experiences that can add to career prospects, growth and Sustainability

Such initiatives are not necessarily new, but combined with the ethos of helping charities and grass root community groups survive, grow and perhaps manage sustainability through PBO’s annual membership, the values of responsibility to society is certainly to be recognised as “socially good with financial gain”.

Values to an extent, dictate who we are, how we relate to the world around us and the people in it.  When we allow ourselves to truly understand what are core values are and then implement them in our everyday lives colossal changes can and will occur.

“For The Good of All” is the principle value of PBO Benefits Society a new venture by the Community Interest Company Juniors FC CIC.  Their values to use established business practices and facilitate them to be available for each member of their society, has created a unique and dynamic opportunity for individuals, businesses and charities to work together; and not only survive, but grow and be sustainable in the present economic climate.

It allows all its members to be philanthropic to each other by volunteering initiatives, either financial or as a service, to help improve the quality of human life.  By implementing the values they believe in so passionately below, a new market in the economy may emerge bringing together social good with financial gain.

Core Values such as:-

Belief               –          In working together to provide a sustainable future for children and that values will create open ended opportunities for others.

Honesty          –          To develop trustful relationships with honesty and integrity.

Support          –          To be supportive, helpful and understanding of those around you.

Responsibility  & Respect   –   For ourselves and the unique qualities of others.

PBO’s values seem to include the above and value for money and because they are a CIC the majority of their generated income goes back into the community.

For example, Membership ranges from £0.83 a week to £2.88 before February 2012 payed in full as an annual donation £43.20 or £150.00.  Their first initiative is to donate a set amount of each membership subscription to a charity/community cause of the members choice. To find our more go to www.pbobenefits.co.uk.

Do you know what your core values are?  Try picking 10 values and put them in order of importance starting with the highest at the top and working your way down.  You may surprise yourself with your choices.  Make up your own values or use the list below as a guide.

Are the results what you expected?  Inner contentment comes from our inner beliefs (values) and learning to implement them into our every day lives. Having the belief in yourself to start this process is your first step….. 

One step at a time….. take a walk and enjoy the journey.

The recent IFS report states that by 2013, 1 in 4 children will be living in poverty.  The worst predicted drop in incomes to hit the UK since the 1970’s will have a dramatic effect on family life.  High inflation, low benefits and Government cuts are resulting in families having what they need not what they want and is set to get worse.

If this is the case, it will have a massive emotional and physical impact on children as they take on board cuts in pleasures, such as out of school activities, school trips, and holidays; parents in the lowest poverty brackets may be unable to afford school uniform, heating, electric and adequate food for their families.  Student behaviour and achievement will be dramatically effected over the next 10 years with such financial pressures on family life.  Putting a support structure in place for these families will be crucial to each schools survival and success.

Increasing schools collaboration with parents is notoriously difficult with the emphasis usually placed on raising funds for the school (not something all parents have the time to commit to).  However, if parents are given the opportunity and support to help themselves out of the financial difficulties they face this will have a positive effect on school relationships and ultimately the students.  Social responsibility has a tendancy to come with a natural result in financial gain.  So where will this support come from when Head Teachers and their staff are stretched to the limit on tight budgets themselves?

PTA organisations, Friends of and Parent Forums will need to take on a more significant role to assist in bringing support to families and schools and not just by involving parents in funds raising events.  Running support groups for families on the school premises will be a huge benefit to students in the long term. Inviting parents in for support, perhaps withcareer opportunities, helping them with job applications, sharing ideas and new initiatives and supporting each other through the tough times is really the true foundation of a PTA organisation  – parents pulling together.

A childs emotional stability (especially hormonal teenagers) can be impacted by guilt, frustration, confusion and grief on the situations they observe around them.  The world eceonmy will not be passing them by unnoticed.  Parents struggling financially, perhaps resulting in arguments at home and strains on relationships become apparent – children and parents may start to drift apart.  Inviting parents onto the school premises to help themselves create opportunities to move on, must surely lead to a natural desire for further school/parental involvement down the line.

This is not a time for closing our doors and trying to work it out on our own.  It’s a time for opening the doors wide for everyone to feel welcome and communicate with each other in a friendly and local environment.  If we’re reluctant to do this for others, how can we expect to ask our children to open their bedroom door and express their concerns to us.

Let’s lead by example.    After all opportunities are where we make them……

We cannot fail to be aware of the events in the world economy at present. The world’s media is full to the brim on the crucial state of the Euro due to the lack of social responsibility in corporate governance over the last decade.  Corporate banking and Japan’s  recent disclosure of Olympus’ latest investment losses which may exceed $1 billion, have all added to such irresponsibility.  For those of more popular concerns, Simco (X-Factor) have also been in dispute with a charity for trying to use its name for one of its bands.  Resulting in costs the charity can ill afford.  The list is endless….

However this irresponsibility has had a dramatic impact on the UK; redundancies, business closures, increased student fees, closure or cuts in community services/activities, and with a probability of more to follow.  UK frustration has so far resulted in strikes, demonstrations, resignations of top dignitaries who have dedicated their life to the good of others, and riots on a scale of destruction we’ve not previously encountered. 

Unpredictable effects on the economy, such as environmental disasters, are becoming more and more frequent across the world and on massive scales, ie Japan, Haiti, Pakistan and Turkey in the last 2 years alone, also cost money to fix.  The UK public has responded generously to the humanitarian appeals to help finance recovery of these disasters and will no doubt continue to do so.

The resilience of communities to pull together, work together and start again is immense and shows the true spirit of what mankind is really capable of when we break down the barriers. Communicating and supporting each other in an understanding, compassionate and giving manner, locally and across the globe allows communities to rebuild and become sustainable.  Sustainable in that communication and support needs to remain and be refreshed and replenished frequently. 

But there is currently something being missed, particularly by businesses. The business community, even small to medium ones can play a key role in building the resilience of communities, at little cost and with potential gain.

Currently, the business response to charity requests is almost always reactive, focused on immediate requests for cash or gifts in kind. While this support remains vital and is applauded by the beneficiary organisations, there is also a long term, more strategic need to build sustainability.

The weather alone between 2007 and 2010 affected one third of businesses in the UK and who helps to pick up the pieces?   Social  organisations such as local/national charities, community groups, schools who deal with added pupil/family issues and local authorities to name just a few.

Investing in your local community as an individual or as a business doesn’t just have to be financial. Training, work experience, advice, mentoring, skills and knowledge sharing PLUS financial aid are all essential to develop and educate our economy. 

Corporate Social Responsibility is defined by how an organisation addresses the social, environmental and economic impacts of their operations, and so help to meet sustainable development goals. 

Deciding how to take on this responsibility can be a time consuming effort for a stretched local business, but there are organisations set up out there to help you.  The growth of your business may even become dependent on your CSR campaign.

One refreshingly dynamic, new community strategy, which breaks down many marketing barriers and links together charities, schools and community groups, with local businesses and individuals looking for career opportunities, is PBO Benefits Society.  It has provided an affordable platform for sustainability which all sectors may benefit from.  Social Enterprise organisations are increasing in volume each year for a reason…… they are filling a need the worlds Governments are unwilling to do.

What can you offer your community?  You may be amazed at what you get back in return.