09.07.2013
In March this year I organised, programmed and chaired a national conference, TownFunder, for client Action for Market Towns / TownsAlive. The event showed delegates from towns (and cities) how they could benefit from innovative new routes to fundraise, including crowdfunding and community share issues.
So I was interested to learn that community finance / crowdfunding platform, Abundance, which aims to “link up communities and individuals with renewable energy projects and make it possible for them to share in the benefits of energy production directly,” was this week named Small Business of the Year at Business Green’s annual Leaders Awards.
The platform, which operates in a similar manner to “peer-to-peer” lending websites like Zopa, allows individuals to invest from £5 into projects, to be repaid over a 20-25 year lifespan, and receive average estimated returns of between 5% and 9%.
Abundance has already funded three projects since launching last year: solar energy generation projects in Monkton, Kent and in the South Downs which raised £385k and £500k respectively; and a community wind turbine in the Forest of Dean which raised £1.4m.
Investors buy debentures and will receive a share of the profits from generating energy. They should ensure they are aware of the risks of investing.
What next?
- The Abundance website
- The TownFunder event mentioned above took place on 5th March 2013, in Birmingham, covering community share issues, crowdfunding, and other “alternative” new routes to secure funding for community / social enterprises and regeneration projects. You can access useful notes and resources from speakers and workshop leaders here.
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