Social Investment Scotland has gone from strength to strength since it was founded in 2001
A leading lender to the third sector marked its 15th Anniversary at a celebration dinner.
Social Investment Scotland (SIS) used the landmark as an opportunity to announce the appointment of six new patrons, in recognition of their ongoing support.
They are Lady Susan Rice CBE, who was instrumental in SIS's establishment, former Scottish Executive minister Wendy Alexander, previous chairs of the SIS board Ray Perman and Alf Young, and former SIS trustees Sarah Smart and Kenneth Ferguson.
Since its first day of business back in 2001, SIS has strived to connect more capital with more communities across Scotland, investing in charities and social enterprises to help them increase their positive impacts on society.
We have a real chance of expanding the social investment marketplace with the right strategy
During that time, it has invested more than £53 million in 250 organisations, supporting local job creation, community engagement and economic development in almost every city, town and region across Scotland.
To mark its progress, deputy first minister John Swinney MSP attended the celebratory dinner held at Home in Edinburgh, a new social enterprise restaurant from the team behind Social Bite, one of Scotland’s best social enterprise success stories.
SIS chair Nick Kuenssberg said: “As one of the first examples of social finance in the UK, SIS has consistently shown that social investment can increase financial sustainability, delivering longer lasting social impacts which ultimately help to improve the lives of more people.
“Over the last fifteen years SIS has invested more than £53 million in organisations across the country firmly establishing itself as Scotland’s, and the UK’s, leading responsible finance provider. I’m proud that our focus on supporting the most marginalised communities has been unwavering and I’m very grateful to all of those who have supported SIS since its creation.
“I’d particularly like to thank our patrons for their ongoing support in helping to grow and develop SIS by raising awareness about the impact of our work.
“Looking ahead, we have a real chance of expanding the social investment marketplace with the right strategy in place to help us deliver that ambition.”
Swinney said: “As a government, we are fully committed to supporting social enterprises to flourish, as underlined by our national Social Enterprise Strategy, to be published later this year.
“I greatly value our positive partnership with SIS, who I am sure will be critical to helping the Scottish Government deliver our ambitions for the social enterprise sector in the years to come.”
