Challenge 

Estimates from the UK Government’s Crime Survey suggested that 2.3 million women in England and Wales suffered from domestic violence in 2020. Collaborative Women enables women with lived experience of gender-based harm to share experiences and skills to help each other. Collaborative Women also supports women in the criminal justice system, women trapped into substance abuse and prostitution and women fleeing violence with no better prospect than living on the streets. They have specific expertise in Domestic Violence and, in particular, the additional complexities faced by some women from racialised communities such as modern-day slavery, FGM and radicalisation.

Solution

CW Housing accommodates up to 12 single, marginalised women each year. These women are primarily (not exclusively) from African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic communities backgrounds aged 18-35 who are homeless or facing homelessness due to gender-based abuse.

Their model is shared living, where women can stay for up to a year with a mandatory ‘Moving Forward Programme’ which helps them to rebuild their lives and learn the skills to live safely being emotionally and economically secure, independent lives. 

The Collaborative Women Community is a safe, non-judgemental space for women to support each others' social, physical, economic and mental wellbeing through a peer-to peer support group,  community learning hub and SWAT (Stretford Women's Action Team). 

Revenue 

Collaborative Women received a total of £127,636 in blended finance from KeyFund, made up of a £36,676 loan from the Northern Impact Fund, £50,000 of grant funding from the second Social Enterprise Support Fund (SESF), £29,956 from the first SESF and £11,004 of grant from the Northern Impact Fund.

This social investment was used for the purchase of the housing project, paying towards legal fees and contributed to delivering services to vulnerable women across both housing and community. 

Impact

Funding enabled Collaborative Women to purchase an additional property which is provides accommodation for up to 6 homeless women per year who are fleeing abuse. Additional capacity has enabled more women to complete the Moving Forward Programme, empowering them with skills to independently maintain their own tenancy, gain confidence, make positive choices and realise their aspirations/ goals. Since seeking investment, Collaborative Women have seen a 50% increase in revenue supporting their financial resilience and enabling the organisation to create a full time post.

"We greatly thank & acknowledge the help and support provided by Keyfund (who we met at a Good Finance seminar). 

Our funding journey involved lots of doors being slammed in our faces. It was an incredibly arduous process to access borrowing. 

Keyfund took us seriously as did The Charity Bank (after several times of knocking!). Both organisations helped us through the mud including cash flows and forecasts. 

Their help got us on the ladder resulting in us doubling the size of our organisation including our income and our offer. "

Grace McCorkle and Jan Tasker, Founders & Co-Chief Executives, Collaborative Women UK

‘The funding we’ve provided to Collaborative Women has helped them to purchase an additional property, which will be used to house women and families fleeing domestic violence.

The social investment provided increases Collaborative Women’s social impact by ensuring they have access to good quality, stable housing without the need to rely on private landlords and ultimately ensure that women in need can be housed safely and access the ‘wrap around’ support provided by Collaborative Women.‘

Chris Colwell, Investment Manager at Key Fund