The Community Impact Initiative were established in 2016 as a not-for-profit social enterprise, delivering projects across South Wales. Their work supports people to improve their health and wellbeing, build their confidence, learn new skills, and make positive life improvements by engaging in meaningful community engagement projects, such as the regeneration of empty spaces.
Sefydlwyd y Community Impact Initiative yn 2016 fel menter gymdeithasol nid-er-elw a oedd yn cyflwyno prosiectau ledled De Cymru. Mae eu gwaith yn cefnogi pobl i wella eu hiechyd a’u lles, magu eu hyder, dysgu sgiliau newydd, a gwneud gwelliannau positif i’w bywydau drwy ymgysylltu â phrosiectau ystyrlon sy’n ymhél â’r gymuned, fel adfywio mannau gwag.
Challenge
The Community Impact Initiative (the Cii) believe in a future where communities flourish and prosper. Their mission is to improve communities through innovative solutions, providing opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful contribution to society.
As part of this work, the Cii purchases properties for regeneration; however, this has a big impact on cashflow and reserves, and it takes a long time for returns to come to fruition.
Her
Mae’r Community Impact Initiative (y Cii) yn credu mewn dyfodol lle mae cymunedau yn ffynnu ac yn llwyddo. Eu cenhadaeth yw gwella cymunedau drwy ddatrysiadau arloesol, gan gynnig cyfleoedd i unigolion wneud cyfraniad ystyrlon at gymdeithas.
Fel rhan o’r gwaith hwn, mae’r Cii yn prynu eiddo i’w hadfywio, ond mae hyn yn cael effaith fawr ar lif arian a chronfeydd wrth gefn ac mae’n cymryd amser hir i weld unrhyw elw.
Solution
Having identified the negative impact property purchase had on cashflow, the Cii began to explore social investment as a means to pivoting to a more sustainable finance model. They connected with Alun Jones at Social Investment Cymru and from there began the conversations around investment for their organisation. Fast forward and following a successful application they received two rounds of social investment totalling £385K. Social investment enabled them to purchase properties without denting their reserves and as a result be able to support people and communities sustainably.
Datrysiad
Ar ôl sylwi ar yr effaith negyddol yr oedd prynu eiddo yn ei chael ar lif arian, dechreuodd y Cii edrych ar fuddsoddiad cymdeithasol fel modd o droi at fodel cyllid mwy cynaliadwy. Gwnaethant gysylltu ag Alun Jones yn Buddsoddiad Cymdeithasol Cymru, a dyna pryd y dechreuodd y sgyrsiau ynghylch buddsoddiad ar gyfer eu mudiad. Beth amser wedyn, ar ôl cais llwyddiannus, gwnaethant dderbyn dau gylch o fuddsoddiad cymdeithasol, gwerth cyfanswm o £385 mil. Gwnaeth buddsoddiad cymdeithasol eu galluogi i brynu eiddo heb effeithio ar eu cyllid wrth gefn ac, o ganlyniad, cefnogi pobl a chymunedau mewn modd cynaliadwy.
Revenue
The Cii generated revenue from grant funding (both restricted and unrestricted), local authorities and property sales. However Chief Executive, Trystan Jones recognised that the organisation had “created a sustainable business model on an unsustainable foundation” and saw a future where the organisation could become fully sustainable and use grant funding to springboard to a repayable funding model.
Refeniw
Roedd refeniw y Cii yn dod o gyllid grant (cyfyngedig ac anghyfyngedig), awdurdodau lleol a gwerthu eiddo. Fodd bynnag, sylweddolodd y Prif Weithredwr, Trystan Jones, fod y mudiad wedi "creu model busnes cynaliadwy ar sylfaen anghynaladwy" a gwelodd ddyfodol lle gallai’r mudiad ddod yn gwbl gynaliadwy a defnyddio cyllid grant fel sbardun i fodel cyllido ad-daladwy.
Impact
Receiving social investment has been pivotal for Cii in transitioning to a more sustainable business model.
Funding has allowed them to develop a scalable community engagement model, meaning that they can support more communities and provide more people with meaningful learning and development opportunities
Effaith
Mae derbyn buddsoddiad cymdeithasol wedi bod yn allweddol i'r Cii o ran trosglwyddo i fodel busnes mwy cynaliadwy.
Mae'r cyllid wedi caniatáu iddynt ddatblygu model ymgysylltu cymunedol y gellir ei raddio, sy'n golygu y gallant gefnogi mwy o gymunedau a chynnig cyfleoedd dysgu a datblygu ystyrlon i fwy o bobl.
“What was obvious was the understanding that Social Investment Cymru had. They got us and could see that we had an effective business model and understood the challenges we were facing. [The process of taking social investment] became really easy – we could pick up the phone or drop an email and it was a very collaborative process. In addition to the investment, Alun acted as a critical friend as well as sharing advice, networks and expertise.”
“Yr hyn a oedd yn amlwg oedd y ddealltwriaeth oedd gan Fuddsoddiad Cymdeithasol Cymru. Roedden nhw'n ein deall ni ac yn gallu gweld bod gennym fodel busnes effeithiol ac yn deall yr heriau roedden ni’n eu hwynebu. Roedd [y broses o gymryd buddsoddiad cymdeithasol] yn hawdd iawn – gallem ni godi'r ffôn neu anfon e-bost ac roedd yn broses gydweithredol iawn. Yn ogystal â’r buddsoddiad, bu Alun yn ffrind beirniadol i ni, gan rannu cyngor, rhwydweithiau ac arbenigedd.”
"For us, CII are almost the perfect model for social investing – an organisation that has proved its business model works and then looking to move away from grant dependency. We were able to help at that first stage and then again a year later as they looked to build and grow further. That business pattern mirrored their jump from Social Enterprise ‘One to Watch’ winners to last year being Social Enterprise of the Year in Wales. They really ‘walked the talk’ and made it very easy for us to say “Yes.”
“I ni, mae’r CII bron yn fodel perffaith ar gyfer buddsoddiad cymdeithasol – mudiad sydd wedi profi bod ei fodel busnes yn gweithio ac yna’n ceisio symud i ffwrdd o ddibyniaeth ar grantiau. Gallom ni helpu ar y cam cyntaf hwnnw ac yna eto flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach wrth iddynt geisio adeiladu a thyfu ymhellach. Adlewyrchodd y patrwm busnes hwnnw eu naid o ennill gwobr 'Un i'w wylio' Social Enterprise i ennill y wobr Menter Gymdeithasol y Flwyddyn yng Nghymru y llynedd. Fe wnaethon nhw wir ‘roi geiriau ar waith’ a’i gwneud hi’n hawdd iawn i ni ddweud “Ie.”