Big Issue Invest Provides Lifeline £3.2m Loan

to Prevent SEND College From Closing Doors

Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of Big Issue, has made its first deployment from its latest fund, Social Impact Debt Fund IV, providing a £3.2 million loan to a specialist education college for young adults with learning difficulties to buy and refurbish a new premises. Great Oaks College offers a range of further education opportunities to more than 100 young people in West London, catering for pupils aged 19 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) ranging from moderate to severe.

Urgent Capital Requirement Highlights the Need for Specialist Brokers

In 2023, just two months after it received an Outstanding Ofsted report, Great Oaks College was unexpectedly served a two-year notice to vacate its current purpose-built £38 million facility on a shared school site in Hounslow.

How Commercial Finance Can Make a Difference in Education

The college struggled to secure an alternative suitable premises to safely accommodate its students and their complex physical and educational needs. The £3.2 million loan subsequently secured from Big Issue Invest has allowed the college to purchase new premises in Sudbury-on-Thames, due to open in 2026, with provision to continue supporting all 108 of its current pupils.

Why Impact-Led Finance is Key for Long-Term Growth

Nickyie Thomas, principal at Great Oaks College, said: “I was preparing to break the news to our students, staff and families that the college could face closure. We felt as though we were running out of options – until we were introduced to Big Issue Invest.

“There was fear, anxiety, and the deep worry that without financial backing, all the good we had built could be lost. Securing this funding has not only safeguarded the future of Great Oaks but has laid the foundation for growth.”

How Brokers Can Leverage Social Impact Investment Opportunities

James Potter, investment director at Big Issue Invest, said: “This multimillion-pound loan will remove the uncertainty and challenges of a short-term leased site and allow Great Oaks to fully control and invest in its site, giving students the best education and opening doors for their future.\”

Commercial Finance Brokers: Partner with Social Investment Initiatives

Are you a commercial finance broker looking to partner with social impact lenders? Or an investor seeking to explore opportunities that create lasting societal change? Find out more about Big Issue Invest’s work and how you can collaborate with purpose-driven organisations. Get in touch at: bigissue.com/invest

About Big Issue Invest

Big Issue Invest is the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group. It provides finance to social enterprises, charities, and impact-led organisations across the UK, helping them grow and deliver sustainable, positive change. Since 2005, Big Issue Invest has supported hundreds of organisations tackling social and environmental challenges, offering loans and investment from £20,000 to £4 million.

Visit Big Issue Invest

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