Thoughts from the CEO

In this month’s blog, Alison examines the role that Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) and local authorities play in supporting local economic growth and managing the impact of welfare cuts.  

This blog was originally published as a guest post on the Business in the Community (BITC) website on 10 May 2013. Here Alison shares why she is so passionate about supporting communities – and the role that businesses can play.  

We used an online application process for the first time when allocating the Crime Innovation Fund on behalf of the Home Office. Read on to see what the organisations who received funding thought of this approach.  

Today we have published six case studies, which document the work of community projects tackling crime in their local community. The projects received funding from the Community action against crime: Innovation fund (CAAC:IF), a two-year £10million programme managed by CDF and funded by the Home Office.

Last week CDF’s Alison, spoke at the Westminster Social Policy Forum about rebalancing the UK’s local economy. Below she explains the ability of community investment to renovate the financial system and how this would ultimately improve the wellbeing of our local communities.

Earlier this week it was announced that Selby Town has been selected as a Big Local area. CDF’s Alison shares why this decision strikes a chord with her.    

Over the last six months I have been party to events, discussions and insights into projects across the country that are working with young people who have tough lives and difficult circumstances.  These young people will almost all live in areas which lack investment – low incomes, poor housing, unaffordable credit, lack of appropriate work, [...]

We are facing a financial crisis in our communities.  Small businesses and households are finding it increasingly hard to access finance and credit.  This makes them more reliant on expensive forms of finance.  The announcement by Wonga that it is moving into business lending, highlights the failure of high street banks to invest in local [...]

In 2009 CDF began preparing for an uncertain future – the collapse of the banks, expenses scandal and general election on the horizon presented the prospect of substantial change.  

Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of CDF, comments on service delivery.