Natwest Social & Community Capital (S&CC) has pledged to sustainably invest all its capital and funds.

The charity, which was set up by NatWest 25 years ago to provide investment to social enterprises and community businesses, has made the move under its ‘total impact approach’ strategy.

It has appointed Tribe Impact Capital as its investment advisers as it looks to ensure all its capital and funds are invested in ways that create social and environmental impact.

Its new approach will see more than £6m in residual funds invested in creating impact “through sustainable global investments”.

“At NatWest Social & Community Capital we want to ensure that all our balance sheet – not just a small proportion which is assigned to catalytic social investments – reflects the world we want to see,” said Ben Smith, chair of the charity’s investment committee.

Its chief executive Victoria Papworth added: “We are keen to see the whole of our funds contributing to positive solutions for both the UK and the planet. Working with Tribe Impact Capital will help us to generate positive outcomes with those funds which would not otherwise be working for social businesses in the UK.”

The charity cites research from the Impact Investing Institute that found that the largest 300 endowed charitable foundations have over £87bn.

https://www.impactinvest.org.uk/resources/publications/endowment-guide/#:~:text=This%20guide%20is%20designed%20for,support%20the%20foundation%27s%20charitable%20activities.

“If 5% of this were in impact it would add £4.35bn to addressing environmental and social challenges, it adds.

“S&CC hopes that by successfully adopting this approach more organisations will follow suit to help unlock and generate significant volumes of capital to target impact.

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