First Ark Social Accounts Summary 2016-2017

44 Pages·2017·1.58 MB·English

We Nurture, You Grow
Making a Social Impact
Social Accounts
Summary 2016 - 2017
First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017
Hello
Here at the First Ark Group, generating Social Value is at the heart of everything we do. Working at
a local, regional and national level to influence the social economy, we strive to invest our money in
pioneering solutions, growing businesses and bringing opportunity & prosperity to local communities.
Collaboratively, with the private, public and social sectors, we add value and create
life-changing opportunities through our unique social business model.
First Ark Group
Delivers facilities management and property refurbishment solutions across
private, public, healthcare, leisure and education sectors across the North West
Provides low carbon energy solutions to reduce carbon footprints and save
businesses money
Offers homes for sale, rent, shared ownership, extra care and sheltered schemes
that are affordable and contribute to sustainable communities
Invests in and nurtures social enterprises to grow sustainably through Social
Investment Funding
Collaborates with organisations and secures investments that enable programmes
to be delivered that create life-changing opportunities for people
Works with partners to offer value for money products and services to our
customers that can help them lead an independent lifestyle for longer and support
their care
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017 Introduction
Enabling Partnership
Changing
People's Values Led
We’ve generated
Lives
£22,786,2181
in Social Value
by creating
life-changing
opportunities
Influencing Open
Social Value Investment
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HACT
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017
It's been a great year
I’m extremely proud of all the people who work for
and with us at First Ark and the results we've achieved
in creating, delivering and measuring our social impact
across businesses and communities.
Working collaboratively to nurture our existing partnerships
and create new relationships, supports our innovative approach
and our unique social business model.
It’s about people really; those people who grasp the opportunities available to create better futures
for themselves and their families. It’s these people that make a stronger economy, increase business
productivity and build a stronger fabric on which our society can grow. It’s imperative we continue to
generate more of these opportunities through the way businesses work, invest and influence.
Social businesses like First Ark are providing answers to the real socio-economic and environmental
challenges we're facing in the UK. Being commercial and social in our business model, our profit is
re-invested to make a significant difference to people’s lives and the places they work in.
As a business, entrepreneur, global organisation or a sole trader, considering social change as a key aim
alongside profit can see income grow and new opportunities created, in such areas as employment,
health & wellbeing and the environment.
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017 Introduction
You too can be a part of this dynamic way of working that truly changes people's lives through the
way you run your business and making money work smarter and harder for your local economy and
community.
Here at First Ark we’re passionate about creating sustainable social impact to support our customers,
businesses and their communities. We can do more with your help.
Bob Taylor
CEO
We change
people's lives –
you can too
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017
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The way we invest
££99,,337711,,44889911
SSoocciiaall VVaalluuee
What we do at First Ark when looking to invest is simple
– get money to people and projects that make a positive
and long-lasting social impact that changes people's lives.
Whether it's charities or social impact businesses, we want
to enable organisations to get the backing they need to grow
and help more people.
Investing to create life-changing opportunities and nurture sustainable communities leads to greater
economic prosperity and opens up new and exciting paths for the development of individuals and
businesses. Our investment funds offer loans and grants in an open, transparent and flexible way to
ensure they meet the needs of the receiving organisation and act as a true growth enabler to deliver
social impact.
However, First Ark’s investments are not just about money. We provide a pre and post-investment
support programme that enables organisations to become 'investment ready'. When funds are
received we provide ongoing support throughout the life of the investment. This ensures they can
successfully deliver their ambition and increase their social impact.
Through partnerships and creating strategic alliances, First Ark supports projects and enables
programmes that tackle some of the most prominent social and economic issues in the UK.
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HACT
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017 The way we invest
We look to invest in people, businesses and government initiatives that advocate:
Employability, skills and economic growth
Enabling life chances for people who need a helping hand
Eliminating the Poverty Premium
Developing sustainable home tenancies
Environmental awareness and impact
To ensure we are meeting our objectives, we assess all our investments to monitor the social impact
they deliver. Evidence of this impact is reflected in some of our case studies.
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017
Helping Brathay climb higher
When Brathay Trust needed to update its outdoor activity facilities at its Lakeland residential centre,
First Ark Social Investment was ready to help. Now, thanks in part to a £99,000 social investment,
hundreds of young people are finding new self-confidence & teamwork skills and exercise on the
High Challenge Rope Course and other facilities, potentially generating millions of pounds in Social
Value.
Brathay Trust – the greater outdoors
Based in Ambleside, Brathay Trust operates a residential centre with programmes that include a range
of outdoor activities. Its mission is to inspire young people, build confidence and improve life chances
through physical and mental activities.
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017 The way we invest
An opportunity to do more
Brathay identified an opportunity to increase Social Value and letting revenue by updating its facilities.
Re-commissioning the ‘High Challenge Rope Course’ and modernising accommodation, would provide
a more fullfilling experience for young people visiting the centre. The resulting boost to letting revenue
would also support more Lake District jobs with three extra full time positions at the centre.
Money for new rope
Brathay approached us for funding. We worked with them on pre-investment planning, including
social impact and economic value forecasts – assessing the likely benefits to young people visiting the
centre and assigning that social impact a financial value, as well as helping to forecast the increased
revenue and spending power.
After a successful pre-investment planning stage, we invested £99,000 to help Brathay update its
facilities. Of that investment, £27,000 brought the rope course up to date with brand new equipment,
creating a 250-foot span over two levels linking to a climbing wall.
A further £72,000 was used to refurbish nine letting bedrooms in Brathay Hall, providing modern
accommodation for visitors and generating increased letting income, enough to support three
additional jobs at the centre.
Estimated
1 Up to 500 young people use the facilities at Brathay annually, resulting in
£4,600,000
increased social inclusion and building confidence in young people.
Social Value
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HACT
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First Ark Social Accounts 2016 - 2017
Unlocking potential
First Ark Group was one of four investors in a ‘Payment by Results’ contract commissioned by the
Department for Work and Pensions Innovation Fund. It aimed to test social investment and delivery
models to support disadvantaged young people and those at risk of disadvantage, aged 14 to 24 years.
The DWP commissioned a £16m Youth Engagement fund. A programme was developed which aims to
help young people, many of whom are young offenders, have learning disabilities, or are in or leaving
care, overcome their personal challenges and have access to more opportunities that will change
their lives. The programme runs in one of the most deprived areas of the UK where unemployment
and youth crime is above average and is known as 'Unlocking Potential'.
First Ark and other investors are repaid on a payment-by-results basis only when pre-agreed
educational, training and employment targets are met. The programme has a three-way incentive to
succeed:
Investors see their money being spent on tackling youth issues, with potential
for a positive return on investment
Individuals at risk of being NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
are given an opportunity to develop their skills and access employment
opportunities
Taxpayers have nothing to pay if the programme targets fall short
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