http://www.londonrebuilding.comLondon Rebuilding60
 Are you a community organisation with a close relationship with your members? Have you identified a need for affordable and accessible small loans in your community? Are you committed to tackling that need?  

What is a Mutual Aid Fund?

The Mutual Aid Fund is a scheme aiming to increase financial inclusion by enabling community organisations to start a micro loan fund for the benefit of their members. Being close to the members and their needs means that the organisation can use the fund to design financial products that are accessible, affordable, and appropriate for their members. The lending activity not only enables the organisations to better meet their members' needs, it also helps them move away from grant dependency and towards developing into social enterprises. 

London Rebuilding Society

• Gives training on how to run a loan... ]]>Wed, 16 May 2012 19:18:09 GMThas won the Local Hero category of  Bank of America's Neighbourhood Excellence Initiative (NEI) Awards. Tim Campbell, winner of the apprentice, presented the awards.

"Having come to the UK as a refugee 20 years ago, Grace has dedicated her life to helping the disadvantaged to improve their lives.  In 2005 she founded Latitude Care Network (LCN) charity, now working with vulnerable groups in London and Uganda."

Mayor of Brent Cllr Alsam Choudry also came to see Grace win the award.  LCN provides a range of excellent programmes among others: health and social support, advice and advocacy, counselling, education, training & employment, mutual aid fund/microfinance, international development etc.

The Mutual Aid Fund is an innovative scheme devloped by London Rebuilding Society which enables community... ]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 16:24:49 GMT
The funding will be used to devlop an energy efficiency strategy for which adresses the needs of not only buildings but also the people who live in them.

Warren Garrett, head of innovations at London Rebuilding Society said:

"Traditionally, energy efficency has been about improving a building, but given that much of London's stock is 'hard to treat' we need to take a closer look at how we can change the behaviour of households as well.  And that means look at their needs holisitically from  their financial well-being, to their consumption patterns, and their relationship to their local community."

The project will develop an energy efficiency strategy which enables Local Space to make the most of Green Deal, renewable... ]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 12:03:48 GMT
Naomi Kingsley, Chief Executive of London Rebuilding Society said:

"Its great to get recognition for the innovative work that LRS is doing.  CDFI's are uniquely placed to achieve social change through innovation. SHIMMER is at the forefront of using technology and business innovations to lift households out of fuel poverty."

5 million households in the UK live in fuel poverty; this is forecast to increase thanks to rising energy prices, an ageing population, and increasing pressures on household incomes.

SHIMMER  (Smart Homes Integrating Meters Money Energy Research), a smart home energy pilot, brings vulnerable and fuel-poor households energy management and income maximisation services, and can help to make financial savings of between £200 and £3,500.

The pilot, involving the Energy Saving Trust, London Rebuilding ... ]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 11:51:08 GMT