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Community Foundation North East has published new research, calling on the North East Mayor and Combined Authority, and other regional leaders, to use social impact investment to tackle the region’s most pressing social challenges.
With 31% of children in the North East living in poverty, the report argues that the region must use its devolved powers and growing leadership to attract greater levels of impact investment to drive opportunity and inclusion.
The findings are informed by a decade of experience in social impact investment — financing provided with the goal of achieving positive social and environmental outcomes — which has successfully supported projects addressing poverty, homelessness, health inequalities and environmental challenges.
“Building Bridges: A Review of Place-Based Social Impact Investment in North East England” was written by the social impact advisors AchieveGood and funded by Community Foundation North East and Northstar Foundation. The report reviews previous and existing place-based social impact schemes in the region, in particular the North East Social Investment Fund (NESIF), established by Better Society Capital and Northern Rock Foundation, which closed in December 2024. It also draws on successful models from Liverpool, Bristol and Cambridge show place-based investment can deliver financial returns alongside social change.
Despite spending £4 billion annually on services addressing social outcomes, the North East attracts disproportionately low levels of social impact investment compared to other UK regions. This report identifies successes and learning from NESIF and other local initiatives as well as important and systemic social challenges that could be addressed through further investment, aligned with the new combined authority’s regional strategies to improve social outcomes for the most vulnerable.
It recommends establishing a new social investment initiative harnessing philanthropic, public and private capital, starting with a £10-£20 million pilot.
Rob Williamson OBE, DL, Chief Executive of Community Foundation North East, said:
“AchieveGood’s report gives us both reflection and direction. For over a decade, the North East has been at the forefront of place-based social impact investment. But with 31% of children in our region growing up in poverty, the need for bold, joined-up action has never been greater. Community Foundation North East stands ready to help and work alongside the Combined Authority, Mayor, and partners across philanthropy, business and government to make the case for a new social investment vehicle for the region. That could unlock millions of pounds for the issues that matter most — tackling child poverty, creating better jobs, fairer opportunities, and stronger communities across the North East.”
Dominic Llewellyn, Founder and CEO of AchieveGood, said:
“Living in the North East, I see both the scale of the challenge and the potential every day. Our region has laid strong foundations through pioneering social investment funds, but now is the moment to be even bolder. We’ve seen successful models in Liverpool, Bristol and Cambridge that are partnering with places to tackle disadvantage and create opportunity. With 31% of children living in poverty and significant health inequalities, the need here is urgent — but so is the opportunity.”
You can read the report here: Building-Bridges-Place-Based-Social-Impact-Investment-in-North-East-England-1.pdf