Social Investment: 10 Years On

Social Investment: 10 Years On

It is now some ten years since the Social Investment Task Force (SITF) first met. Its specific remit was “to set out how entrepreneurial practices could be applied to obtain higher social and fi nancial returns from social investment, to harness new talents and skills, to address economic regeneration and to unleash new sources of private and institutional investment”. In addition, the Task Force was asked to explore innovative roles that the voluntary sector, business and government could play as partners. The recent recession has shown yet again that the most disadvantaged in society are hit hardest by economic downturns. There is a critical need for sustainable investment in poorer communities if free market societies are to maintain cohesion. It is the Task Force’s view that this can best be achieved through social entrepreneurship and investment effected by a powerful social sector that acts alongside government in tackling social issues.