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Venturesome team

CAF

Charities Aid Foundation

SE-ASSIST: HISBE ETHICAL SUPERMARKET ON THE HOME STRETCH TO OPENING

23 April 2013

CAF Venturesome is the fund manager for SE-Assist, an innovative new partnership between the Charities Aid Foundation and Legal & General, which seeks to provide a package of mentoring, consultancy and interest-free investment to promising social enterprises. The pilot round of this project launched last autumn in the Brighton & Hove area and three local organisations have been awarded he support package.

One of these enterprises is hiSbe Food CIC. hiSbe stands for ‘how it Should be’ and it’s opening a new ethical supermarket that aims to make good, sustainable food affordable and accessible. Founded as a Community Interest Company (CIC) by sisters Ruth and Amy Anslow in 2010, hiSbe has finally taken occupancy of its pilot store premises in a central Brighton location. It’s been three years in the planning but the grand opening is now in sight – summer 2013!

Hisbe2

In the meantime, hiSbe is busy raising the finance it needs to refit the store, hire staff and stock its shelves. It recently launched a Buzzbnk crowdfunding campaign with a target of £30k – Buzzbnk donors will be repaid in money-off vouchers to spend at the store.

More recently, Headliners went through a difficult transition after local authority budget cuts and approached CAF Venturesome in 2012 to support them in case of a shortfall in fundraising. At this time they were rebuilding the infrastructure and management team. The £60,000 loan allowed them to concentrate on strategic plans to employ an operations manager and to focus on new funding streams.

hiSbe already has a lot of support in Brighton & Hove from individuals into food, community groups, the democratic business movement, the local press and the green business world. The project has generated a lot of support and anticipation off the back of the Anslow Sisters’ determination to create a truly 21st century ethical supermarket that will exceed people’s expectations.

Want to know more about CAF Venturesome? 

Talk to our team on 03000 123 300 or email us at venturesome@cafonline.org and we’ll be happy to help.