Community Shares are a way for Societies like Leeds Community Homes to raise capital to bring forward projects which meet their objects; and they are a way for people to make an investment which will help to benefit their community.
LCH has had two community share issues.
Our launching share offer in 2017 raised £362,000 from 178 investors. Many of these were small investments as low as £100 by individuals who wanted to support local community housing.
Some were larger shares up to £20,000 and some were larger investments by socially minded organisations who wanted to support our work. Our largest shareholder is Cooperatives UK who invested £100,000 as part of their booster fund.
The first share offer was based on the acquisition of affordable homes at Climate Innovation District and 6 rented and 3 shared ownership homes are now occupied with another 7 to come in 2025.
Our second share offer in 2023 was based on our proposed development in Armley, which unfortunately has not proceeded, and shares have been refunded to supporters who have requested. Others have kindly elected to keep their investments in LCH.
See these links for more information on community shares:
https://www.uk.coop/support-your-co-op/community-shares/about-community-shares
https://www.uk.coop/resources/community-shares-handbook-cs
https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/resources-your-society/community-shares
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/community-shares
https://www.communityledhomes.org.uk/get-funding/community-share-issues
If you are interested in starting a community share issue to support your project, we can help. Contact us through https://peoplepoweredhomes.org.uk/contact-us/
Useful Links
LCH Rules (New society, formerly Community Homes Yorkshire Ltd)
