S&CC was created to provide flexible loan finance to social ventures that may be unable to access mainstream funding.
NatWest is the only bank to have set up a specialist vehicle to do this and its charity offers loan funding of between £30,000 and £750,000.
In the past five years it has approved over £10 million in lending to more than 80 organisations throughout the UK. In 2018 this led to support for more than 60,000 people and 117 groups as well as 370 new jobs and over 730 more retained.
The £20,000 grants now are available to an organisation in Scotland, north of England, Midlands & ast of England; south west; Wales; London and the south east and Northern Ireland.
To apply they must meet NatWest’s eligibility criteria, including having to be UK-based and focused, have social aims, have been trading for at least two years and have a turnover of up to £2.5m per year.
Simon Jacobs, chair of trustees at NatWest Social & Community Capital, said: “The work that S&CC does throughout the UK is unrivalled in banking. I am honoured to be involved, and to have seen first-hand the amazing work that the ventures we support are able to do in their respective communities and areas.
“To have not only been going for 20 years, but to have grown exponentially is something the whole bank is rightfully proud of.
“None of it would have been possible however, without the fantastic businesses and business owners that we have worked alongside for the last two decades. Each one works for the benefit of others and are some of the most fascinating and well-run businesses we have worked with in any capacity.
“To celebrate our 20th birthday this is the least we can do to help support the current generation of ventures and we cannot wait to see who receives them.”
To apply for a NatWest Social & Community Capital £20,000 grant, visit: https://www.business.natwest.