Beyond Grants: How We Did It

Ever wanted to ask a social enterprise or charity leader exactly what it's really like to take out social investment? Now's your chance! This session will bring together local social enterprise and charity leaders who've secured different types of social investment and lived to tell the tale! We are thrilled to welcome: • Luke Brown from Spiral Freerun CIC • Jackie Brooks from Regulation Station • Olivia from Good Finance Further speakers to be confirmed After a talk about their investment, our speakers will station themselves around the room, and you're free to circulate. Move from conversation to conversation, ask your burning questions, and get the honest, unfiltered version of how investment really works. There are no pitches, no jargon, just real experiences. Whether you're seriously exploring investment or just curious what all the fuss is about, this is your chance to build connections and get straight answers from local people who've been there. By the end of this event, attendees will: • gain an understanding of why organisations choose investment over grants • learn where to start and how to know if you're ready • know who to approach and where to find support • have a real, honest account from people who've done it Who is this event for? Open to any senior leaders and board members in social enterprises or charities in Norfolk. Facilitators: We're thrilled to welcome back Rebecca White of Hasler-White Inclusive Facilitation to facilitate this session as part of her partnership with Good Finance alongside Willow Farrell of FUSE Network CIC. Speakers: Luke Brown @ Spiral Freerun CIC "Luke Brown is the founder and CEO of Spiral Freerun CIC, a community interest company in Bedford that provides accessible parkour and movement training for all ages and abilities. Luke is a dual-discipline coach in strength and conditioning and parkour. He built Spiral around a simple idea: movement should be for everyone. Under his leadership, Spiral has grown into a space where creativity, confidence and personal growth thrive. Luke has also led Spiral through its social investment journey and is passionate about showing other community organisations that there are routes beyond grant funding." Thank you! A big 'thank you' to Rebecca White, to Good Finance and the Empowering Communities Partnership for supporting this session. Where to go: 📍 Carrow House, King Street, Norwich 🚗 Parking is available on site 👉 Please head to the main reception, we will meet you there ten minutes before the start time of the session Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Accessibility: To find out about access into SPARKS space at Carrow House, please contact [email protected]. Support FUSE Network: This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support the continued running of FUSE and help us keep events like this going, you can make a donation here or purchase a ticket with a voluntary donation. Thank you for supporting our work to build a fairer, more inclusive economy and stronger communities across Norfolk!