Building Bridges Report
Under a mission, impact, and devolutionary-focused Labour government, the North East of England currently stands at a pivotal moment.
A region with a proud industrial heritage and remarkable civic assets, it nonetheless faces some of the most entrenched socio-economic challenges in the country. Child poverty affects 31% of children, life expectancy sits four years below the national average and economic inactivity, persistently, remains higher than many other parts of the country.
Yet these challenges exist alongside genuine strengths: world-class universities; exceptional healthcare infrastructure; a committed voluntary sector, generating nearly £6 billion annually, and anchor institutions with deep community roots, too.
Our new report, Building Bridges: A Review of Place-Based Social Impact Investment in North East England, examines a decade of place-based investment in the region.
Commissioned by Community Foundation North East and Northstar Foundation, the research draws on engagement with more than 25 regional stakeholders to identify both the achievements of those driving forward place-based social impact investment in the region, as well as the persistent barriers that they encounter in delivering that investment.
Blended finance approaches emerged as particularly effective in reaching smaller, community-focused organisations. However, stakeholders also highlighted fragmented infrastructure, reactive investment strategies, and insufficient support for organisational readiness.
A Bold Recommendation
Our central proposal is ambitious yet achievable: Community Foundation North East and the North East Combined Authority should convene key partners to co-design a new place-based social investment vehicle. With local authorities spending approximately £4 billion annually on social outcomes, and Mayor Kim McGuinness's clear commitment to tackling child poverty, the conditions for transformation are favourable.
We recommend beginning with a pilot fund of £10–20 million, scaling to £50–100 million over time. The report draws on lessons from successful models elsewhere, including Kindred in Liverpool and Bristol & Bath Regional Capital.
Building Bridges sets out a path towards a more coordinated, impactful approach to place-based investment, positioning the North East as a national model for cross-sector collaboration.
Jack Scriven
Read the full report to explore our findings and recommendations.
