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What is a public service? Back to About us
A public service is one which benefits the public, the environment or society and is wholly or partly funded, now or in the near future, from the ‘public purse’ (money raised through taxation).
Our investment definition is broad, however issues such as state aid and European competition mean we cannot invest in everything. To decide whether an application fits our definition we apply the following question: Do the cash flow projections for the proposal show a realistic likelihood that 51% or more of the required income flowing from the proposal, once up and running will come directly or indirectly, from a public sector body?
What is a public sector body?
We have already invested in hundreds of schemes where the services delivered are paid for by contracts or fees from a public sector body.
You could be contracting, or planning to contract, with one or a number of public sector bodies. These could include:
- Local authorities (eg social services, schools, children and family departments)
- County councils
- Primary care trusts
- Hospital trusts
- Probation trusts
- Schools or children’s centres
- Youth offending teams
- Drug and alcohol prevention teams
- Learning and skills councils
- Mental health trusts
- JobCentre Plus
- Central government departments (eg Department of Health)
- NDPBs (non departmental public bodies)
- Government agencies
You could also be offering services which are paid for by individuals through the benefits system or individualised budgets, for example:
- Housing benefit
- Tax credits
- Direct payments (for social care or disability services)
What type of public services do we invest in?
We invest in third sector organisations that are delivering, or want to deliver, services in all areas of public service delivery, including:
- community cohesion
- community transport
- reducing crime and reoffending
- education and learning
- environment
- health and social care
- legal aid
- sport and leisure
- support for children and young people
- the arts
- waste and recycling
Need business plan guidance?
Futurebuilders needs to be sure that your organisation is ready to take on an investment by looking at your organisation’s business plan.
If you don't have one, why not read our business plan guidance?
New to loan funding?
Loan funding is new to many third sector organisations and many of the organisations that come to us has never borrowed before. But it has many advantages.
Find out the benefits of loan funding.