Case studies

We know that third sector commissioning works. As of 31 April 2009, Futurebuilders had offered investments of £111.6m to 331 organisations, with a further £11.11m of agreements in principle made to seven organisations. As a result of this, since April 2008, our investees have won over £23 million worth of public service contracts.

Here are some recent success stories of organisations we have invested in who have successfully won public service contracts with our help.

• Widehorizons: harnessing the power of the outdoors for disadvantaged children

  

  Learn how Widehorizons used its Futurebuilders Fund investment to spruse up two old buildings and expand its outdoor education service provison for disadvataged youths.

• Birtenshaw- Creating a brighter future for children with special needs

  

  Read about how Birtenshaw have successfully used its Futurebuilders investment to create residential children's homes for children with a learning or physical disability

• Toucan Employment - supporting people with learning disabilities into employment

  

  Find out how Toucan Employment have successfully placed over 500 people with learning disabilities into employment across London.

• Trinity Winchester - building up support for vulnerable people in Winchester

  

  Read about how Trinity used its Futurebuilders investment for a new building which dramatically increased its capacity to support homeless and unemployed people, people with poor mental health and to people who misuse substances.

• Seagulls Re-use - one persons rubbish really is another's gold

  

  Find out about how Futurebuilders investee Seagulls Re-use is applying a creative means to recycling and intertwining this with training, support, volunteering and job opportunities for local people in Leeds.

• My Time CIC - providing culturally and faith specific mental health services

  

  Read about how My Time CIC used its investment from Futurebuilders to strengthen its core infrastructure and services for socially excluded people in Birmingham.

• Waveney Mow & Grow- cutting grass, cutting crime and cultivating futures

  

  Find out how Waveney Mow & Grow used its investment from Futurebuilders to successfully bid for and win contracts to rapidly expand their gardening service for vaulnerable people.

• Alderbury Pre-school - early years education for the under-5s

  

  Find out how Alderbury Pre-school ensured the sustainability of the organisation and moved to a new, much improved building with a £60,000 investment from Futurebuilders.

• Martha Trust - providing a home for people with disabilities

  

  Find out how Martha Trust, which provides residential care for people with profound disabilities, improved its ability to win contracts with a £695,125 investment from Futurebuilders.

• Positive Steps Oldham – kickstarting education for excluded youth

  

  Learn how Positive Steps Oldhams educational arm - Kickstart - purchased a new site through Futurebuilders to deliver alternative curriculum for those at risk of exclusion from mainstream education provision.

Read more success stories