Slaughter and May helps Crisis launch its Urban Investors programme

Slaughter and May has been working pro bono for Crisis to support the launch of 'Urban Investors', an innovative new fundraising programme.

Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, has published a 'prospectus' inviting members of the public to buy Urban Investor Units and become 'Urban Investors'. Instead of a financial return, Urban Investors will receive a 'social return on investment' (SROI) which can be directly linked to the money donated. To help Urban Investors measure their SROI over time, Crisis will provide reports on how the money has been spent and how it has benefited the communities in which it operates.

Urban Investors is the first of a series of offerings which Crisis intends to launch over the coming years. Through the programme, Crisis aims to raise enough funds to open five more of its award-winning Skylight centres. The centres - which provide education, training and employment opportunities for the homeless and vulnerably-housed - help people to prepare for, find and sustain work, and to improve their current housing situation. Crisis already operates two successful Skylight centres in London and Newcastle and believes that the Skylight model could play a significant role in the long-term solution to homelessness in the UK.

Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis, says of Urban Investors: "Many charities report back on the impact of their work. Urban Investors takes this to the next level. Investors can see exactly where their money is going and the value it is delivering. Investors can hold Crisis fully accountable. This marks a watershed in charitable giving."

Crisis' development of the Urban Investors programme has been guided by an advisory board made up of Sir David Bell (Chairman of Crisis and the FT Group), Steve Edge (Partner, Slaughter and May), Nick Lander (restaurant correspondent, the Financial Times), Richard Murley (Managing Director, Rothschild London) and Paul Smee (Chief Executive, Payments Council).

Anna Lee, an associate with Slaughter and May, played an important role in the preparation of the prospectus.

Visit Crisis’ website to find out more about Urban Investors.

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