A solution is needed now more than ever.
We have designed a different approach that puts the receivers and givers of care in control of their support and their livelihoods.
We will soon be launching our next community investment offer to achieve local autonomy at scale. Join us!
What are the details?
We are developing our next offer. Your expression of interest will help us shape it.
Interest (rate tbc) paid from 2023 and money withdrawable from 2025
30% tax relief on the investment (known as EIS), returned to you in the same tax year
Minimum investment £500 per individual
Maximum investment £200,000 per individual
Organisations can invest up to £500,000
Revenue-sharing option available alongside fixed interest payment for those looking to invest larger amounts.
frequently asked questions
Investor Members are people who support Equal Care Co-op's aims and vision and also want to join us for the journey. Membership is voluntary if you want to donate but you will automatically become a Member if you invest in us through a community share offer.
Community shares are withdrawable shares that cannot be sold, traded or transferred between Members, unlike shares in a typical company. All Members are entitled to one vote – regardless of how many shares they hold. Members can be paid interest on their shares if the board believe it would be sensible to do so and can also withdraw their shareholding, along with any interest accrued, again subject to the approval of the board. Our upcoming community share offer may include additional features beyond an interest payment. Sign up above to stay updated.
No. This is because the capital value of the shares does not change, although they may be revised down as part of an annual audit. The only circumstance where you may transfer your shares is if you die and you would need to nominate someone to transfer them to when you invest. If you invest above £5,000 you would need to specifically name the person you're transferring them to in your will.
Because the offer is not regulated you would not have right to compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, nor would you have right of complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.
No. However, anyone over the age of 16 can invest (but only people aged 18 or above can serve as directors).
If we did become insolvent, the ability of investors to recoup the funds they have invested would depend on firstly the value we (or the appointed insolvency practitioners) could get for the assets of the society and secondly, the value of our debts at that point.
In the event of our insolvency or orderly winding-up, the proceeds from the sale of those assets and our cash would firstly pay off all our creditors, and if there were any funds left at that point, would be used to pay back shareholders as much of their investment as they have outstanding as possible, on a pro-rata basis.
As a ‘common ownership’ society, our rules state that should there be any surplus after returning funds to investors this would have to be given to another organisation supporting the co-operative movement and which has a similar common-ownership clause.
Investors who have claimed tax relief would also be eligible to claim loss relief against their tax liability for the difference between what they invested less any tax relief already claimed and what was returned to them. So, let’s say someone has invested £1,000, using the cash made from selling an asset that’s deemed a capital gain. They can claim 30% of it against their income tax, and also reduce the Capital Gains Tax bill by half. All told they reduce their tax bill by £440, meaning they have invested £1,000 at a cost to them ultimately of £560.
Let’s say we then become insolvent and no one gets their money back. As far as HMRC are concerned, that means the investor has lost the value of their investment less their 30% income tax relief, so they’ll be able to declare that £560 loss against their tax liability, which would enable them to recover all of it.
