What's on
From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
We believe change comes from giving people the tools and spaces to shape their own future. Since 1984, we've operated as a social enterpise, using our income to fund local services, housing, and neighborhood activities. Explore this section to see how our financial model works and where that investment goes.
What motivates us
Our community motivates us, we strive towards creating a neighbourhood which is diverse, inclusive and a place where people feel happy, healthy, safe and secure.
A place where essential needs are met and people can connect. Where we encourage confidence building and skills in people of all ages, inspiring the next generation, and opening up opportunities for older people to benefit from lifelong learning. Most importantly, we want our community to be resilient to life’s challenges.
We want our neighbourhood to have a wide range of job opportunities and businesses; to be a place where creative arts flourish and are accessible to all; where quality homes and green spaces are the norm; where there is a place to grab a pint of milk or go for a stylish meal; and where there are abundant opportunities for people to play, learn, laugh and share.
We recognise that change is a constant part of London’s history. Since 1984, we have championed change to improve our neighbourhood. We want to work with others who share our vision and to focus on the talents and potential of people to lead their own change, one step at a time.
What we do
We provide opportunities and spaces for people to lead their own change, generating income which helps provide spaces for people to live, work, and play.
The money we make goes back into the community, from giving families and children the best start in life to supporting younger and older members of our neighbourhood. We provide housing that supports our residents, champion co-operative housing, and influence local and national housing policy.
We promote enterprise, creativity, and lifelong learning, whether that’s through providing employment, volunteering opportunities, nurturing enterprise, or delivering programmes and activities.
We are conscious that our neighbourhood is a small part of a global community and that we all need to work together to tackle challenges and take a forward-thinking approach to driving change, here in Waterloo and across the country.
Our economic model
As an enterprise with a social purpose we generate income to invest in our neighbourhood. Our ambition is to remain financially independent so that we are here for generations to come, helping others to lead their own change.
How we earn money
More than three-quarters of our income comes from commercial activity such as letting spaces to restaurants, cafés, shops, and design studios; and hiring venues for conferences, meetings, exhibitions, street markets, car parking, filming and events.
All these activities create employment and provide services as well as generating vital income.
Many of our community activities are provided without charge, but we do receive income from nursery fees, gym memberships, and similar charges. Other streams include payments by Lambeth and Southwark Councils for family support and similar services, and a small number of grants.
Around 8% of our income comes from lease charges and other payments by Coin Street housing co-operatives.
Where we spend money
On average, 36% of our expenditure goes on the management and maintenance of our commercial spaces and the staff and contractors who operate our commercial activities.
Many of our staff are focused on the delivery of community activities and facilities. 41% of our expenditure goes on the management, maintenance and staffing of community and public services including our youth and community programmes, and our public realm.
Historically, much of this provision would have fallen to local ratepayers to fund. Our social enterprise model means that Coin Street has ‘cross-subsidised’ this provision from commercial revenue.
17% of our spending is on the maintenance and support of our housing co-operatives, including repaying the money we borrowed to build them. 6% of our expenditure goes on rates and taxes to local, regional, and national government.
Profits are reinvested in the business or in the community, offering the possibility of effective, sustainable self-help, leading to wider benefits.
Social Enterprise Unit, Department of Trade and Industry
In 1984 Coin Street Community Builders borrowed £1 million from the Greater London Enterprise Board and the Greater London Council to finance the purchase of our 13-acre site. These loans have now been repaid in full.
More recent developments have been funded by borrowing from banks and the Nationwide Building Society. Loans and interest are repaid from commercial and housing income.
Our people
Coin Street is overseen by two independent organisations and their boards. Find out about them here.
