bemix | NatWest Social & Community Capital
Founded in 2001, bemix works to support people with autism and other learning difficulties in Canterbury, Dover, Thanet, Sittingbourne, and Medway. It helps them to overcome social barriers and thrive in their local communities.
bemix's ‘Supported Employment’ programme helps young people prepare for the world of work, aiming to find them secure paid jobs or other career pathways. By partnering with local employers, bemix provides opportunities for young people to learn valuable skills, make connections and build their confidence.
To help more young people, bemix needed to expand its services and invested in a new premises in Chatham. But as Matt Clifton, bemix CEO, explains, they faced a big challenge with funding: “With traditional education funding, the money for growth arrives a year after you start building capacity. It’s not designed to support quick scaling.” bemix needed more immediate support to manage their cash flow and finance their new premises.
After looking at various options, Matt chose Social and Community Capital (S&CC) because they offered a solution that matched bemix’s needs and values. S&CC provided flexible growth funding, allowing bemix to pay back the loan in a way that fits their income, keeping their finances stable while they expanded.
“S&CC’s growth funding has kept our cash flow healthy and allowed us to pay our suppliers on time. The S&CC team was very supportive and committed to helping us reach our goals." – Matt Clifton.
With the new premises in Chatham, bemix can now support more young people with learning difficulties and autism to learn new skills and find fulfilling work. This expansion is a big step forward in bemix’s mission to provide inclusive opportunities.
“With S&CC’s help, we’re ready to change the lives of many more young people,” Matt shared. “This support is essential for helping them achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their communities.” Read more about this story and how S&CC enables impact through its investees in our annual impact report: https://sccimpactreport.wordpress.com/