Intervention: UK-wide
Fund: Third Sector Investment Fund
Date of Investment: November 2015; refinanced May 2018; administration September 2022
Impact Area: Citizenship & Community
Beneficiary Group: People with physical disabilities or sensory impairments, Older people (including people with dementia)
HCT Group is a charity established in 1983. It aims to break down barriers for the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. It does this by providing community and other transport services in London and across the UK and offering jobs and education.
Need for their services is highlighted by low travel patterns of disabled people compared to non- disabled and reporting of difficulties with any kind of trip by 25% of people with disabilities.
The loan was expected to support rapid growth in activity and impact
Provision of community transport and access to jobs and education services
Disadvantaged and community groups
Passenger trips, improved access to local facilities, training and job creation – with a focus on disadvantaged groups
Working capital to accelerate their growth, including funds to acquire commercial bus operators and turn them into social enterprises
Strong growth requires HCT to take on substantial levels of operating leases to fund the fleet and operational efficiency is key
In times of financial constraint, HCT has proven that high-impact and high-quality service delivery is possible, and that working with social enterprises should be a key part of any local authority’s commissioning strategy.
Dai Powell, Group CEO
