The Community Shares Action Learning Research Project took place from 2009 to 2011 and examined the potential of community shares and bonds as a way to attract extra investment. The work was funded by the Office of Civil Society and led by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and delivered by the Development Trusts Association and in partnership with Co-operatives UK and the Social Return on Investment Network.

Below are the ten social enterprises who were invited to test the idea, looking at the barriers that could restrict their growth and how they could be overcome.