Shared Interest Society has been recognised with a Queen鈥檚 Award for Enterprise in the sustainable development category highlighting its commitment to helping those in need.
The social lender, which has a headquarters in Newcastle, has more than 11,500 海角视频 members with total investments of over 拢44m, and helps thousands of people in 55 countries around the world to trade and earn a living.
As it marks 30 years of financing a fairer world, was delighted with the award especially as it has now been recognised in the sustainable development category three times.
Patricia Alexander, managing director at Shared Interest, said: 鈥淏eing approved for a Queen鈥檚 Award in our 30th year, and so close to our anniversary on the 25th April, makes this a very special honour.
鈥淥ur investors are incredibly loyal, and stay with Shared Interest for an average of 14 years. The award is a symbol of the hard work and dedication of every single person involved in the organisation. Their commitment made it possible for our financial services to impact almost 400,000 people last year alone.鈥
A commitment to helping others
Although Shared Interest is based in Newcastle, it also has representatives working in Costa Rica, Kenya, Ghana, and Peru, to help reach fair trade farmers and handcraft organisations in disadvantaged and rural communities.
The organisation opened its first overseas office in Nairobi in 2006, and its Peru office followed not long before the organisation was recognised with a Queen鈥檚 Award in 2008.聽
Shared Interest opened its latest office in Accra a year before being given the Queen鈥檚 seal of approval for the second time in 2013.聽
The Queen鈥檚 Award is world renowned and in Shared Interest鈥檚 case, given because of its work and presence in other countries.
Shared Interest鈥檚 regional manager for Latin America, Paul Sablich, has been helping customers in his region for over a decade.
Paul said: 鈥淔or me, this award represents how we are achieving our mission to reach those most in need. The fact that we have received it three times also means that we are doing it consistently despite the various challenges we have faced over time.
鈥淲e are currently unable to visit our customers due to the quarantine across the world, but it does not prevent us being close to them through alternative means, and finding ways to continue supporting them. This award is also an indication of the commitment of everyone involved in Shared Interest Society.鈥
Marco Garcia, lending manager for Central America, Mexico and Caribbean added: 鈥淎midst these complicated times, this award confirms the need to continue our solidarity efforts towards those in need around the world.鈥
Growing businesses around the world
Research shows that there is an estimated annual lending gap of 100 billion US dollars to the agricultural sector in Africa. Shared Interest lends to smallholder farmers and artisans in this region, providing them with the opportunity to grow their businesses and improve their income.
John Dossou, lending manager for West Africa said: 鈥淐ovid-19 is a major threat to livelihood of small producers in Africa. Winning the Queen鈥檚 Award at this time shows how vital our work is, and we must celebrate our services being recognised in this way.
"Now, more than ever, we need to offer producers 鈥榝inance with a human face'".
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