Organisation overview

Founded in 1986, Trinity Winchester supports adults across the Winchester district through specialist housing, day services and practical and emotional support, including training and access to health, wellbeing and advice. Trinity Winchester supports over 680 people each year, including over 150 women through a dedicated women's service. With 19 staff and 50 volunteers, they continue to meet growing demand across the district.

Why social investment

Trinity Winchester generates income from multiple streams, including grants, housing rentals, and contracts. They have a strong track record of raising funds for property purchases and refurbishments. Trinity Winchester has secured repayable finance twice.

In 2009, Trinity Winchester opened a purpose-built day service , funded through the sale of an older building and a capital appeal. A funding shortfall led Trinity Winchester to take a loan from Social Investment Business, (then known as Futurebuilders) to close the funding gap. Securing the full funding enabled Trinity Winchester to grow and support more people. In 2019, the charity ran a successful £1.5m capital appeal to provide 12 units of on-site accommodation to expand provision beyond day-service support.

In 2024, Trinity Winchester commissioned an independent energy audit, funded through Winchester City Council's Go Greener Faster scheme. The audit identified cost and efficiency improvements across the portfolio of properties. A grant from Groundwork enabled new solar panels to be fitted on the day service roof.

The audit also flagged the heating system for replacement, but the Groundwork funding was insufficient to cover it at that time. By late 2025, in mid-winter, the heating system failed. Trinity Winchester needed funding immediately to replace the heating system. A conversation with Homeless Link led to the Energy Resilience Fund (ERF), their second repayable finance.

The ERF fund provided Trinity Winchester with £61,745 in total funding:

  • a £37,047 loan, repayable over three years, with 12 months interest-only, at 8.5% interest per year
  • a £24,698 grant

The loan gave Trinity Winchester flexibility, interest-only repayments in year one, and no penalty for early repayment.

The funding allowed Trinity Winchester to replace the obsolete heating system with a fully electric air-to-air heat pump. As climate change and the challenges of extreme heatwaves and severe cold snaps become more frequent, Trinity Winchester is prepared to support people experiencing homelessness.

A fully electric air-to-air heat pump serves as a dual-purpose climate control system: it keeps the building warm in freezing winters and acts as air conditioning during extreme summer heatwaves, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment year-round. The new heat pump will cut carbon emissions and help reduce energy bills.

Why it worked

  • The timing to secure social investment was more certain than running a fundraising campaign
  • An existing energy audit from the earlier solar project cut four months off the ERF application.
  • A hands-on dedicated relationship manager guided Trinity Winchester through the process, from start to finish.
  • Trustees preferred grants over debt, but the 60:40 loan-to-grant split made borrowing manageable and eased reluctance. The blended finance model and flexibility of the loan gave the board confidence to commit.
  • There was a clear repayment plan from grant income and rentals to cover the loan repayment, which protected frontline services.

Outcomes and impact

Social investment enabled Trinity Winchester to:

  • Replace the failed heating system with a fully electric heat pump, keeping the day service and housing warm and safe for over 680 people a year. The heat pump doubles as air conditioning too, cooling the building during recent heat waves.
  • Cut carbon emissions and back Winchester City Council's target to reach carbon neutral by 2030.
  • Cut energy bills. Within months, Trinity Winchester started seeing savings from running the new system on electricity, partly powered by solar.
  • Secure grant funding along with the loan.
  • Have the confidence and knowledge to negotiate with potential contractors.

“Access to the Energy Resilience Fund was a lifeline at a critical moment. It helped us respond quickly to an urgent situation that could have affected vulnerable service users throughout the winter. The supportive relationship we built with our relationship manager at Social Investment Business gave us confidence in the process and showed us that social investment can be practical and flexible when the circumstances are right.” Paul Williams, Development Manager, Trinity Winchester

Key learning for other organisations considering the Energy Resilience Fund

Allow enough time

Build in at least six months for the application. Energy audits, paperwork and supplier quotes take longer than expected.

Keep good records

Use existing evidence and reports to support future funding applications.

Build trustee confidence

Back the funding case with clear evidence. Show the board a clear repayment plan that won't put reserves or frontline services at risk.

Secure income before borrowing

Confirm reliable income, grants, rent or another sustainable source before taking on a loan.

Know the ask, then get quotes

Know exactly what the funding is for and how it would help your organisation. Get several supplier quotes before applying to speed up the process.

Negotiate with confidence

Undertake an energy audit. The clear findings help you negotiate with contractors and convince your board.

Explore options early

Talk to Homeless Link or your funder before applying. Early conversations build confidence and understanding of the application process.

Looking ahead

Trinity Winchester’s longer-term plans focus on building on the energy resilience initiatives that will continue to cut carbon emissions and operating costs. Next on the agenda are additional solar panels and a hydro-electric generator at a nearby weir. Having seen social investment deliver real results on two occasions, Trinity Winchester see it as a valuable source of finance for their charity.

If you are looking for funding to improve the energy efficiency of your buildings and energy costs, have a conversation with the team at Homeless Link about the Energy Resilience Fund.

Information on the Energy Resilience Fund

The Energy Resilience Fund offers blended finance: 60% loan, 40% grant to help homelessness organisations invest in energy improvements, retrofits and electric vehicles. Eligible organisations can apply for up to £250,000, to cut costs, lower carbon emissions and future-proof services.

ERF also includes a free energy audit and expert guidance on project management, costings and any consents or permissions a project needs.

The Energy Resilience Fund supports a wide range of energy-efficiency measures, including:

  • Energy-efficient lighting
  • Insulation, glazing and ventilation upgrades
  • Small-scale wind turbines
  • Solar PV systems and battery storage
  • Solar water heating systems
  • Heat pumps
  • Electric vehicles

Funding also covers capital and labour, project management, staff training, revenue losses and contingency. Note: an additional arrangement fee of 2.5% applies to the loan value.