The Diversity Panel is a group of 500+ people who live, work, or study in Camden who help us decide how £2 million is invested in local businesses that are run by entrepreneurs or business owners from diverse backgrounds.
The Diversity Panel is made up of two panels who are involved at different stages of the decision-making process:
- An online panel made up of 500+ people who live, work, or study in Camden, including 58 entrepreneurs. The online panel helped influence the impact goals of the fund and will be involved in shortlisting businesses for investment.
- An in-person panel made up of 46 people who live, work, study or are entrepreneurs in Camden, who were recruited from the online panel by random selection. The in-person panel came together at the end of 2025 across three sessions to agree and recommend an investment strategy for the fund. They will also be involved in the shortlisting of businesses and will make the final recommendation about investment to the Council.
What's happened so far
2025
June - August
Recruitment of the online panel.
September
Welcoming the online panel to the project.
October - November
Six online sessions and one in-person session took place. They focused on two topics:
- the impact goals of the fund: 500+ residents and entrepreneurs took part in sharing their ideas, discussing & prioritising them;
- the type of investment offer preferred by the 58 entrepreneurs who took part.
November - December
The in‑person panel met over three Saturdays to co‑design the investment strategy.
Participants learned about investment, reviewed online discussion findings, heard from entrepreneurs and experts, and shared their own experiences.
After exploring and considering different options, they agreed on a final investment strategy for the fund.
December
The investment strategy was carefully reviewed and signed off by the Council.
2026
4 February - 6 April: The fund is open for applications from Feb 4 until April 6, for entrepreneurs who fit the eligibility criteria.
What’s coming next
From April onwards, we will be formally assessing each application alongside Camden Community Wealth Fund’s fantastic Diversity Panel members. The Diversity Panel will then shortlist & recommend investments to the Council who will carefully review and approve the final decisions.
What panel members say about the Fund
The in-person panel members shared what they hope to achieve with the fund:
“A participatory investment fund aimed at democratising access to finance for businesses in Camden”
“Going against the tide - business loans for entrepreneurs that the banks don't listen to.”
“A groundbreaking initiative in the UK that looks to maximise social good investment.”
“We are looking for visionary businesses that are Camden-centred and run by diverse entrepreneurs to apply for this first ever investment fund.”
