This document discusses community investment through community shares. It notes that community shares empower communities by giving members ownership stakes and voting rights in community enterprises. Community shares provide flexible, long-term financing for ventures while also connecting investors to the enterprises' social missions. Between 2009-2011, over 115 new community benefit societies were registered in the UK, raising £5.74 million from 6,164 members through community share offers. On average, offers raised £179,000 with average member investments of £930. The document argues that community shares and co-operative societies are effective legal structures for community investment due to financial regulation exemptions and investor democracy.