Because bond investors do not usually earn more from their investment than their coupon, they inevitably worry more about getting their principal back than investors in shares, whose potential upside is limited only by a company's ability to earn profits in future.

ECONOMIST: American securities markets

The new investment fund is independent of the government and 60% of its shares are owned by the Big Society Trust, a private limited company comprised of executives from social, business and government roles.

BBC: Big Society fund launches with ?600m to invest