Fredericks currently covers the South of England. Although considered by many to be the richer part of the country, there are pockets of extreme poverty and unemployment that is often overlooked by government schemes. In the current economic climate Community Loan Funds were playing an important role in funding new and established businesses and combating financial exclusion, but with proposed budget cuts aimed specifically at the South and cuts in benefit things are likely to get worse.

Fredericks Foundation is a microfinance charity which provides affordable loans, ongoing business support and mentoring to individuals and small businesses refused lending by the commercial banks. Initially founded to help those most marginalized such as the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, ex-offenders and ethnic minorities, Fredericks has responded to the recession by also offering help to existing small businesses that without assistance would go into liquidation.