The COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges, but it also afforded us some unexpected opportunities. Here at Starling Arts, while we were unable to sing or carry out our day-to-day activities in person for a year, we spent that time reflecting on our values, goals, and ambitions for the company in a post-pandemic world.
As a result, we underwent an exciting restructuring: Starling Arts is now officially a Community Interest Company (CIC)!
The Starling Arts team celebrating in song!
We will be making more of a song and a dance about this change with project updates and website developments, but if you would like to understand more about what becoming a social enterprise means for us and our community, we have answered some key questions below.
Why Have We Decided to Become a Community Interest Company?
Until recently, Starling Arts operated as a business partnership. While that supported our initial work, looking to the future requires a model that enables us to seek broader financial support.
Becoming a CIC allows us to apply for funding from trusts, foundations, grant-giving bodies like Arts Council England, and individual donors. This financial backing will help us deliver singing projects to communities and groups who may not otherwise have the resources to access our work.
Through this support, we can assemble expert teams to deliver impactful projects exploring the positive effects of group singing on physical and mental wellbeing. As a CIC, our work is legally tied to important social aims, and all profits are reinvested directly for the benefit of the community.
What is a Community Interest Company (CIC)?
A Not-for-Profit Model: A CIC is a specialized type of social enterprise designed to use its assets and profits for public benefit.
Clear Social Objectives: Every CIC must demonstrate tangible benefits for the communities it serves.
Asset Lock Protection: There is a legal 'asset lock' on all Starling Arts assets. If the company ever ceases to operate, our remaining funds and assets must be transferred to another community organisation with similar values.
What Are the Main Social Objectives of Starling Arts CIC?
While our core values remain the same, we are now formally constituted to deliver the following objectives:
Provide access to high-quality group singing opportunities across diverse communities.
Increase participation in singing for wellbeing activities.
Integrate tools such as mindfulness, gentle movement, and music to support mental health.
Act as ambassadors raising awareness of how singing supports personal, social, and emotional development.
What Does This Mean for Our Choir Members and Supporters?
Our regular choir groups continue to operate under the CIC’s core objectives. We will continuously seek opportunities for our members and supporters to get involved in community outreach—whether that means singing alongside new groups or helping to bring outreach projects to life.
We invite our community to act as ambassadors for our social mission, helping us fly the Starling flag far beyond the rehearsal room.
A huge thank you to everyone for your continued loyalty and support over the last eleven years. Here is to the exciting times ahead!
Anna & Emily