As the co-founder of Torfaen Talks CIC, I often get asked what a Community Interest Company actually is — and why we chose this structure over becoming a traditional charity.
A CIC limited by guarantee is a special type of limited company designed to benefit the community, not private shareholders. It offers an alternative to charity status, but with just as much accountability. We report to Companies House to demonstrate that our work continues to meet the needs of the people we serve.
At Torfaen Talks CIC, we don’t have shareholders — and that’s intentional.
Every penny we raise goes directly back into supporting our community. Unlike some organisations, especially in the mental health sector, we don’t just say we’ll invest in people — we actually do.
Being a CIC allows us to stay focused on impact, not income. We’re not swayed by funding trends or headline-chasing. Instead, we make decisions based on where we know we can make the biggest difference. Because we’re limited by guarantee, our funds are locked into our community purpose — they can’t be extracted for personal gain.
We strongly believe that any organisation taking public money to deliver health services should be free of shareholders. Profit should never come before people. It’s that simple.
🔗 Learn more about what we do at: www.torfaentalkscic.org.uk
