Wordsmith Crafts CIC (WSC) has been established as a Community Interest Company for three years now. We combined the professional activities of Simon Lidwell, artist, with the mostly voluntary community development activities of Cluaran and Quartz. This was as a response to the COVID years and BREXIT challenges which were a massive disruption.
A CIC is a community interest company. These are taxed like other companies and earn income, pay employees etc. but instead of existing with the purpose of generating profit for their owners and shareholders they exist to serve a community interest.
Each year we have written a report to describe what has been carried out through the existence of WSC. This demonstrates how we have served the community. At an immediate level this community is the members and local people who interact with WSC through its projects. Like those who have rowed Cluaran, or made things at craft workshops. On a wider level it is people who follow our social media, read things online, drop into events or who are pupils in the schools we visit.
I just wanted to drop you a quick email to say thank you so much for this morning. The children thoroughly enjoyed it and have talked about you all day!
Primary School Teacher
In 2025 we are reviewing the last three years of activity and checking that what we are achieving is worth more than the effort put in to make it happen! With a business this is simply a case of looking at the profit margin and returns for investors. For a CIC we need to check that the community interest is being met in a way which is affordable.
Keep your eyes open for the 2024 report coming soon!