Community Interest Statement

Our commitment to community benefit, social enterprise principles, and transparent governance as a Community Interest Company.

Our Community Interest Purpose

Thrive Education is registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) with Companies House. Our community interest purpose is to advance education for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, particularly:

  • Looked After Children (LAC) - Young people in the care of Local Authorities who face significant barriers to educational achievement.
  • Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - Young people with identified learning, physical, or developmental needs requiring specialist support.
  • Children Experiencing Trauma - Young people affected by adverse childhood experiences, attachment difficulties, or developmental trauma.
  • Disadvantaged Young People - Young people facing socioeconomic barriers, social isolation, or other challenges affecting educational access and outcomes.

Community Benefits We Deliver

Vulnerable Children Support

We provide specialist educational support to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including Looked After Children, children experiencing trauma, and children with SEND.

Educational Outcomes

We work to improve educational attainment, attendance, engagement, and wellbeing for the young people we serve, helping them achieve their potential.

Community Capacity Building

We provide training and professional development to school staff and Virtual School teams, building long-term capacity within communities to support vulnerable learners.

Asset Lock Protection

Our assets are locked into the community benefit purpose and cannot be distributed to members or directors, ensuring long-term commitment to our mission.

Asset Lock Protection

As a Community Interest Company, Thrive Education operates under an asset lock. This means:

Assets Cannot Be Distributed

All company assets are locked into the community interest purpose. They cannot be distributed to members, directors, or shareholders for personal benefit.

Surplus Reinvestment

Any surplus generated through service delivery is reinvested back into the company to further the community interest purpose and expand our impact.

Long-Term Community Commitment

The asset lock ensures that Thrive Education remains committed to its community interest purpose in perpetuity, protecting the organisation's mission for future generations.

How We Reinvest Surplus

Any surplus generated through our service delivery is reinvested to strengthen our impact and expand our reach. Surplus is allocated to:

Service Expansion

Reinvesting surplus to expand services and reach more vulnerable young people in South and West Yorkshire.

Staff Development

Investing in professional development, training, and wellbeing support for our team to maintain service quality and expertise.

Research & Innovation

Funding research into evidence-based interventions and innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable learners.

Accessibility & Affordability

Ensuring services remain accessible and affordable for Virtual Schools and Local Authorities serving disadvantaged communities.

Technology & Resources

Investing in technology, learning resources, and tools to enhance service delivery and student outcomes.

Safeguarding Excellence

Maintaining and enhancing robust safeguarding policies, training, and procedures to protect vulnerable children.

Dividend Cap Policy

Thrive Education operates under a strict dividend cap policy that limits any distributions to members. This policy ensures that:

  • Any surplus available for distribution is capped at a reasonable level, typically not exceeding 50% of annual profit after tax.
  • Distributions are only made if the company has achieved its community interest objectives for the year.
  • The majority of surplus is reinvested into service expansion and community benefit activities.
  • Members and directors do not receive distributions based on their investment or shareholding, ensuring community benefit remains the priority.

Transparency & Accountability

We are committed to transparent reporting and accountability to our stakeholders. We provide:

Annual Community Interest Report

We file an annual Community Interest Report with Companies House detailing how we have pursued our community interest purpose and the community benefit we have delivered.

Financial Accounts & Audit

We file audited accounts with Companies House showing our income, expenditure, and financial position. These are publicly available for scrutiny.

Impact Reporting

We regularly report on our impact, including the number of young people supported, outcomes achieved, and the effectiveness of our interventions.

Stakeholder Engagement

We engage regularly with partners, funders, and beneficiaries to gather feedback and ensure our services remain responsive to community needs.

Our Commitment to Community Benefit

Thrive Education is committed to operating as a genuine social enterprise. We generate sustainable revenue through service delivery while ensuring that our primary purpose remains advancing education for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Our Community Interest Company structure, asset lock, and dividend cap policy ensure that this commitment is embedded in our governance and cannot be compromised.

We welcome partnerships with Virtual Schools, Local Authorities, schools, and other organisations that share our commitment to improving educational outcomes for vulnerable learners.