Why are we a Community Interest Company?
Fresh Eyes – People to People Travel is the first not-for-profit Community Interest Company offering responsible tourism services in the UK.
As a Community Interest Company (CIC) we are bound by a commitment to reinvest revenue from your travel into the communities we work with and activities which work for justice and equality. This is clearly presented in our Community Interest Statement which is the basis of our legal registration. We are bound to report on our progress and activities each year in our Annual Report to the CIC regulator. We also share these reports with travellers and our partners and here on our website.
Our status as a CIC means you can be confident about our ethical foundations, and can travel happy in the knowledge that your trip is helping to support pioneering community organisations and social movements in Asia and Europe.
What is a Community Interest Company?
A Community Interest Company is a type of registered company which has all the flexibility and legal certainty of a company, but with some special features to ensure it is working for the benefit of the community.
A Community Interest Company is a business whose surpluses are principally reinvested for social purposes in the community and they are not driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.
We believe that this structure has a distinct and valuable role to play in helping create a strong, sustainable and socially inclusive economy.
What does a Community Interest Company (CIC) do?
CICs pursue social objectives, such as environmental improvement, community development and inclusion or fair trade. They are a type of social enterprise. Social enterprises are intended to play an increasing role in regenerating disadvantaged areas, empowering local communities and delivering new, innovative services at local level.
Want to know more?
The Community Interest Company Association http://www.cicassociation.org.uk/
The Community Interest Company Regulator http://www.bis.gov.uk/cicregulator