‘Most people donate because they want to be left alone’ – The anti-knife crime enterprise ‘irritating’ Londoners
Inside Success Union CIC claim to empower vulnerable young people, but allegations of underpayment and concerns over their fundraising practices are undermining their message.
With their blue jackets and persistent presence across London’s busiest streets, Inside Success Union CIC claims to support the vulnerable youth. However, complaints over their fundraising practices as well as allegations of underpayment are causing concern.
Inside Success Union describe themselves as a social enterprise who work with 16-24 years olds ‘to create a digital interactive magazine which develops life skills and employment’.
The enterprise, run by two directors, David Olawale and Darren Sonowo, suffered compulsory strike off action on 30th April 2024 – a process initiated when Companies House forcibly dissolves a company without the directors’ request.
This was discontinued on 28th May after the company said ‘its intended future activities are lawful’ in a confirmation statement.
However, public frustration is still evident online. A recent Reddit post has alleged continued hassling of commuters.
Others have branded Inside Success as ‘awful’, ‘irritating’ and one user even claiming ‘I don’t think anyone has seen any evidence of any good they’ve done for society’.
What is a Community Interest Company (CIC)?
Gov.uk describes a CIC as ‘limited companies which operate to provide a benefit to the community they serve. The purpose of a CIC is primarily one of community benefit rather than private profit’.
Inside Success Union brands itself as a CIC by offering a £5 magazine when they collect money from the public.
CICs are different to charities in that they generate profits to support community objectives, whilst charities exist solely for charitable purposes.
However, the given the aforementioned Reddit post has reached 742 upvotes (equivalent of likes) at the time of writing, many Londoners are not seeing a tangible community benefit.
How does the company recruit employees?
The website advertises job opportunities for 16-24 year olds to open them up to ‘new opportunities and lead you on the path to success’, but a Mail on Sunday investigation revealed that teachers claim the firm has recruited ‘vulnerable’ 16-18 year-olds from outside schools.
Additionally, videos from their TikTok ask users ‘Are you broke looking for a job?’, as well as boasting about profitable commissions with ‘no CV or interview necessary.
City News spoke to Sabrina, 20, who is a former employee of Inside Success Union:
Where does the money go?
The same Mail on Sunday Investigation exposed that trainees were told to use ‘triggering words’ such as ‘young people’s mental health’ to encourage the public to give money.
City News approached youth vendors at Inside Success CIC by requesting to buy a magazine, but we were told there was ‘no magazine available’ and instead were told we would ‘receive an email receipt for our donation’.
On the Inside Success website, they say the money goes towards the following:
Putting on events and workshops to support young people in their career.
Expenses for the young people that work selling the magazine.
Paying for travel for young people.
Supporting young people and their families that go through financial difficulties.
The day to day running of the social enterprise.
Producing magazines, printing costs.
The accounts show that 94% of gross profits for 2023 were spent on employee costs.
The accountants that filed most recently on behalf of Inside Success Union are Nuama & Co Ltd, a company with only 1 employee according to their accounts.
The offices of Nuama & Co Ltd
Additionally, though the website claims to have ‘around 1,000 employees’, the accounts show just 250 employees. Using the number on the website, the average salary per year at Inside Success Union is just £2,400. Taking the number from the accounts, it rises to £9,695, just over £5,000 less than minimum wage.
Inside Success declared £3.5 million in sales for the year ending May 2023. If we attribute all of these sales to magazines, this would make Inside Success Union an extremely successful publication, selling 700,000 copies. For context, there were 500,000 copies of the print edition of The Economist on average in circulation in 2023.
Sales figures rose from around £120,000 for the year ending 19th May 2019 to 760,000 in the subsequent year, before rising again in 2021, all during the pandemic.
These figures remain unexplained. With no further information in the accounts within the sales, it is hard to reconcile their rise with the company’s business model.
City News contacted Inside Success Union for comment but have had no reply.
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Headline‘Most people donate because they want to be left alone’ – The anti-knife crime enterprise ‘irritating’ Londoners
Short Headline'Most people donate because they want to be left alone'
StandfirstInside Success Union CIC claim to empower vulnerable young people, but allegations of underpayment and concerns over their fundraising practices are undermining their message.
With their blue jackets and persistent presence across London’s busiest streets, Inside Success Union CIC claims to support the vulnerable youth. However, complaints over their fundraising practices as well as allegations of underpayment are causing concern.
Inside Success Union describe themselves as a social enterprise who work with 16-24 years olds ‘to create a digital interactive magazine which develops life skills and employment’.
The enterprise, run by two directors, David Olawale and Darren Sonowo, suffered compulsory strike off action on 30th April 2024 – a process initiated when Companies House forcibly dissolves a company without the directors’ request.
This was discontinued on 28th May after the company said ‘its intended future activities are lawful’ in a confirmation statement.
However, public frustration is still evident online. A recent Reddit post has alleged continued hassling of commuters.
Others have branded Inside Success as ‘awful’, ‘irritating’ and one user even claiming ‘I don’t think anyone has seen any evidence of any good they’ve done for society’.
What is a Community Interest Company (CIC)?
Gov.uk describes a CIC as ‘limited companies which operate to provide a benefit to the community they serve. The purpose of a CIC is primarily one of community benefit rather than private profit’.
Inside Success Union brands itself as a CIC by offering a £5 magazine when they collect money from the public.
CICs are different to charities in that they generate profits to support community objectives, whilst charities exist solely for charitable purposes.
However, the given the aforementioned Reddit post has reached 742 upvotes (equivalent of likes) at the time of writing, many Londoners are not seeing a tangible community benefit.
How does the company recruit employees?
The website advertises job opportunities for 16-24 year olds to open them up to ‘new opportunities and lead you on the path to success’, but a Mail on Sunday investigation revealed that teachers claim the firm has recruited ‘vulnerable’ 16-18 year-olds from outside schools.
Additionally, videos from their TikTok ask users ‘Are you broke looking for a job?’, as well as boasting about profitable commissions with ‘no CV or interview necessary.
City News spoke to Sabrina, 20, who is a former employee of Inside Success Union:
Where does the money go?
The same Mail on Sunday Investigation exposed that trainees were told to use ‘triggering words’ such as ‘young people’s mental health’ to encourage the public to give money.
City News approached youth vendors at Inside Success CIC by requesting to buy a magazine, but we were told there was ‘no magazine available’ and instead were told we would ‘receive an email receipt for our donation’.
On the Inside Success website, they say the money goes towards the following:
Putting on events and workshops to support young people in their career.
Expenses for the young people that work selling the magazine.
Paying for travel for young people.
Supporting young people and their families that go through financial difficulties.
The day to day running of the social enterprise.
Producing magazines, printing costs.
The accounts show that 94% of gross profits for 2023 were spent on employee costs.
The accountants that filed most recently on behalf of Inside Success Union are Nuama & Co Ltd, a company with only 1 employee according to their accounts.
The offices of Nuama & Co Ltd
Additionally, though the website claims to have ‘around 1,000 employees’, the accounts show just 250 employees. Using the number on the website, the average salary per year at Inside Success Union is just £2,400. Taking the number from the accounts, it rises to £9,695, just over £5,000 less than minimum wage.
Inside Success declared £3.5 million in sales for the year ending May 2023. If we attribute all of these sales to magazines, this would make Inside Success Union an extremely successful publication, selling 700,000 copies. For context, there were 500,000 copies of the print edition of The Economist on average in circulation in 2023.
Sales figures rose from around £120,000 for the year ending 19th May 2019 to 760,000 in the subsequent year, before rising again in 2021, all during the pandemic.
These figures remain unexplained. With no further information in the accounts within the sales, it is hard to reconcile their rise with the company’s business model.
City News contacted Inside Success Union for comment but have had no reply.
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