The Choir With No Name

What The Choir With No Name does

The Choir with No Name is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1136173, Company No. 06764584) founded in March 2008 by Marie Benton, who was working for homelessness support provider St Mungo's at the time. The organisation runs community choirs for people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation, currently operating seven choirs across Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Coventry, Liverpool, London, and Sheffield, with an eighth choir planned for 2025. Weekly sessions follow a consistent format: a cuppa and catch-up, 1.5 hours of group singing in three- and four-part harmony, and a hot meal cooked by volunteers. Beyond weekly rehearsals, the choir performs at least six gigs per year at venues ranging from local homeless hostels to world-class concert halls such as Cadogan Hall and Brighton Dome, and delivers singing workshops for people at risk of homelessness including those facing mental health challenges, drug and alcohol addiction, or who are refugees and asylum seekers.

The core product is a free, in-person community choir service; ancillary revenue-generating services include bookable choir performances for corporate events, weddings, and community gatherings, plus workshops and outreach projects. There is no proprietary technology platform underpinning delivery - operations are human-led by seven regional Choir Directors, eight Choir Managers, and a small central team (1-10 employees). Founder Marie Benton stepped down as CEO in April 2022 and was succeeded by Kate Wareham, a music psychologist with a PhD from the University of Sheffield. The organisation is governed by a board of trustees with backgrounds in humanitarian work, finance, law, mental health, and homelessness services.

The business model is a multi-stream charitable funding structure rather than a commercial one. Revenue comes from individual donations, trust and foundation grants (National Lottery, Garfield Weston Foundation, Charles Plater Trust, and others), corporate sponsorship (Markel cited as a partner), and modest fee income from event bookings. Services are free to beneficiaries. Strategic direction is set by a 2024-2027 three-year strategy agreed by the board, which encompasses geographic expansion, governance engagement (the 2025-launched Board Experience Programme gives choir members trustee-meeting access), and continued deepening of partnerships with regional homelessness organisations such as BHT Sussex, The Wallich, and The Archer Project.

Name

The Choir With No Name

Legal name

The Choir with No Name

Website

https://www.choirwithnoname.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Choir with No Name is a UK-registered charity founded in 2008 that runs free weekly community choirs in seven UK cities for people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation, combining singing, hot meals, and peer support, with performances at venues from local hostels to Cadogan Hall.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Community Choir Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Community choir programs
• Homelessness support services
• Charity music workshops
• Choral performance services
• Community outreach choirs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations from supporters and advocates of the organisation
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from trusts and foundations including National Lottery, Garfield Weston Foundation, and others listed on website
3. Corporate Support: Support from corporate partners including Markel and other companies
4. Event Revenue: Income from booking choirs for events and performances

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Choir with No Name operates free weekly community choirs across seven UK cities for people experiencing homelessness and marginalisation, combining group singing in three- and four-part harmony with a cuppa, peer catch-up, and a hot meal. The charity also stages regular gig performances at venues from local hostels to prestigious concert halls, runs outreach singing workshops for people at risk of homelessness, and offers bookable choir performances for corporate and community events.

Product overview

The Choir With No Name is a UK-based charity offering a unified community choir service for people experiencing homelessness and marginalisation. The core offering consists of weekly choir sessions held across seven cities (Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Coventry, Liverpool, London, and Sheffield), which include a cuppa and catch-up, 1.5 hours of group singing in three- and four-part harmony, and a hot meal. The service portfolio extends to regular gig performances at venues ranging from local hostels to prestigious concert halls, bookable choir performances for events, singing workshops, and community outreach projects targeting people at risk of homelessness. Additional services include fundraising support and choir twinning partnerships. The organization was founded in March 2008 and operates as a non-profit, relying on funders, donors, and volunteers to sustain its activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Choir Sessions Free weekly choir rehearsals in Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Coventry, Liverpool, London and Sheffield for people experiencing homelessness or marginalisation, including a cuppa and catch-up, 1.5 hours of three- and four-part harmony singing, and a hot meal cooked by volunteers.
• Gig Performances Public performances at local homeless hostels, community festivals, and world-class venues such as Cadogan Hall and Brighton Dome, with each choir staging at least six gigs a year.
• Book a Choir Hireable choir performance service for corporate events, weddings, community gatherings and other functions, providing entertainment and supporting the charity's fundraising.
• Singing Workshops Singing workshops delivered to people at risk of homelessness or marginalisation, including those facing mental health challenges, drug and alcohol addiction, refugees and asylum seekers.
• Choir Twinning A partnership programme linking different choirs together for mutual support, collaboration and shared experience across the network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 25% of members identify as transgender or non-binary
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BHT SussexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner providing support for rough sleepers, homes, specialist support services, and legal advice across Sussex. Works with CWNN to deliver singing opportunities to people in their services.
• The WallichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWales' leading homelessness and rough sleeping charity supporting more than 7000 people experiencing homelessness per year. Partners with CWNN to provide singing communities in Cardiff.
• The Archer ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps homeless people achieve a better life by supporting them to develop independence, improve ability to tackle setbacks, change negative behaviour, and improve wellbeing. Partners with CWNN Sheffield.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Streetwise Opera: UK charity producing opera and singing projects with people affected by homelessness. Closest direct peer sharing the same beneficiary base, intervention model (group singing for marginalised adults), and high-profile performance arm.
• Sing Inside: UK charity running choirs and singing workshops in prisons. Directly comparable use of weekly group singing to build community among a marginalised population, with a similar volunteer-facilitated delivery model.
• City of Sanctuary (Choir of Sanctuary): UK-wide network running choirs that welcome refugees and asylum seekers. Overlaps directly with CWNN's work supporting marginalised groups (refugees/asylum seekers listed as a beneficiary segment) through community singing.
• Music in Detention: UK charity delivering music workshops inside immigration detention centres. Same arts-as-social-inclusion model with a comparably vulnerable beneficiary population, though delivered inside institutional settings rather than community venues.

Regional players

• Mission Voices (Choir of Hard Knocks): Australian choir founded for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. Conceptual peer running the same choir-for-homeless-community model but based outside the UK, so no direct UK competitive overlap.
• The Passage: London-based homelessness charity providing frontline services. Geographic overlap with CWNN's London choir and shared beneficiary pipeline, but focused on housing rather than arts-led intervention.

Broad incumbents

• St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity where CWNN founder Marie Benton previously worked. Shared beneficiary population, London overlap, and historical referral pipeline — a broader incumbent offering housing and support services rather than arts programming.
• Crisis UK: National UK charity for people experiencing homelessness. Wider service portfolio (housing, education, employment) but shared beneficiary base and a likely partner for scaling arts-based programming across UK cities.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness. Overlapping beneficiary population, national footprint, and potential co-delivery partner for choirs targeted at under-25s.

Emerging players

• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering music-making for disabled people. Smaller scale and different beneficiary focus (disability rather than homelessness), but shared music-and-inclusion mission and comparable community-chorus delivery approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5265694

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Choir With No Name