Streetwise Opera
Analysis
Streetwise Opera is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04370521). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Streetwise Opera reported income of £649k and spending of £703k, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £621k to £649k (+4.4%), an average of +1.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income dropped by 18%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Streetwise Opera sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Cwmbran Centre for Young People (£648k), The John S Cohen Foundation (£650k) and Irie Dance Theatre (£648k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 72% and charitable activities 18%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £55k. Charitable activities took 73% of spending and raising funds 26%. Reserves of £148k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 13 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 63%
- Legacies 8.5%
- Charitable activities 18%
- Investments 0.1%
- Other 10%
In the charity's own words
We use music to help people who have experienced homelessness make positive changes in their lives, to advance the education of the public in the arts in particular but not exclusively in the art of opera. We deliver the following activity in 5 regions of the UK: 1 Opera Productions2 Workshop Programme3 Work Placement Scheme and Progression routes4. Establishing an international network
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Cwmbran Centre for Young People | Cwmbran | £648k |
| The John S Cohen Foundation | London | £650k |
| Irie Dance Theatre | London | £648k |
| Wimbledon Arts | London | £650k |