What Compass Wellbeing does

Compass Wellbeing is a UK Community Interest Company (CIC), registered in England and Wales as company number 08451249, that operates as an intermediary between NHS and statutory-sector commissioners on one side and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations on the other. Its core function is to administer grant programmes on behalf of public-sector funders: since 2020 it has commissioned £22.6m to VCSEs across 422 contracts, including £11.7m across 19 programmes and 65 separate lots supporting 224 projects between 2021 and 2023, and currently runs the fourth-year NCEL CAMHS Provider Collaborative grant scheme on behalf of East London NHS Foundation Trust covering North Central and East London. Its product portfolio comprises Funding Coordination Services (grant programme administration), VCSE Support Services (free bid-development assistance, application checks, and back-office support), Employment Support, Training Services, a Newsletter, and a Research Opportunity Programme that pairs VCSEs with UCL students. Underlying technology is described as a grant coordination and procurement management platform, with no disclosed AI, API, SDK, or proprietary software components; the differentiator is human-led intermediary expertise and the UCL evaluation partnership.

The business model is managed services rather than software: Compass Wellbeing does not charge VCSEs for support, and as a CIC it is funded through administrative fees from commissioning partners rather than direct VCSE revenue. Pricing for VCSEs is explicitly free, with grant sizes ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 per programme (notably for children and young people's mental health). Go-to-market is sales-led on the commissioner side (direct engagement with NHS trusts, integrated care systems, and government bodies to administer grant programmes) and community-led on the VCSE side (newsletter, website, events, social media, and direct outreach through the UCL partnership). Operating geography is concentrated in London, specifically North Central and East London, with no global footprint. Named downstream VCSE beneficiaries span arts (Bedford Players Trust), women's services (Women's Inclusive Team, assisting 1,200+ individuals), and culturally specific mental health support (The Claudia Jones Organisation, delivering 3,960 hours of therapeutic support). Strategic partners include East London NHS Foundation Trust (Core, commissioner), University College London (Core, evaluation capability), and event sponsors GovBox, Equiti Health, and the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (Minor, convening). The organisation has been shortlisted for a Living Wage Champion Award, reflecting its positioning as an ethical employer within the VCSE ecosystem.

Name

Compass Wellbeing

Legal name

Compass Wellbeing CIC

Website

https://compasswellbeing.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compass Wellbeing is a UK Community Interest Company that administers NHS and statutory-sector grant programmes on behalf of commissioners, channelling funding to voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations across London. It provides free bid-development support, evaluation expertise via a UCL partnership, and has commissioned £22.6m across 422 VCSE contracts since 2020.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grant Administration and VCSE Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)

Keywords

• Grant administration services
• VCSE sector support
• Funding coordination
• Community wellbeing programmes
• NHS procurement support

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Administration Services: Compass Wellbeing administers procurement processes on behalf of commissioners (NHS, statutory services). They do not charge VCSEs for their support services - they operate on a no-cost basis to organisations they serve. As a Community Interest Company (CIC), they appear to be funded through administrative fees from commissioning partners rather than direct revenue from VCSE customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Compass Wellbeing administers grant programmes on behalf of NHS and statutory sector commissioners, channeling funding to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations in North Central and East London. Alongside this funding coordination role, it provides VCSEs with free support services including bid development, application checks, training, employment support, and access to evaluation expertise through a UCL partnership. The organisation operates as a no-cost honest broker for VCSEs and does not take a cut of grants awarded.

Product overview

Compass Wellbeing operates as a coordination and support organisation for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, not a traditional software product company. Its core offering centres on Funding Coordination Services, acting as a bridge between statutory/healthcare commissioners and VCSE organisations to facilitate access to grant funding. The organisation provides a suite of support services including VCSE Support Services, Employment Support, Training Services, and a Research Opportunity Programme in partnership with University College London. Key products include the NCEL CAMHS Provider Collaborative Grant Scheme for children's mental health funding, ongoing funding coordination programmes, and newsletter/communications services. The portfolio functions as an integrated support ecosystem where funding administration connects to bid development assistance, training, and evaluation support for VCSE organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Funding Coordination Services Coordinates and administers grant programmes on behalf of NHS and statutory sector commissioners, providing Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations with access to funding opportunities for mental health and community wellbeing projects. Grant amounts typically range from £5,000 to £50,000 per programme.
• VCSE Support Services Offers bespoke, free support to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations, including bid development assistance, application checks, management expertise, and back-office infrastructure support (HR, finance, training).
• Training Services for VCSEs Provides free training opportunities to VCSE organisations to build capacity and skills, alongside free training referenced in the regular VCSE newsletter.
• Employment Support Provides service users with training and skills development opportunities to support their employment pathways, delivered alongside Compass Wellbeing's wider VCSE support offer.
• Research Opportunity Programme Matches research students with VCSEs seeking support, enabling organisations to access academic expertise and capacity they would otherwise lack.
• NCEL CAMHS Provider Collaborative Grant Scheme Annual grant programme administered by Compass Wellbeing on behalf of the East London NHS Foundation Trust-led NCEL CAMHS Provider Collaborative, providing funding to VCSE organisations that support children and young people's mental health across North Central and East London.

Quantifiable outcome

• £22.6m commissioned to VCSEs through 422 contracts since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University College London (UCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner relationship supporting small VCSEs to freely access expertise and capacity for project evaluation, helping prepare for future funding applications. UCL provides evaluation and impact measurement expertise that small VCSEs would otherwise lack access to.
• East London NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead provider for the North Central and East London (NCEL) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Provider Collaborative. Compass Wellbeing serves as delivery partner for grant programmes administered on behalf of this NHS trust.
• GovBoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of 'The Power of Small' gathering event for grassroots organisations.
• Equiti HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of 'The Power of Small' gathering event for grassroots organisations.
• Diabetes Research and Wellness FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of 'The Power of Small' gathering event for grassroots organisations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Social Enterprise UK: UK membership body for social enterprises, providing advocacy, support, and access to networks. A broader peer operating in a related ecosystem around VCSE/SE funding access.
• Lloyds Bank Foundation: UK charity providing grants and development support to small and medium charities. Comparable grantmaking-plus-capacity-building model, though at a larger national scale.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK umbrella body for the voluntary sector, providing policy advocacy, guidance, and infrastructure support to charities. A broader incumbent that Compass Wellbeing's VCSE-facing services partially overlap with.
• The National Lottery Community Fund: Largest UK community grant funder, distributing Lottery-derived funds to VCSEs through national and regional programmes. A much larger incumbent with overlapping grant administration functions.

Direct peers

• Locality: National network supporting community-led organisations and social enterprises in engaging with commissioners and accessing funding. Directly comparable in mission to support small VCSEs in accessing statutory sector contracts.
• UK Community Foundations: Network of 47 accredited community foundations across the UK that administer grants and distribute funds to local VCSEs. Directly comparable grantmaking intermediary model with local presence.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): UK-wide membership body for local voluntary and community sector infrastructure. Provides capacity-building support and coordinates VCSE engagement with public sector commissioners, closely mirroring Compass Wellbeing's intermediary role.

Emerging players

• Grantify: UK-based grant administration software platform for charities and funders. Demonstrates the emerging software layer that could compete with or complement Compass Wellbeing's manual grant coordination.

Regional players

• KeyFund: Social enterprise providing investment and grants to charities and social enterprises in Yorkshire, North East and Midlands. Comparable grantmaking-plus-support intermediary model, though geographically distinct.
• City Bridge Foundation: London-based grantmaking charity funding VCSEs across the capital. Similar London regional focus and VCSE grantmaking model, with comparable charity client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/compasswb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compass-wellbeing-cic
• Instagraminstagram.com/compasswb
• Facebookfacebook.com/CompassWellbeingCIC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Compass Wellbeing