What Community Links does

Community Links is a registered UK charity (No. 1124127) operating from Canning Town, East London, providing free advice, youth and employment, health, and community services, operating as part of Catch22 Group.Community Links is a registered charity (No. 1124127) founded in 1977 and operating from 105 Barking Road, Canning Town, East London, since 1991. The organisation provides free, grant-funded services across five pillars: Advice (debt, housing, and welfare benefits support delivered by accredited advisors); Youth and Employment (Links Studios recording facility for ages 10–25, Links Media College accredited qualifications for 16–19 year olds, and programmes such as Talent Match and Create Your Future); Health (cancer screening outreach across 28 London boroughs, the PCN Cancer Facilitator Programme across seven North East London boroughs, and the Community Connectors mental health programme embedded in NHS Primary Care Networks); Community Services (digital skills training Community Clicks for over-50s, and Culture Within Newham funded by Arts Council England); and Policy & Learning (the Early Action Task Force and national policy advocacy).

Its underlying technology stack is modest and operationally focused rather than commercial: standard charity CRM and case management tools, the Logic X Pro and Komplete Native Instruments suite for Links Studios, and a content marketing website (community-links.org). There are no proprietary software products, APIs, or developer-facing platforms; the closest analogue to a product is the Links Studios facility and the accredited Links Media College curriculum.

The revenue model is non-commercial and grant-driven. Income derives from charitable grants and government commissioning (National Lottery Community Fund, Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, NHS Cancer Alliances, London Borough of Newham), donations via Virgin Money Giving, room hire at 105 Barking Road, and the Links Event Solutions social enterprise. All direct services to beneficiaries are free of charge. Since November 2020, Community Links has been fully merged with Catch22 Group (following a strategic partnership that began in 2017), operating as a subsidiary within Catch22's Young People, Families and Communities portfolio while retaining its local identity and 105 Barking Road headquarters.

Name

Community Links

Legal name

Community Links

Website

http://community-links.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Charity Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Community advice services
• Youth employment programmes
• Cancer screening outreach
• Debt welfare advice
• Community charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Funding: Community Links operates as a registered charity (No. 1124127) funded primarily through grants, trusts, foundations, and government commissioning. Funding sources include National Lottery Community Fund, Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, NHS Cancer Alliances, London Borough of Newham, and other institutional donors. The organisation merged with Catch22 in November 2020.
2. Donations: The organisation accepts donations through Virgin Money Giving page and other methods. Donations support work across Youth and Employment, Health, Advice, and Policy and Learning areas.
3. Room Hire: Community Links hires out rooms at 105 Barking Road, including The Neighbours Hall (150 sq mtr), Sylvia Pankhurst room (53 sq mtr), and Dougs Room (19 sq mtr) for office space, events, and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Links is a registered charity providing free community services across four pillars: Advice (debt, housing, welfare benefits), Youth & Employment (Links Studios recording studio, Links Media College accredited qualifications, mentoring), Health (cancer screening outreach, Community Connectors mental health support), and Community Services (digital skills, food support, Culture Within Newham arts programme). All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries across East London, funded by grants and donations.

Product overview

Community Links is a charity and social services organization based in East London (part of Catch22 group) offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected services under four main pillars: Advice, Health, Youth and Employment, and Community Services. The Advice services provide free specialist guidance on debt, housing, and welfare benefits. Youth and Employment offerings include Links Studios (a state-of-the-art recording studio for young people aged 10-25), Links Media College (accredited qualifications in Digital Skills, Customer Service, English, Maths and ESOL for 16-19 year olds), and employment programmes like Talent Match and Create Your Future. Health services focus on cancer screening promotion and the Community Connectors mental health programme. Community Services encompass digital skills training (Community Clicks), emergency food support, and Culture Within Newham (Arts Council England funded creative programme). Policy and Learning work applies local experience to influence national change through the Early Action Task Force. The organization also operates Links Event Solutions as a social enterprise and offers room hire facilities at their historic 105 Barking Road headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Links Media College: Free education provider offering accredited qualifications in Digital Skills, Customer Service, English, Maths and ESOL for 16-19 year olds in Newham, East London.
• Links Studios
• Culture Within Newham
• Links Event Solutions

Products and services

• Advice Services Free specialist advice services providing guidance on debt, welfare benefit sanctions, and housing issues. Services include benefit form completion, expert housing advice from solicitors, and accredited debt advice for individuals and families in East London.
• Links Media College Free education provider offering fully accredited qualifications in Digital Skills, Customer Service, English, Maths, and ESOL for 16-19 year olds, with a focus on employability and personal development. Also serves 14-16 year olds who are elective home educated and up to 25 year olds with Education Health Care Plans.
• Links Studios State-of-the-art recording studio purpose-built for teaching and developing young people aged 10-25 through music. Offers creative development sessions including music production, podcasting, band rehearsals, songwriting, artist development, vocal workshops, and creative instrument lessons. Established with support from the Rolling Stones.
• Youth and Employment Services Services enabling people to realise their potential by removing barriers to success, building confidence and improving life skills. Includes programmes such as Talent Match, Create Your Future, and More than Mentors (peer mentoring). Targets young people aged 10-25 with creative and educational interventions through Community Hubs.
• Cancer Screening Projects Telephone-based intervention programmes designed to engage individuals who are less likely to take part in national cancer screening through motivational interviewing and positive behaviour change tools, covering breast, bowel, and cervical cancer screening. Has contacted over 400,000 people over the past decade.
• PCN Cancer Facilitator Programme Three-year programme commissioned by North East London Cancer Alliance to improve cancer screening uptake and early diagnosis across Primary Care Networks in seven London boroughs (Barking & Dagenham, City & Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest) through data-driven facilitation and community outreach.
• Community Connectors Programme Partnership programme with East London NHS Foundation Trust providing holistic support to service users suffering from serious mental illness in Newham through community-based connectors working within multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) inside Primary Care Networks alongside ELFT community integrated mental health teams.
• Community Clicks Digital Skills Classes Digital skills programme supporting residents aged 50 and over in Newham to build everyday digital skills including online shopping, video calling, GP appointments, and online banking. Delivered twice weekly over six weeks.
• Culture Within Newham Cultural and creative activity programme funded through Arts Council England's Creative People and Places scheme, empowering local residents to access, participate in and create art in local spaces. Governed by Community Voices Panel (18 local residents) and Children's Board (20 children aged 8-11).
• Early Action Task Force Cross-sector group of leaders committed to building a society that prevents problems from occurring rather than one that struggles with the consequences. Established in 2011, with nearly 650 members receiving monthly bulletins and attending events.
• Links Event Solutions Event management and hire company delivering and supporting events across London as a social enterprise initiative of Community Links.
• Room Hire Venue hire services at 105 Barking Road offering multiple rooms including the Neighbours Hall (150 sq mtr), Sylvia Pankhurst room (53 sq mtr), and Dougs Room (19 sq mtr) for office space, events, and community gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of Community Clicks participants reported feeling confident in using digital tools, compared to just 26% at the start
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Community Links, together with Aston Mansfield and Mind, has seconded colleagues to work within ELFT as Community Connectors. Working within MDTs based in PCNs across Newham, Community Connectors provide wraparound, person-centred support to individuals living with serious mental illness.
• Catch22coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Community Links merged fully with Catch22 in November 2020, having been in an innovative strategic partnership since 2017. The two organisations have complementary strengths, aligned activities, objectives and missions. Community Links operates as part of the Catch22 group while maintaining its local identity and community focus.
• Aston MansfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Community Connectors programme providing holistic support to service users suffering from serious mental illness in Newham through multi-disciplinary teams.
• Mind (Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Redbridge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Community Connectors programme providing holistic support to service users suffering from serious mental illness in Newham.
• Culture Within Newham ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulture Within Newham is governed by a consortium including Community Links (part of Catch22), University of East London, Jazanne Arts, Blossom Group, and National Cricket League. The consortium shapes and delivers cultural programming for Newham residents.
• NHS Cancer AlliancescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cancer Alliances including North East London Cancer Alliance (NELCA), North Central London Cancer Alliance, and RM Partners (West and South West London Cancer Alliance) for delivery of cancer screening programmes.
• Cancer Research UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted partner providing evidence-based guidance for cancer awareness and education campaigns delivered by Community Links Health Facilitators.
• Bowel Health Improvement TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for bowel cancer screening outreach, working with Community Links to ensure messaging is evidence-based and aligned with national priorities.
• London Breast and Cervical Screening HubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Breast Screening Services and Cervical Screening Hubs across London for direct booking of appointments and coordinated outreach.
• London Borough of NewhamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing liaison officers refer tenants struggling with debt to Community Links. Community Links provides advice services including debt restructuring and welfare benefits support for Newham residents.
• ARHAG Housing AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorARHAG Housing Association tenants are referred to Community Links for specialist debt advice including bankruptcy, rent arrears, and debt relief orders.
• City Lawyers (FreeLaw)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with City lawyers to offer free drop-in evening law surgery twice per week for housing disputes, tenancy deposit disputes, and estate agent issues. Note: FreeLaw does not advise landlords.
• Debt Free LondonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for debt advice services. Community Links directs clients who are not tenants of London Borough of Newham or ARHAG to Debt Free London for specialist support.
• Money A+EminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAward-winning social enterprise providing money advice and educational services to disadvantaged groups, diverse ethnic communities, and young people. Referral partner for clients outside Community Links eligibility criteria.
• Ixion HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for Community Clicks digital skills programme with support from 3i. Ixion delivers digital skills training twice weekly over six weeks aimed at supporting 100 people aged 50 and over in Newham.
• Positive Transformation GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with 3i and Ixion in delivering Community Clicks digital skills programme supporting older Newham residents with digital inclusion.
• Caramel RockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Culture Within Newham consortium delivering creative and cultural projects funded by Arts Council England.
• Faithful FriendsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Culture Within Newham consortium delivering creative and cultural projects funded by Arts Council England.
• University of East LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Culture Within Newham consortium, bringing academic expertise to cultural programming and community engagement in Newham.
• Clifford ChanceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosted Advice for the Future event at their offices, bringing together visioning for advice services and building connections for the future.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Catch22: National social-business charity that fully merged with Community Links in November 2020; provides the operating platform and national reach that Community Links operates within, and offers overlapping youth, family, and community services across England.
• Locality: National membership body for community-led organisations, supporting over 600 neighbourhood groups with advice, policy, and network infrastructure; comparable as the umbrella peer for community anchor organisations of the type Community Links represents.
• Mind (National): National mental-health charity that is a current strategic partner in Community Links' Community Connectors programme (with ELFT); comparable on the serious-mental-illness community-support and advice/wraparound offering, but at much larger national scale.
• Citizens Advice: National advice network providing free debt, housing, welfare, and legal advice across England and Wales; directly comparable service model to Community Links' Advice pillar but operating at vastly greater national scale through a federated local-office model.

Direct peers

• Toynbee Hall: Historic East London settlement charity providing free advice, learning, and community programmes to deprived communities in Tower Hamlets; directly comparable in mission (tackling causes not symptoms), service mix (advice, youth, adult learning), and Deep Value community-led delivery model.
• St Giles Trust: UK charity supporting people facing severe disadvantage into employment, housing, and reduced reoffending through advice, mentoring, and peer-led programmes; highly comparable in its advice + youth employment + community connector hybrid model and reliance on lived-experience mentors.
• Money Advice Plus / Money Wellness: Specialist debt-advice charity operating across the UK with free debt, welfare benefits, and housing advice via telephone and online channels; directly comparable to Community Links' Advice pillar (debt restructuring, rent arrears, debt relief orders).
• Spitalfields Music / A New Direction: East London / London-based arts charities delivering creative engagement programmes for young people and underserved communities funded by Arts Council England; directly comparable to Community Links' Links Studios and Culture Within Newham creative-youth offerings.

Regional players

• Centrepoint: National UK charity supporting homeless and disadvantaged young people into housing, education, and employment; directly comparable to Community Links' Youth & Employment pillar (Links Media College, Links Studios, More than Mentors) though operating on a larger national scale.

Others

• Macmillan Cancer Support: National cancer-support charity providing evidence-based guidance and information; comparable as an upstream policy/evidence partner for Community Links' cancer-screening outreach programme rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/comm_links
• Facebookfacebook.com/commlinks
• Instagraminstagram.com/linksstudios22

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Community Links