CVS Brent

What CVS Brent does

CVS Brent is a registered charity (No. 1147186) and company limited by guarantee (No. 07835718) founded in 2011 that operates as the primary local infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in the London Borough of Brent. Headquartered in Wembley, the organisation supports community and voluntary organisations through four service lines: one-to-one advisory appointments on governance, strategy, finance, legal structures, and fundraising; group training delivered by specialists; a free online resources portal covering HR, legal, marketing, digital, and fundraising topics; and a programme of nine thematic networks (covering health, social care, carers, homelessness, mental health, disability, older people, young people, and food aid) that convene sector partners such as Age UK, Crisis, Brent Carers Centre, Brent Mancap, Young Brent Foundation, and Sufra. Between April 2023 and May 2024 the organisation supported 253 community organisations and delivered 34 training and events. CVS Brent also delivers three externally funded projects: We Wear Heritage (National Lottery Heritage Fund), Community Champions (Macmillan Cancer Support), and the Back to Health Pathway (NWL Integrated Care System with Helpforce, Third Sector Together, and Brent Carers Centre).

The business model is that of a grant and contract-funded non-profit, not a commercial enterprise. All advisory, training, and online resource services are provided free of charge to eligible voluntary and community organisations in Brent. Income derives from local authority contracts (primarily Brent Council), NHS and Integrated Care System commissioning, and restricted grants from charities such as Macmillan and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Reported total income has been £324,340 in FY 23/24, £337,070 in FY 24/25, and £248,946 in the FY 25/26 provisional STA&A period, against operating deficits of -£89,820 and -£139,265 in the first two years and a provisional surplus of £16,596 in FY 25/26. Headcount is 1-10 employees, and there is no proprietary technology product, SaaS platform, or AI capability underpinning the service offering.

CVS Brent is currently in managed contraction. A comprehensive operational review was undertaken in 2025 under new CEO Erim Metto (appointed January 2025) to refocus services on financially sustainable activity and align the cost base with a reduced funding environment. CVS Brent has publicly announced that its core capacity-building contract ends on 11 May 2026 and that the organisation anticipates fully ceasing operations by the latter part of 2026, with the London Borough of Brent leading the creation of a new entity to deliver successor VCSE support services.

Name

CVS Brent

Legal name

CVS Brent

Website

https://cvsbrent.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CVS Brent is a Brent-based registered charity and VCSE infrastructure organisation that provides free advisory, training, and advocacy services to voluntary and community organisations in the London Borough of Brent, supported by local authority, NHS, and charitable grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wembley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Core Contract and Grant Funding: CVS Brent operates primarily as a grant and contract-funded organisation. The organisation has experienced reductions in core contract and grant income over recent financial years, with historical funding from Brent Council and NHS/Integrated Care System. Recent financial data shows income ranging from £248,946 to £337,070 across FY 23/24, 24/25, and 25/26 STA&A periods.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CVS Brent is a registered charity and local infrastructure organisation that strengthens the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in the London Borough of Brent. It delivers one-to-one advisory appointments, training and events, free online resources, and thematic networks covering governance, strategy, financial management, fundraising, and legal structures. It also runs community projects such as the We Wear Heritage project, Community Champions (cancer awareness), and the Back to Health Pathway (healthcare volunteer navigation).

Product overview

CVS Brent is a local infrastructure organisation that strengthens and builds an effective voluntary sector in the London borough of Brent. Rather than operating a technology product or SaaS platform, CVS Brent provides direct support services to community and voluntary organisations, including organisational development advice, professional training, fundraising support, and advocacy services. Their service offering includes one-to-one advisory appointments, group training sessions, and online resources covering topics such as governance, strategy, financial management, digital skills, and fundraising. They also deliver community projects including the We Wear Heritage project (funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund), Community Champions (cancer awareness with Macmillan Cancer Support), and the Back to Health Pathway (healthcare navigation volunteer programme). CVS Brent does not appear to offer a discrete software product, platform, or module as its core offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-to-One Advisory Appointments
• Training and Events Programme
• Free Online Resources Portal
• Thematic Networks and VCSE Forum

Quantifiable outcome

• 253 community organisations supported (April 2023 - May 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• NWL Integrated Care SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Funded the Back to Health Pathway project aimed at reducing outpatient DNA rates and improving patient outcomes through volunteer support. CVS Brent leads the initiative working with voluntary sector partners.
• Third Sector TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation partner in the Back to Health Pathway project working with CVS Brent and NHS to support patients through volunteer services.
• HelpforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Back to Health Pathway initiative contributing to volunteering in priority neighbourhoods in Brent.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the Community Champions project aimed at increasing cancer awareness and screening uptake among minority communities in Brent.
• Brent Carers CentrecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for the Back to Health Pathway project, delivering volunteer services to support patients.
• Imperial College LondonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on EDI advocacy group for cancer care research and community involvement in medical research to improve outcomes for minoritised groups.
• Brent CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary statutory partner providing funding and collaboration on VCSE support services. CVS Brent represents VCSE sector on key strategic bodies.
• Brent MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting We Wear Heritage exhibition showcasing stories and traditional clothing of Brent's diverse communities.
• Best of Brazil Community CICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinator of We Wear Heritage project, managing fashion show and community heritage activities.
• Citizen's Advice BrentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Advocacy & Advice Network within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.
• SufrasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Brent Food Aid Network, part of CVS Brent's thematic network structure.
• Age UKsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Older People's Forum within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.
• Young Brent FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Young People's Forum within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.
• Brent MancapsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Disability & Long-Term Health Conditions Network within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.
• CrisissecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Brent Homelessness Forum (bi-monthly meetings) within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.
• Ashford PlacesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Brent Mental Health Partnership within CVS Brent's thematic network programme.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK-wide umbrella body for the voluntary sector providing infrastructure support, policy advocacy and member services to charities and community organisations. Comparable to CVS Brent as a sector infrastructure organisation, but operating at national scale rather than borough level.
• Locality: National membership network supporting community-led organisations, neighbourhood groups and social enterprises with development, policy and peer-learning services. Comparable as a UK-wide VCSE infrastructure provider overlapping CVS Brent's capacity-building remit.
• Groundwork UK: Federation of local Groundwork trusts delivering community environmental regeneration, training and youth programmes across the UK. Comparable as a larger VCSE infrastructure and programme-delivery network with overlapping local-authority and trust-funded income mix.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): National membership body for local Voluntary and Community Action infrastructure organisations across England, including CVS bodies. Directly comparable as the national network of which CVS Brent-style organisations are members.

Direct peers

• Hackney Voluntary Action: Hackney-based VCSE support body offering advice, training, funding guidance and networking to community organisations. Directly comparable London-borough peer with overlapping service mix and beneficiary profile.
• Voluntary Action Camden: London borough-level VCSE infrastructure body supporting voluntary and community organisations in Camden with advice, training and networks. Directly comparable to CVS Brent as a same-category, same-geography-tier peer.
• Small Charities Coalition: UK-wide membership organisation providing capacity-building, training and resources specifically to small charities. Comparable to CVS Brent's core advisory and training offer to grassroots VCSE groups.
• Tower Hamlets CVS: Local infrastructure organisation supporting the voluntary and community sector in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with capacity-building, training and representation. Closely comparable peer operating at the same London borough level as CVS Brent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cvsbrent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CVSBrentLondon
• Facebookfacebook.com/CVSBrent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cvsbrent
• Instagraminstagram.com/cvs.brent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 CVS Brent