Rural Action Derbyshire
Rural Action Derbyshire is a 1924-founded UK charity operating from Matlock that addresses rural disadvantage across Derbyshire through coordinated programs covering fuel poverty, food insecurity, digital exclusion, domestic abuse, and village hall support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersMatlock, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rural Action Derbyshire does
Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD) is a UK charitable company limited by guarantee (Company No. 3320404; Charity No. 1061531) founded in 1924 and headquartered at Matlock Town Hall in Derbyshire. The organization addresses rural disadvantage through a portfolio of approximately ten interconnected service programs: Digital Support Derbyshire (a county-wide digital inclusion network coordinating device referrals, digital champions, and skills training), the Oil Buying Scheme (community bulk purchasing of heating oil via preferred supplier Peak Energy), Feeding Derbyshire (a food insecurity coordination network), The Willow Project (rural domestic abuse awareness and training), the Village Halls & Community Buildings Affiliation Scheme, Rural Housing Enablement, Scams Awareness, and the Rural Hardship Fund.
RAD's beneficiary base is highly distributed: approximately 7,800 Derbyshire households rely on heating oil, over 250 village halls are served, and an estimated 2,500 voluntary trustees manage community buildings across the county. The organization's revenue model combines free RAD membership, a £50/year VHCB Affiliation Scheme for village halls, commissions from the Oil Buying Scheme and a Utility Aid energy broker partnership, donations and fundraising, and fees from training courses. Grant-funded delivery partnerships — notably the up-to-£311,000 Heating Fuel Fund with Derbyshire County Council — provide additional program-scale funding.
RAD's technology stack is entirely standard: WordPress CMS, Mailchimp email, Go Cardless and Stripe payments, Eventbrite for events, and a custom Oil Buying Scheme website developed by eSmartMetrics Ltd. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI capability. Leadership transitioned in January 2025, with Emma Simpson appointed CEO after a decade inside the organization, succeeding Beverley Parker.
Rural Action Derbyshire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rural Action Derbyshire
- Legal name
- Rural Action Derbyshire
- Website
- https://ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rural Action Derbyshire is a 1924-founded UK charity operating from Matlock that addresses rural disadvantage across Derbyshire through coordinated programs covering fuel poverty, food insecurity, digital exclusion, domestic abuse, and village hall support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rural Action Derbyshire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development and Rural Support Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)
Keywords
Where Rural Action Derbyshire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Matlock
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rural Action Derbyshire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Village Halls & Community Buildings Affiliation Scheme charges £50 per annum for membership, providing access to specialist advice, monthly newsletters, and discounts on training. RAD general membership is free.
- Oil Buying Scheme Commission: A small commission is included in the oil buying scheme pricing, which helps fund RAD's work with village and community halls. The scheme offers competitive member-only pricing through supplier Peak Energy.
- Energy Broker Partnership Commission: RAD receives a commission each time a village hall enters into an energy contract through the Utility Aid partnership, which helps fund RAD's work with village and community buildings.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations which go directly to support projects including the Oil Bank, Rural Hardship Fund, and various community support programs. One-off and regular direct debit donations are accepted.
- Training and Events: Revenue from training courses including Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness Training sessions, both for Derbyshire residents and non-residents. Conference fees for events like the Rural Domestic Abuse In The Workplace Conference.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free RAD Membership for individuals and organizations |
| Subscription | Annual | Village Halls & Community Buildings Affiliation Scheme membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Domestic Abuse Awareness Training - Derbyshire Residents |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Domestic Abuse Awareness Training - Non Derbyshire Residents |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rural Action Derbyshire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rural Action Derbyshire is a charity that delivers community-based services addressing rural disadvantage across Derbyshire. Core offerings include bulk-purchased heating oil via the Oil Buying Scheme, digital inclusion support through Digital Support Derbyshire, food insecurity coordination via Feeding Derbyshire, rural domestic abuse awareness and training through The Willow Project, specialist advisory support for village halls and community buildings, rural housing enablement, scams awareness, and emergency hardship funding.
Product overview
Rural Action Derbyshire operates as a community support organization offering multiple interconnected service programs addressing rural disadvantage across Derbyshire. The portfolio includes the Digital Support Derbyshire network (providing device referrals, digital champions, and inclusion resources), the Oil Buying Scheme (offering competitive bulk heating oil pricing through Peak Energy), the Feeding Derbyshire food support network, The Willow Project (rural domestic abuse awareness), Village Halls & Community Buildings Advisory Service (specialist support since 1924), Rural Housing Enablement, Scams Awareness, and the Rural Hardship Fund. Additional offerings include free RAD Membership with voting rights and a paid VHCB Affiliation Scheme for village halls. The organization partners with Utility Aid for energy brokering services and works with Derbyshire County Council on heating fuel assistance programs. Most services are provided free to end beneficiaries, with some membership programs generating organizational revenue.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Willow Project: A project focused on raising awareness of domestic abuse in rural communities, offering training and support services.
Products and services
- Digital Support Derbyshire
- Oil Buying Scheme
- Feeding Derbyshire
- The Willow Project
- Village Halls & Community Buildings Advisory Service
- Rural Housing Enablement
- Scams Awareness
- Rural Hardship Fund
- RAD Membership
- VHCB Affiliation Scheme
- Utility Aid Partnership
- Heating Fuel Fund Support
- Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness Training
Quantifiable outcome
- Over £7 million recouped for Utility Aid customers through invoice validation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rural Action Derbyshire
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Rural Action Derbyshire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rural Action Derbyshire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Derbyshire County CouncilcoreDCC is RAD's trusted delivery partner for the Heating Fuel Fund, providing up to £311,000 to help vulnerable rural households with heating oil and LPG costs. RAD supports enrollment of successful applicants and helps them join the Community Oil Buying Scheme.
- Peak EnergycoreLocal heating oil distributor based in Chesterfield, serving as the preferred supplier for RAD's Oil Buying Scheme. Peak Energy maintains deliveries even during market volatility and has committed to supporting the Heating Fuel Fund work.
- Utility AidcoreUK's leading energy broker for the charity and not-for-profit sector. Partnership offers RAD members and village halls access to exclusive rates, account management, and invoice validation services. RAD receives commission on energy contracts.
- PCrefurbcoreIT equipment refurbishment company based in Glossop, partnering with RAD on Digital Support Derbyshire. PCrefurb securely wipes data, tests, and refurbishes donated devices for distribution to digitally excluded individuals and community groups.
- Norris & FisherminorSpecialist insurance brokers providing coverage for village halls. They sponsor ACRE's advice and information service which supports volunteers managing rural community buildings.
- ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England)coreNational umbrella organization for Rural Community Councils. RAD subscribes to ACRE and accesses their advice sheets, model documents, and industry resources.
- Community Action DerbycorePartnership with Community Action Derby and Foundation Derbyshire to co-host the annual Celebration of Volunteers and Trustees event at Derby Cathedral.
- Foundation DerbyshirecorePartnership with Community Action Derby and Foundation Derbyshire to co-host the annual Celebration of Volunteers and Trustees event at Derby Cathedral.
- Feeding BritaincoreNational organization leading the campaign for expanded free school meals. RAD supports their policy work through Feeding Derbyshire network and has welcomed their reforms.
- Digital Support Derbyshire Network MemberscoreNetwork of digital inclusion projects and organizations across Derbyshire, coordinating efforts to address digital exclusion through device donations, skills training, and support.
- Feeding Derbyshire Network MemberscoreCounty-wide network of food projects and organizations coordinated by RAD, working together to address food insecurity across Derbyshire's communities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rural Action Derbyshire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Locality: National network supporting community-led organizations with advice, resources, and policy advocacy. Comparable membership-and-support model but with broader geographic and thematic scope than RAD.
- NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): Umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England. Operates far upstream of RAD but represents the same beneficiary ecosystem and shares the charity-sector advocacy and capacity-building role.
- Citizens Advice: Nationwide advice and advocacy charity covering consumer, debt, housing, and welfare issues. Overlaps with RAD's social support and hardship-fund work but operates at much larger scale and national scope.
Emerging players
- Centre for Sustainable Energy: Bristol-based charity working on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and community energy. Partial overlap with RAD's heating oil / fuel poverty work but focused on a different geography and energy sub-segment.
Direct peers
- Plunkett Foundation: National charity supporting rural community-owned businesses including village halls, shops, and pubs. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary base (rural community organizations).
- Community Action Derby: Derbyshire-based voluntary sector support organization that co-hosts events with RAD. Operates a similar community development, capacity-building, and partnership model within the same geography.
- ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England): National umbrella organization for Rural Community Councils, of which RAD is a member. ACRE provides the same village halls advisory, resources, and policy advocacy work at the national level, making it the closest structural equivalent.
- Groundwork UK: Federated network delivering community-based social and environmental regeneration across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Comparable as a multi-program community support charity with local delivery footprint.
- Rural Services Network: Membership organization advocating for and supporting the delivery of rural services across England. Directly comparable audience (rural community service providers and local authorities) with policy advocacy dimension.
Regional players
- Action Hampshire: Rural community council serving Hampshire with a comparable portfolio of village halls advisory, community development, and partnership delivery. Operates in a different geography but is structurally a near-direct peer to RAD.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rural Action Derbyshire social profiles
Digital presenceRural Action Derbyshire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rural Action Derbyshire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rural Action Derbyshire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rural Action Derbyshire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rural Action Derbyshire
What does Rural Action Derbyshire do?
Rural Action Derbyshire is a charity that delivers community-based services addressing rural disadvantage across Derbyshire. Core offerings include bulk-purchased heating oil via the Oil Buying Scheme, digital inclusion support through Digital Support Derbyshire, food insecurity coordination via Feeding Derbyshire, rural domestic abuse awareness and training through The Willow Project, specialist advisory support for village halls and community buildings, rural housing enablement, scams awareness, and emergency hardship funding.
Is Rural Action Derbyshire a public or private company?
Rural Action Derbyshire is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rural Action Derbyshire founded?
Rural Action Derbyshire was founded in 1924. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rural Action Derbyshire based?
Rural Action Derbyshire is headquartered in Matlock, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rural Action Derbyshire make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are oil Buying Scheme Commission, energy Broker Partnership Commission, donations and Fundraising and training and Events.
Who are Rural Action Derbyshire's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Locality, NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and Citizens Advice. Centre for Sustainable Energy is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Plunkett Foundation, Community Action Derby, ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England), Groundwork UK and Rural Services Network. Action Hampshire is listed as a regional player.
Does Rural Action Derbyshire have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rural Action Derbyshire.
What industry is Rural Action Derbyshire in?
Rural Action Derbyshire's product category is Community Development and Rural Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.