Community Action Redbridge

What Community Action Redbridge does

Community Action Redbridge is a registered charity (no. 1005075) and company limited by guarantee (no. 02569614) headquartered at Redbridge Institute, Gaysham Avenue, Ilford, in the London Borough of Redbridge. Founded in 1990 (formerly Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service) and rebranded in 2023, it operates as the borough's principal local infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, serving a network of more than 400 member organisations, individual volunteers, vulnerable residents referred via social prescribing, and young people aged 16-24. Its core programmes include a free membership scheme, a Matrix-accredited training programme, an online volunteering platform (volunteering.redbridgecvs.net), Connected Communities social prescribing with GP-referral pathways, Fit for Fun exercise classes, Redbridge Young Advisors, the NIHR-funded PANELS research project with the University of Hertfordshire, the MOPAC-funded Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board, and the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership (PaVSP).

The organisation's technology stack is modest and outsourced: Microsoft Azure cloud hosting under a Microsoft 365 subscription, with three managed databases — VolunteerPlus and AideCRM (both run by Pipe Media) for volunteer, member, and training data, and CiviCRM (run by Circle Interactive) for the sensitive social prescribing dataset, with restricted access controls. Its website is built on Webflow and integrated with an Aidemail newsletter subscription service. There is no proprietary AI, API layer, or integration marketplace; the digital footprint is functional rather than differentiated.

Community Action Redbridge is grant-dependent, with revenue drawn from Redbridge Council (e.g., Household Support Fund), the Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC), NHS North East London, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and modest transaction fees from paid training courses (£60–£200 depending on duration and sector). Membership and most training are free, creating a freemium-style demand generation model in which grant-funded programmes subsidise the member-facing infrastructure. The organisation employs 32 staff, is led by CEO Jenny Ellis, and is governed by a Board of Trustees currently chaired by Mita Desai, with Raymond Lau serving as Acting Chair in board documents.

Name

Community Action Redbridge

Legal name

Community Action Redbridge

Website

https://communityactionredbridge.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Action Redbridge is a registered charity and local infrastructure organisation serving the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the London Borough of Redbridge, delivering membership services, training, social prescribing, volunteering, youth programmes, and public sector partnerships to 400+ member organisations and thousands of residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• VCSE infrastructure support
• Community capacity building
• Volunteer matching services
• Social prescribing services
• Charity training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Community Action Redbridge offers free membership to VCSE organisations, charities, community groups, and other not-for-profit organisations based in or working for the benefit of Redbridge residents. Supporters (organisations outside Redbridge such as local authorities, NHS bodies, and funders) can also join the network for free.
2. Training course fees: The organisation charges fees for some training courses: £60 for public sector and £100 for private sector for courses under 4 hours; £120 for public sector and £200 for private sector for training of 4 hours or more. Free training is provided to member organisations.
3. Grant funding and public sector grants: As a registered charity, Community Action Redbridge receives funding from programme funders, Local Authority funding (e.g., Redbridge Council Household Support Fund), and grants from bodies such as the Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC), NIHR, and NHS North East London.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Action Redbridge is a registered charity that acts as the local infrastructure body for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in the London Borough of Redbridge. It delivers membership services, training, capacity-building support, networking forums, volunteer brokerage, and social prescribing services to local charities and residents. The organisation coordinates the local VCSE ecosystem on behalf of the borough and the NHS, connecting community groups with funders, commissioners, and the people they serve.

Product overview

Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure charity (formerly Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service) offering a suite of interconnected community support services. The core offering includes a free membership programme providing access to training, networking, funding support, and volunteering services. Key operational services include the Training Programme (Matrix-accredited), Volunteering Platform (with matching and event services), Connected Communities social prescribing service, Funding and Development Support, and a Legal Helpline (via Russell-Cooke partnership). The organisation also delivers targeted programmes including Fit for Fun (free exercise classes), Redbridge Young Advisors (youth leadership), and the PANELS Project (youth health participation research). Partnership initiatives include the Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board and Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership. All services are focused on strengthening the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Redbridge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connected Communities: Social prescribing service that connects people with community support to improve health and wellbeing
• Fit for Fun
• Redbridge Young Advisors
• PANELS Project
• Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board
• Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership (PaVSP)

Products and services

• VCSE Membership Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 residents engaged in health and wellbeing programmes in 2023-2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Pipe MediacoreTechnology or IntegrationPipe Media manages the VolunteerPlus database for volunteer information and the AideCRM database for member and training information. They hold data on their servers and provide technical infrastructure for the organisation's data management systems.
• Circle InteractivecoreTechnology or IntegrationCircle Interactive manages the CiviCRM database specifically for the Social Prescribing service. They hold sensitive health and social care data on their servers with restricted access to authorised staff.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCommunity Action Redbridge uses Microsoft's Azure cloud-based server as part of their Microsoft 365 subscription for hosting staff, payroll, and organisational data including Fit for Fun project data, health partnerships information, and community health monitoring data.
• Russell-Cooke SolicitorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussell-Cooke provides a free telephone helpline for Community Action Redbridge members. The helpline allows members to have short telephone conversations with legal professionals on issues relating to running a charity including governance, contracting, fundraising, employment, data protection, and safeguarding. The helpline is open 09.30 to 17.00 on working days.
• Bags of TastestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Action Redbridge partners with Bags of Taste to bring their award-winning free cooking course to Redbridge residents. Bags of Taste delivers ingredients for 3 recipes directly to participants' homes and provides cooking mentorship through WhatsApp or telephone groups over a 2-week course.
• Community Grocery IlfordsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the cooking programme initiative alongside Bags of Taste, offering Redbridge residents access to the healthy 2-week cooking programme.
• Redbridge InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Action Redbridge is based at Redbridge Institute and receives funding support for training programmes. Redbridge Institute provides accredited and non-accredited adult learning and is referenced as a referral partner for further learning opportunities. Redbridge Institute also participates in the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership.
• Redbridge CouncilstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedbridge Council distributes the Household Support Fund through Community Action Redbridge. The Council also partners through the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership (PaVSP) and other collaborative initiatives. Community Action Redbridge facilitates the Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board funded by MOPAC.
• NHS North East London (NEL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS North East London ICB participates in the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership and hosts the PANELS project for youth participation in health and care. Community Action Redbridge works with NHS partners on health inequalities initiatives.
• NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNELFT participates in the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership with Community Action Redbridge.
• Metropolitan Police ServicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan Police Service participates in the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership and is represented on the Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board.
• Redbridge Fire BrigadesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedbridge Fire Brigade participates in the Public and Voluntary Sector Partnership with Community Action Redbridge.
• University of HertfordshirestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PANELS (PArticipation of under-served young people in NE London health and wellbeing Services) project is co-led by Community Action Redbridge and the University of Hertfordshire, hosted by NHS North East London. The project aims to create lasting partnerships between young people and adults who work with them in North-East London.
• Young Advisors MovementstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Action Redbridge is part of the national Young Advisors Movement, working with a network of Young Advisors across the UK to influence change. Redbridge Young Advisors programme brings together local young people aged 16-24 to strengthen youth voice in borough policy and decision making.
• Redbridge Safeguarding Children PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers safeguarding training courses as part of Community Action Redbridge's training programme referral network.
• SuperhighwayssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charity supporting voluntary and community organisations with digital skills training, IT advice and systems support. Referenced as part of Community Action Redbridge's training programme referral network for further learning opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): National membership body that represents Local Infrastructure Organisations including Community Action Redbridge itself. Comparable as the umbrella body governing LIQA accreditation and sector standards referenced by the subject company.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): Largest umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England and Wales. Comparable as the national-level infrastructure organisation providing policy advocacy, training, and resources that complement borough-level CVS work.

Regional players

• Cripplegate Foundation: London-based grantmaking charity funding small charities and community projects, including hardship grants. Comparable to the Redbridge Giving and Small Sparks Fund elements of Community Action Redbridge's offering, although operating as a discrete grantmaker rather than service provider.
• Young Westminster Foundation: Westminster-based youth infrastructure charity funding and supporting youth organisations, with a remit that overlaps Community Action Redbridge's Young Advisors and youth leadership programmes in a different London borough.

Direct peers

• Locality: National membership and support body for community-led organisations, local CVSs, and social enterprises in England. Highly comparable as it provides infrastructure support, training, and advocacy for the same VCSE member-base that Community Action Redbridge serves at borough level.
• Hackney Council for Voluntary Service: London borough-level CVS providing membership, training, volunteering, and social prescribing support to VCSE organisations in Hackney. Closely analogous operating model and service mix to Community Action Redbridge in a neighbouring London borough.
• Brent CVS: Membership-based voluntary sector support organisation serving Brent, another diverse London borough. Offers analogous services including training, volunteer matching, and member support.
• Tower Hamlets CVS: Local infrastructure charity for the voluntary sector in Tower Hamlets offering training, volunteering, funding advice, and member networking. Comparable in scale, scope, and London borough context.
• Volunteer Centre UK: National network of volunteer centres running Volunteer Centres that match volunteers to opportunities. Community Action Redbridge operates a similar volunteer matching function via volunteering.redbridgecvs.net as part of this wider network.

Others

• Superhighways: London charity providing digital skills training, IT advice, and systems support to voluntary and community organisations. Directly comparable support service, and explicitly named as a referral partner by Community Action Redbridge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CA_Redbridge
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityActionRedbridge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityactionredbridge
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityactionredbridge

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 Community Action Redbridge