VCS Emergencies Partnership
VCS Emergencies Partnership is a UK non-profit network founded in 2018 and hosted by the British Red Cross, coordinating emergency preparedness and response across 500+ voluntary, community, and public sector organisations in England through shared learning, trusted connections, and capability-building services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VCS Emergencies Partnership does
VCS Emergencies Partnership is a UK-registered non-profit coordination network founded in 2018 and hosted by the British Red Cross at 44 Moorfields, London. It connects over 500 voluntary, community, and public sector organisations across England to enable more coordinated preparedness, response, and recovery during emergencies, operating around three strategic pillars: sharing learning and insight, building trusted connections, and enhancing skills and capability. The partnership is co-chaired by NAVCA (represented by CEO Maddy Desforges OBE) and the British Red Cross (represented by Executive Director UK Lisa Hollins), with a core team of nine employees supplemented by a secondment-based operating model (e.g., the Insight Lead role seconded from Communities 1st).
The organisation runs no proprietary technology stack. Its core product is the partnership network itself, supplemented by a free Resource Hub of preparedness guides, a structured online Events Programme (Network Calls, Capability Building Events, Partnership in Practice sessions), a Train the Trainer exercising programme, a Mental Health Network sub-brand, and a London-focused regional sub-partnership called the London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP), co-directed with London Plus. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-partner via the vcsep.org.uk website, monthly email bulletins, LinkedIn, and free online events. Underlying tools are standard collaboration platforms, including Slack channels spun up for live incident coordination (e.g., during the 2024 riots).
VCSEP generates no commercial revenue. The partnership is free to join with no membership fees, and its only disclosed revenue stream is a government grant from the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which was materially expanded in 2020 to fund COVID-19 response infrastructure including a dedicated partnership team, multi-agency cells across England, and a National Volunteering Coordination Cell. Hosting functions (IT, HR, systems) are absorbed by the British Red Cross, and the partnership has no venture capital or external equity ownership structure.
VCS Emergencies Partnership firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VCS Emergencies Partnership
- Legal name
- Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership
- Website
- https://vcsep.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- VCS Emergencies Partnership is a UK non-profit network founded in 2018 and hosted by the British Red Cross, coordinating emergency preparedness and response across 500+ voluntary, community, and public sector organisations in England through shared learning, trusted connections, and capability-building services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VCS Emergencies Partnership industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Emergency Coordination Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disaster Response Coordination & Incident Command (EOC/ICS) (HLAJAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK), Emergency Management & Disaster Response (EOC, Civil Defense) (BPAIAGAE), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)
Keywords
Where VCS Emergencies Partnership is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
VCS Emergencies Partnership business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: The Emergencies Partnership receives significant funding from the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This funding supports the dedicated partnership team and operational activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
VCS Emergencies Partnership product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The VCS Emergencies Partnership operates a network-based coordination service connecting over 500 voluntary, community, and public sector organisations across England to enable coordinated emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Its offering centres on three strategic pillars: sharing learning and insight, building trusted connections, and enhancing skills and capability through training, scenario exercises, and events. Core deliverables include the coordination network, a Resource Hub of preparedness materials, an Events Programme, a Mental Health Network, a Train the Trainer programme, and a regional London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP).
Product overview
The VCS Emergencies Partnership is a network-based coordination service rather than a traditional software product. It operates as a 'network of networks' connecting over 500 voluntary, community, and public sector organisations across England to deliver coordinated emergency response. The core offering consists of the Partnership Network itself, supplemented by the regional London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP), a Resource Hub containing preparedness materials, an Events Programme with Network Calls and Capability Building sessions, a Train the Trainer exercising programme, a Mental Health Network, and a monthly Bulletin newsletter. These services work together to enable connection, coordination, and learning during all stages of the emergency cycle.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mental Health Network: Network focused on mental health support throughout the emergency cycle
- London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP)
- EP: LIVE
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported coordination of response to multiple major emergencies including COVID-19, Afghanistan evacuation, Ukraine conflict support, Cost-of-Living crisis, and extreme weather events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use VCS Emergencies Partnership
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VCS Emergencies Partnership technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
VCS Emergencies Partnership partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.
- Neighbourly LabnotableResearch and innovation organisation that co-authored the 'Riots to Resilience' report with the VCS Emergencies Partnership, documenting lessons from the August 2024 racist and Islamophobic riots.
- British Red CrosscoreThe British Red Cross hosts the VCS Emergencies Partnership, providing IT, HR, and systems support. British Red Cross executive director Lisa Hollins serves as co-chair of the partnership alongside NAVCA's CEO. The Red Cross is a key operational partner providing direct emergency response services and community resilience programmes.
- National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)coreNAVCA, through its CEO Maddy Desforges OBE, co-chairs the VCS Emergencies Partnership alongside the British Red Cross. NAVCA represents local infrastructure organisations across the voluntary and community sector.
- London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP)coreA regional sub-partnership focused on London, co-directed with London Plus. Supports organisations across London before, during and after emergencies, including charities, community groups, and faith and equality organisations.
- Local Resilience Forums (LRFs)notableRegional multi-agency partnerships that the VCS Emergencies Partnership connects with to facilitate voluntary sector engagement in emergency preparedness and response across England.
- Horizon ResiliencenotableTraining partner collaborating with the VCS Emergencies Partnership on Crisis Fundamentals Training sessions, providing crisis management expertise from UK government experience.
- Protection ApproachesnotableSocial cohesion specialist organisation collaborating on Active Bystander Training to help community organisations address identity-based harms.
- The Young FoundationnotableResearch organisation whose 'Community not Catastrophe' report the VCS Emergencies Partnership supported and promoted, focusing on civil society's role in emergency preparedness.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VCS Emergencies Partnership competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VCS Emergencies Partnership social profiles
Digital presenceVCS Emergencies Partnership financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VCS Emergencies Partnership leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
VCS Emergencies Partnership funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VCS Emergencies Partnership 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 VCS Emergencies Partnership
What does VCS Emergencies Partnership do?
The VCS Emergencies Partnership operates a network-based coordination service connecting over 500 voluntary, community, and public sector organisations across England to enable coordinated emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Its offering centres on three strategic pillars: sharing learning and insight, building trusted connections, and enhancing skills and capability through training, scenario exercises, and events. Core deliverables include the coordination network, a Resource Hub of preparedness materials, an Events Programme, a Mental Health Network, a Train the Trainer programme, and a regional London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP).
Is VCS Emergencies Partnership a public or private company?
VCS Emergencies Partnership is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was VCS Emergencies Partnership founded?
VCS Emergencies Partnership was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is VCS Emergencies Partnership based?
VCS Emergencies Partnership is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does VCS Emergencies Partnership make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Does VCS Emergencies Partnership have an API?
No public API is recorded for VCS Emergencies Partnership.
What industry is VCS Emergencies Partnership in?
VCS Emergencies Partnership's product category is Emergency Coordination Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAGAB, Disaster Response Coordination & Incident Command (EOC/ICS), with a secondary code of BPAGAAAK, Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs. Its NAICS code is 62423 and its SIC code is 8300.