Waltham Forest Community Hub

What Waltham Forest Community Hub does

Waltham Forest Community Hub Ltd (Charity No. 1118523, Company No. 5642169) is a UK registered charity and company limited by guarantee, founded in 2009 and operating exclusively within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The organisation began as the Asian Youth Leadership Project in partnership with ASRA (UK), was renamed The Village Youth Club in 2011, and progressively broadened its remit into a multi-service community hub. Its primary beneficiaries are young people aged 11-19 (NEET and at-risk youth), senior citizens experiencing isolation, residents facing housing difficulties or homelessness risk, and isolated community members more broadly.

WFCH delivers five core services from a 19th-century locally listed former school building at 18A Orford Road, Walthamstow, supplemented by satellite locations at Priory Court, Aldriche Way, and Salisbury Hall Playing Fields. Service lines comprise Youth Services (youth clubs three evenings per week, Future Creators Programme, Community Football, mentoring, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Youth Advisory Board), Health and Wellbeing activities (Seniors' Club, chair exercises, knitting group, village walks, coffee mornings), Housing Advice (free legal advice delivered with Hackney Community Law Centre), Employability Support (in partnership with Aston Group), and Venue Hire (a 140-capacity hall for community groups, charities, and private events including weddings). The technology footprint is modest: a Wix-based website with PayPal donation integration and social media channels for community engagement; there is no proprietary software product, no API, and no AI/ML capability.

The revenue model is a diversified charity mix combining institutional grants (Trust for London, National Lottery Community Fund, DCMS, BBC Children in Need, London Youth), individual and corporate donations (including the Co-op Local Community Fund), venue hire (with a 20% charity discount), Seniors' Club membership (£10/year plus £4 lunch and £2 activity fees), and shop merchandise including the "Legacy of Kindness Publication" at £10. Distribution is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, local authority partnerships (LBWF Violence Reduction Team, Housing Engagement Team, Space4all), the office of Stella Creasy MP, Met Police Youth Engagement, and grassroots community events.

Name

Waltham Forest Community Hub

Legal name

Waltham Forest Community Hub Ltd

Website

https://wfchub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waltham Forest Community Hub is a UK registered charity operating in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, delivering youth services, senior social activities, free housing legal advice, employability support, and venue hire from a 19th-century listed building to vulnerable residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Youth services
• Housing advice
• Wellbeing programs
• Charitable services

Headquarters

HQ city

Walthamstow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, local businesses, and residents. Donations support services for vulnerable young people and senior citizens, including one-to-one support, youth provisions, employability support, housing advice, senior lunch club, and health and wellbeing activities.
2. Venue Hire: The organization generates revenue by hiring out its 19th-century locally listed building for community activities (Monday-Friday daytime and some evenings), private events including weddings, and one-off weekend bookings. A 20% discount is offered to registered charities and voluntary organizations.
3. Shop Sales: Sale of merchandise including the 'Legacy of Kindness Publication' at £10 per item. Proceeds support the charity's community work.
4. Seniors Club Membership: Annual membership fee of £10 plus additional charges for lunch (£4) and tea/coffee/entertainment (£2) at the weekly Seniors Club sessions.
5. Grant Funding: Funding from charitable trusts including Trust for London (Housing Advice Service), National Lottery Community Fund, DCMS, and BBC Children in Need for various youth and community programs.
6. Co-op Local Community Fund: Part of the Co-op UK Local Community Fund where Co-op members can select the organization as their cause, with funds supporting youth employability and family support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Waltham Forest Community Hub is a registered charity delivering community-based services to residents of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Its core offerings include Youth Services (open-access youth clubs, mentoring, employability support, and creative programmes for ages 11–19), Health and Wellbeing Services (Seniors' Club, chair exercises, knitting group, community walks, and coffee mornings), a free Housing Advice Service delivered in partnership with Hackney Community Law Centre, Employability Support, and Venue Hire of its 19th-century listed building for community and private events.

Product overview

Waltham Forest Community Hub is a registered charity operating as a single unified service providing community development and support. The organization offers five interconnected core services: Youth Services (for ages 11-19 including youth clubs, Future Creators Programme, Community Football, and Youth Advisory Board), Health and Wellbeing Services (including Seniors' Club, Chair Exercises, Knitting Group, and Community Coffee Morning), Housing Advice Service (free legal housing advice in partnership with Hackney Community Law Centre), Employability Support (career guidance and job preparation), and Venue Hire (community hall available for events and weddings). The services are designed to support vulnerable young people and senior citizens across the Waltham Forest borough.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Volunteering Link: A new five-year project that brings together volunteering opportunities across Waltham Forest Community Hub, Healthwatch Waltham Forest and Carers First under one coordinated programme.

Products and services

• Youth Services Open-access youth programmes for young people aged 11–19 in Waltham Forest, including weekly youth clubs at three locations (main Hub, Priory Court, Aldriche Way), Friday community football at Salisbury Hall, one-to-one mentoring, volunteering and social action projects, the Future Creators Programme, Youth Advisory Board, and engagement with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Designed for at-risk, NEET, and disengaged young people seeking employability skills, creative development, and positive role models.
• Health and Wellbeing Services Free or low-cost drop-in health and wellbeing activities for adults experiencing isolation, including the Seniors' Club (with £10 annual membership, £4 lunch, £2 tea/coffee/entertainment per session), Over 50's Chair Exercises, Knitting Group, Community Coffee Morning, and Walthamstow Village Walk. Targeted at isolated older residents and other community members seeking social connection and gentle physical activity.
• Housing Advice Service Free legal housing advice service operating three days a week (Tuesday–Thursday) for 48 weeks of the year, delivered in partnership with Hackney Community Law Centre and supported by Trust for London. Provides advice on homelessness prevention, private rented sector issues, and housing rights to Waltham Forest residents at risk of homelessness or facing housing difficulties. Fills a critical borough gap given the absence of a Law Centre in Waltham Forest.
• Venue Hire Hire of the Hub's 19th-century locally listed hall (20 metres by 10 metres, capacity 140) for community activities on Monday–Friday daytime and some evenings, and for private events including weddings on weekends. A 20% discount is offered to registered charities and voluntary organisations; revenue supports the charity's community work.
• Employability Support Employability support for community members seeking work, including CV enhancement, interview preparation, and personalised career guidance delivered in partnership with Aston Group (contact: Rachel Statter). Aimed at job seekers in the Waltham Forest borough, particularly young people and vulnerable residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 households served with housing advice since October 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor.

• Hackney Community Law CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2021Partnership to provide free legal housing advice for residents of Waltham Forest borough. Solicitors from Hackney Community Law Centre work alongside the Housing Advice Coordinator at the Community Hub, serving as the legal expertise in this collaboration to prevent homelessness and make legal support accessible.
• Aston GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide personalized employability guidance and practical tips. Aston Group provides a contact (Rachel Statter) for scheduling appointments. Over six years, the partnership has delivered wellbeing groups, one-to-one employability support, youth club contributions, and community events.
• LBWF Violence Reduction TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partnership supporting youth engagement activities and violence reduction initiatives within the community.
• LBWF Housing Engagement TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Local Authority housing team supporting housing advice services and community engagement initiatives.
• LBWF Space4all Youth GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local authority youth initiative supporting space4all youth programming.
• Met Police Youth Engagement TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Metropolitan Police to engage young people through football matches and youth development activities, building positive relationships between youth and police.
• Countryside PropertiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership supporting youth service activities and community programs.
• St Mary's ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal faith-based partnership supporting youth activities and community events.
• Clarion HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association partnership supporting youth services and community initiatives.
• Morgan SindallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction and infrastructure company partnership supporting youth employment opportunities.
• SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing additional expertise and support for the Housing Advice Service, helping residents access legal rights and housing support.
• London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partnership providing youth workers support and partnership work, particularly in the early years of the youth club. Collaboration with various LBWF teams including Violence Reduction Team and Housing Engagement Team.
• Leyton Sixth Form CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership delivering the Duke of Edinburgh Award program, with students participating in practice expeditions.
• Co-op UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through the Co-op Local Community Fund, where Co-op members can select Waltham Forest Community Hub as their cause, with funds supporting youth employability and family support programs.
• Stella Creasy MPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal MP providing backing and support for the Housing Advice Service. MP's office was receiving over 900 housing-related queries annually before the service launched, and Senior Caseworker Ashley Harmon spearheaded initial research and empowered the organization to take the lead.
• v17 WalthamstowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization partnership supporting youth activities including Tube Tunes trip to Kew Gardens.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Centrepoint: Large national youth homelessness charity providing housing, advice and employability support to young people — overlapping target beneficiary group and service categories, but operating at national scale.
• St Giles Trust: Larger UK charity supporting disadvantaged young people and families via advice, employability and youth services — broader footprint but overlapping programme mix with WFCH's youth and employability work.
• Locality: National membership body supporting community organisations and centres across England — comparable as a peer/incumbent in the community-centre operating model, with shared funders and beneficiary base.

Direct peers

• St Luke's Community Centre: Islington-based community centre providing integrated youth, older-people and advice services with venue hire — closely comparable operating model, scale and borough-level multi-service delivery.
• Hackney Community Law Centre: Core operational partner of WFCH's Housing Advice Service, providing the legal expertise underpinning the borough's free housing advice. Direct operational dependency and shared beneficiary base.
• The Brandon Centre: North London charity delivering youth counselling, mental health and wellbeing services for adolescents — directly comparable youth-segment focus and borough-level community delivery footprint.
• Groundwork London: Federated charity operating community hubs across London delivering youth programmes, wellbeing activities, employability support and community engagement — highly comparable multi-service, place-based delivery model.
• Toynbee Hall: Historic East London community centre offering multi-service programmes (advice, youth, older people, arts) from a heritage building — directly comparable to WFCH's model of a listed building hosting integrated community services.
• Castlehaven Community Association: North London community hub providing youth clubs, seniors activities, advice services and venue hire from a community centre — directly comparable service mix and borough-level community hub model.

Regional players

• Mind in Waltham Forest: Local mental-health charity operating in the same London Borough of Waltham Forest, overlapping on health and wellbeing activities and isolation-reduction programmes for the same resident population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wfchub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuyRxhNw9oPcBQE7c9V9W6g
• Facebookfacebook.com/WalthamForestCommunityHub
• Instagraminstagram.com/wfcommhub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waltham-forest-community-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Waltham Forest Community Hub