Vine Trust
Vine Trust is a Scottish non-profit that connects medical, construction, and school volunteers with expedition programmes delivering primary healthcare and housing to communities in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru. Operating four medical ships, the charity has facilitated over 2.79 million consultations and built 164 homes since 1985.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vine Trust does
Vine Trust is a Scottish-registered charity (SC017386) and company limited by guarantee (SC268073), founded in December 1985 and headquartered at the Vine Trust Barge in Prince of Wales Dock, Leith, Edinburgh. The organization connects volunteers with medical, construction, and school expeditions that deliver primary healthcare, housing, and educational support to communities living in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru. Its operational portfolio centres on two flagship medical ship programmes — the Amazon Hope Medical Programme on the Peruvian Amazon (launched 2001) and the Jubilee Hope Medical Programme on Lake Victoria, Tanzania (also launched 2001) — supported by home-building expeditions in partnership with TAWREF, school expeditions, and the Kazunzu Village of Hope development, a 50-acre Lake Victoria complex providing housing, schooling, agriculture, vocational training, and healthcare to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Since inception, Vine Trust has facilitated over 2.79 million medical and dental consultations, constructed 164 homes for vulnerable families, and engaged more than 4,358 volunteers, with the Amazon Hope programme alone delivering approximately 200,000 primary healthcare consultations annually across 160+ communities in Peru's Loreto region. The charity operates under the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal.
Technology is concentrated on the Forth Hope medical ship in the Peruvian Amazon, which in 2025 became the first itinerant healthcare service in the region to deploy an electronic medical record (EMR) system, enabling longitudinal patient tracking, improved diagnosis, and data analysis, alongside a newly acquired 4D ultrasound machine with colour imaging capabilities. These investments have supported academic collaboration, including a 2025 publication with Universidad Científica del Sur (Lima) in the International Journal of Dental Sciences.
Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model spanning one-time and recurring donations (with suggested tiers from £20 to £500+), volunteer-paid expedition fees of approximately £3,000 per participant covering flights, accommodation, food, in-country transport, and programme materials, merchandise sales (calendars, gift aid cards, notelets), and legacy giving through bequests. Fundraising is distributed across the General Fund and three programme-specific funds (Amazon Hope, Jubilee Hope, and Kazunzu Village of Hope), with no platform fees deducted from volunteer-raised donations. Customer acquisition relies on volunteer testimonials, word-of-mouth within school and church networks, content marketing via the website and Connections newsletter, and structured expedition recruitment rather than paid channels.
Vine Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vine Trust
- Legal name
- The Vine Trust
- Website
- https://vinetrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vine Trust is a Scottish non-profit that connects medical, construction, and school volunteers with expedition programmes delivering primary healthcare and housing to communities in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru. Operating four medical ships, the charity has facilitated over 2.79 million consultations and built 164 homes since 1985.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vine Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development and Humanitarian Aid
- NAICS
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF)
Keywords
Where Vine Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vine Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Vine Trust receives one-time and recurring donations from individuals, organizations, and community groups. Donors can give to specific programs (Amazon Hope Medical Programme, Jubilee Hope Medical Programme, Kazunzu Village of Hope) or to the general fund where the need is greatest.
- Expedition Fees: Volunteers pay expedition costs including international flights, accommodation, food, in-country transport, and a contribution towards construction materials or medical programme supplies. Costs typically range around £3,000 per participant.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling calendars, gift aid cards, and notelets. Products support specific programmes and generate additional revenue for operations.
- Legacy Giving: Individuals can include Vine Trust in their wills, providing planned giving opportunities that support long-term sustainability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time or Monthly | General donation options |
| Other | One-time | Gift Aid Cards |
| Other | One-time | Calendars |
| Other | One-time | Expedition participation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Vine Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vine Trust enables volunteers to empower communities living in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru through three core programmes: medical expeditions aboard four medical ships delivering primary healthcare to remote riverine and island communities, home-building expeditions constructing safe housing for vulnerable families, and school expeditions offering cultural exchange and sustainable development engagement. The charity also operates Kazunzu Village of Hope, a 50-acre site providing housing, education, and vocational training for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Product overview
Vine Trust operates as a charitable organization with multiple interconnected programmes focused on international development in Tanzania and Peru. The core portfolio consists of two medical ship programmes (Amazon Hope in Peru and Jubilee Hope in Tanzania) that deliver primary healthcare to isolated communities, alongside building and school expedition volunteer programmes that construct homes and support education. The organization also maintains a fundraising platform and online store for supporter engagement, and manages Kazunzu Village of Hope, a comprehensive village development project for orphaned children. The programmes are unified by their mission to enable volunteers to empower communities living in severe poverty through sustainable development partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Amazon Hope Medical Programme: Medical programme providing primary healthcare services to remote communities along the Amazon River in Peru via medical ships.
- Jubilee Hope Medical Programme
- Kazunzu Village of Hope
Products and services
- Amazon Hope Medical Programme Medical ship programme bringing primary healthcare services to remote communities along the Amazon River in Peru, delivered in partnership with local clinicians. The programme provides medical and dental consultations and serves over 160 vulnerable communities in the Loreto region, reaching approximately 200,000 consultations per year.
- Jubilee Hope Medical Programme Medical programme providing treatment to poverty-stricken communities living on the islands and shore of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Operates as an official HIV testing and treatment centre, serving approximately 55,000 patients annually.
- Kazunzu Village of Hope Construction and development project on 50 acres of land west of Mwanza on the shore of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Provides housing, school, agriculture, vocational training, and a health post for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
- Medical Expeditions Volunteer opportunities for medical and dental professionals aboard medical ships on the Peruvian Amazon or Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Volunteers provide healthcare and health education to communities living in severe poverty, with expedition costs approximately £3,000 per participant.
- Home-Building Expeditions Volunteer programmes enabling communities in Tanzania to build homes for vulnerable children and families, providing shelter, security and hope for those living in extreme poverty. Operates in partnership with TAWREF and local builders, with 164 homes built to date.
- School Expeditions Educational expeditions for secondary school students to Tanzania or Peru that engage with sustainable development practices, helping provide care and shelter to vulnerable families while building cultural exchange and personal development.
- Fundraising Pages Platform Online fundraising platform allowing volunteers and supporters to create personal fundraising pages to support expedition costs or programmes. Unlike other major fundraising platforms, no processing fees are passed on to fundraisers, meaning 100% of donations go to the chosen cause.
- Vine Trust Online Store E-commerce platform selling calendars, gift aid cards, and notelets that support the ongoing charitable work and development of Vine Trust programmes. Includes product sub-lines such as Gift Aid Cards (£5-£60), Vine Trust Calendars, and Notelets featuring volunteer expedition photography.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,790,335+ medical and dental consultations delivered
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vine Trust
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Vine Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Vine Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Universidad Científica del Sur (Lima)minorAcademic collaboration with Universidad Científica del Sur for research on dental services in the Peruvian Amazon. Research findings were published in the International Journal of Dental Sciences in 2025, demonstrating programme effectiveness and building academic credibility.
- TAWREF (Tanzania Women Research Foundation)coreLong-standing partnership with TAWREF for the construction of family homes in the Moshi/Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Over 153 family homes have been built through this partnership, providing safe housing for vulnerable women and children. The partnership operates with TAWREF managing local construction and community relationships.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vine Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ReSurge International: ReSurge International sends medical professional volunteers on surgical expeditions to low-income countries. It mirrors Vine Trust's medical-expedition model of mobilising qualified healthcare volunteers to deliver care in underserved regions.
- Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad organises fee-paying volunteer placements including medical, construction, and community projects across the developing world. Its fee-based volunteer expedition model targeting individuals and school groups directly parallels Vine Trust's expedition fee structure (~£3,000/volunteer).
- BuildOn: BuildOn mobilises volunteers (including students) to construct schools in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Its model of paid youth volunteer expeditions driving community-built infrastructure is closely comparable to Vine Trust's school expedition programme.
- Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates the world's largest civilian hospital ship fleet delivering free medical care in sub-Saharan Africa. Like Vine Trust, it combines ship-based healthcare delivery with volunteer recruitment and donation-driven funding in low-income regions.
- Raleigh International: Raleigh International runs youth volunteer expeditions focused on community development, infrastructure, and conservation in developing countries. Its model of paid volunteer expeditions driving development outcomes closely resembles Vine Trust's school and building expeditions.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity mobilises volunteers to build homes for vulnerable families in developing countries, including Tanzania where Vine Trust also operates via TAWREF. Its volunteer-build expedition model and donor-funded home construction directly parallel Vine Trust's building expedition programme.
Broad incumbents
- International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps delivers emergency healthcare and medical training in conflict and disaster settings worldwide. It shares Vine Trust's blend of volunteer-driven medical service delivery, primary care focus, and reliance on donations and grants for programme funding.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF is the largest global medical humanitarian organisation delivering emergency healthcare in crisis settings. While Vine Trust operates at a smaller scale and focuses on chronic access gaps rather than acute emergencies, both deliver primary healthcare to underserved populations via donor-supported operations.
- Partners in Health: Partners in Health operates long-term, partnership-based healthcare delivery in resource-poor settings. It shares Vine Trust's emphasis on local partnerships and chronic disease care (including HIV) in places like Peru-adjacent Latin America and East Africa.
- Project HOPE: Project HOPE is a global health NGO that deploys medical volunteers and operates health programmes in low-income countries. Its combination of volunteer mobilisation, long-running country programmes, and donation-driven funding mirrors Vine Trust's operating model at greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vine Trust social profiles
Digital presenceVine Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vine Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vine Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vine Trust 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 Vine Trust
What does Vine Trust do?
Vine Trust enables volunteers to empower communities living in severe poverty in Tanzania and Peru through three core programmes: medical expeditions aboard four medical ships delivering primary healthcare to remote riverine and island communities, home-building expeditions constructing safe housing for vulnerable families, and school expeditions offering cultural exchange and sustainable development engagement. The charity also operates Kazunzu Village of Hope, a 50-acre site providing housing, education, and vocational training for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Is Vine Trust a public or private company?
Vine Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vine Trust founded?
Vine Trust was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vine Trust based?
Vine Trust is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Vine Trust make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are expedition Fees, merchandise Sales and legacy Giving.
Who are Vine Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ReSurge International, Projects Abroad, BuildOn, Mercy Ships, Raleigh International and Habitat for Humanity International. Broad incumbents are International Medical Corps, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Partners in Health and Project HOPE.
Does Vine Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vine Trust.
What industry is Vine Trust in?
Vine Trust's product category is International Development and Humanitarian Aid. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAKAD, International & Local Implementing NGOs, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.