Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency

What Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency does

Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) is a registered charity (no. 1135959) and company limited by guarantee (no. 02720382) established in 1984–85 and headquartered at The Palace Hub in Redcar, North Yorkshire. The organisation serves as the designated infrastructure body for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector across Redcar and Cleveland, providing free advisory and operational support to more than 500 local voluntary and community groups. Its core offering spans governance advice, funding-bid support, volunteer recruitment and matching, organisational setup guidance, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check processing for the local sector. RCVDA employs between 11 and 50 staff under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Peter Neal.

RCVDA's product portfolio combines community-infrastructure services with several operational programmes. The community resources include Redcar Fundseekers (a free online funding opportunities directory), the Redcar & Cleveland Community Lottery (operated in partnership with Gatherwell), and a Community-led Research platform. Operational projects include Wheels 2 Work (an affordable electric motorbike and e-cycle hire scheme for Tees Valley residents facing transport barriers), Building Our Future (a Dogger Bank Wind Farm-funded STEM careers programme targeting 44 primary schools), LARCH (a place-based consortium strengthening the local charity and social-enterprise economy), LEAP (a health, community and employment support programme), and Tees Valley: Move Forward (flexible employment support). In June 2025, RCVDA co-founded Tees Valley Community-led Transport Ltd with Tees Valley Rural Action to develop sustainable community transport solutions.

The organisation is funded primarily through grants from public bodies — notably Tees Valley Combined Authority — and private-foundation partners such as Dogger Bank Wind Farm, supplemented by transaction revenue from the Community Lottery and donations via LocalGiving. All advisory services are provided free of charge to the VCFSE sector, with no service fees charged to beneficiary organisations. Distribution is achieved through the headquarters office, online self-serve platforms, in-person drop-in sessions, peer support groups, and a network of regional delivery partnerships. RCVDA has no public API, no documented AI capabilities, and no proprietary technology stack beyond standard web platforms supporting its directory, lottery, and research initiatives.

Name

Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency

Legal name

Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency

Website

https://rcvda.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RCVDA is a registered charity providing free governance, funding, and volunteer support to 500+ voluntary and community groups across Redcar and Cleveland, while delivering operational programmes including Wheels 2 Work transport hire, STEM careers education, and a regional volunteering consortium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Support

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Voluntary sector support
• Community development services
• Funding directory
• Volunteer coordination
• Charity advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Redcar

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: RCVDA operates as a registered charity funded primarily through grants from government bodies, local authorities, and funding bodies such as Tees Valley Combined Authority, Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and various charitable foundations
2. Community Lottery: Revenue generated through the Redcar & Cleveland Community Lottery which raises funds for local good causes including RCVDA
3. Free Support Services: Free support services provided to the local VCFSE sector, funded through external grants rather than service fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RCVDA provides free infrastructure support to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations across Redcar and Cleveland, offering governance advice, funding brokering and bid support, volunteer recruitment and matching, DBS check processing, and direct delivery of community projects such as Wheels 2 Work (electric transport hire) and Building Our Future (primary-school STEM careers programme). Complementary community resources include the Redcar Fundseekers funding directory, the Redcar & Cleveland Community Lottery, and a Community-led Research platform, all delivered from its Redcar headquarters and regional partners.

Product overview

RCVDA provides a portfolio of support services, projects, and community resources for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Redcar and Cleveland. The core services include advice and support for governance, funding, and volunteering coordination. Key projects include Wheels 2 Work (electric transport hire), Building Our Future (STEM careers programme), LARCH (place-based charity support), LEAP (employment support), and Tees Valley Volunteering Consortium. RCVDA also delivers community resources including Redcar Fundseekers (funding directory), Community Lottery, and Community-led Research. The organization operates as a voluntary development agency, not a technology product company, and has no public API or documented AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advice and Support Services Free practical help with governance, funding applications, volunteer recruitment, and organisational setup for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations of every size in Redcar and Cleveland.
• Redcar Fundseekers Free online directory of funding opportunities for charities and community groups in Redcar and Cleveland, providing access to local, regional and national grant information and bid-planning tools.
• Redcar & Cleveland Community Lottery Community lottery platform raising funds for local good causes, including RCVDA, operated in partnership with Gatherwell.
• Community-led Research Community-led research initiative that helps shape better local decisions, services and support through evidence produced with and for local communities.
• DBS Checks Service RCVDA processes all types of applications under the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for the voluntary sector in Redcar and Cleveland.
• Wheels 2 Work Affordable electric transport scheme providing hire of Super Soco CPx electric motorbikes and Raleigh e-cycles with Bosch systems to help Tees Valley residents overcome transport barriers to access employment, training or education.
• Building Our Future STEM-focused careers-related learning programme for primary school pupils in Redcar and Cleveland, funded by Dogger Bank Wind Farm, giving pupils opportunities to meet and work with local employers while learning essential employability skills. Designed for 44 primary schools across the region.
• LARCH (Local Access Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool) Place-based approach to working with charities and social enterprises to tackle local issues, strengthen communities, and contribute to resilient and inclusive local economies, involving Access Foundation, Big Society Capital, Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland Councils, Tees Valley Community Foundation, The Key Fund, and VONNE.
• LEAP (Lifelong Employment Achievement Productivity) Programme supporting individuals to improve their health, become active in the community, improve their finances and move into training, education or work, delivered with Citizens Advice, Humankind, Tandem, Tees Valley Employability Partnership, and The National Lottery Community Fund.
• Tees Valley Volunteering Consortium Consortium creating spaces for VCSEs, authorities, funders and the private sector to access and share funding, skills, knowledge and information-management needs across the Tees Valley.
• Tees Valley: Move Forward Flexible support scheme helping people into employment across the Tees Valley.
• Tees Valley Community-led Transport Ltd Non-profit company established by RCVDA and TVRA to support communities and co-create sustainable community transport solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ voluntary and community groups supported
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tees Valley Rural Action (TVRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCVDA and TVRA co-founded Tees Valley Community-led Transport Ltd, a non-profit company to support communities and co-create sustainable community transport solutions.
• LARCH (Local Access Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLARCH is a place-based approach to working with charities and social enterprises who are vital in helping tackle local issues, strengthening communities, whilst contributing to resilient and inclusive local economies. Partners include Access - The Foundation for Social Investment, Big Society Capital, Hartlepool Borough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Tees Valley Community Foundation, The Key Fund, and VONNE.
• Tees Valley Volunteering ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium creating spaces for VCSEs, authorities, funders and private sector to access and share funding, skills, knowledge and information management needs.
• LEAP (Lifelong Employment Achievement Productivity)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAP supports individuals to improve their health, become active in the community, improve their finances and move into training, education or work. Partners include Citizens Advice, Humankind, Tandem, Tees Valley Employability Partnership, and The National Lottery Community Fund.
• The Junction FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Junction Foundation partners with RCVDA for wellbeing and emotional support services, delivering Pathways to Wellness service with Emotional Wellbeing Coordinator and Practitioner roles.
• Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneering Care Partnership works with RCVDA for Wellbeing For Life service delivery, with RCVDA advertising practitioner opportunities on behalf of PCP.
• GatherwellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGatherwell operates the Redcar and Cleveland Community Lottery platform, raising funds for local good causes including RCVDA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East): Regional infrastructure body for the North East of England, including the Tees Valley. Directly comparable as a peer-level infrastructure and convening organisation operating in RCVDA's same geography, and an existing RCVDA partner via LARCH.
• Tees Valley Community Foundation: Local grantmaking foundation covering the same Tees Valley footprint as RCVDA. Comparable as a regional VCSE funding intermediary and a direct LARCH partner alongside RCVDA.

Emerging players

• Small Charities Coalition: UK coalition supporting small charities with tools, advice and funding connections. Comparable as a peer in the 'support-the-supporter' segment, though focused on a national rather than place-based membership.

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): Largest umbrella body for the UK voluntary sector. Comparable because RCVDA delivers many of the same advisory, funding-brokerage and research functions at a local level that NCVO provides nationally.
• Groundwork UK: Federated network of community-led environmental and social-regeneration charities. Comparable to RCVDA as a place-based infrastructure body delivering programmes (employability, transport, community space) in defined geographies.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): UK national membership body for local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations ('Councils for Voluntary Service' and VDAs). Directly comparable as the umbrella network that RCVDA's designated infrastructure role operates within.
• Locality: National network supporting community organisations and local VCFSE infrastructure. Comparable as a higher-tier peer that RCVDA's role fits within, with overlapping membership and member services.

Regional players

• Northumberland CVA (Community Voluntary Action): VCA-style infrastructure body covering Northumberland. Comparable as a North East regional peer offering the same mix of governance, funding and volunteering support to local VCFSE groups.
• ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England): National network of rural community councils. Comparable as a peer-tier infrastructure body delivering funding advice, volunteering support and community transport initiatives in rural areas — overlapping with RCVDA's rural Tees Valley remit.
• Durham Community Action: County-level VCFSE infrastructure body in the North East. Comparable as a near-identical organisational model (advice, funding support, volunteering) operating in an adjacent county rather than directly in Redcar and Cleveland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rcvda
• Facebookfacebook.com/RedcarAndClevelandVoluntaryDevelopmentAgency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency