Spark Somerset

Name

Spark Somerset

Legal name

Spark Somerset

Website

https://sparksomerset.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Support

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Voluntary sector advisory
• Charity infrastructure support
• Funding guidance services
• Volunteer matching platform
• Community network facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant funding and public sector commissioning: Spark Somerset is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) regulated by the Charity Commission (Reg no: 1179438). The organisation receives funding through public grants including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, NHS Somerset ICB commissioning, and likely other government and trust funding streams. Services are provided free of charge to VCFSE organisations in Somerset.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spark Somerset is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that provides free advice, training, funding guidance, and volunteer support to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in Somerset. Its named programmes (Spark iT, SkillShare, VCFSE Insights Hub, VCFSE ShareSpace, Spark a Change volunteering platform, Training and Events, and Funding Support) function as distinct service streams under a unified infrastructure umbrella, complemented by advocacy and network facilitation across the county's voluntary sector.

Product overview

Spark Somerset operates as a single unified offering — an infrastructure charity that provides advisory, training, networking, and support services to voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organizations across Somerset. The portfolio consists of named projects and programs (Spark iT, SkillShare, VCFSE Insights Hub, VCFSE ShareSpace) that function as distinct service streams under the unified infrastructure umbrella, alongside a volunteering platform (Spark a Change). There are no separate commercial product tiers or modules; the organization delivers all services as integrated charity support rather than packaged software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spark iT An IT support and digital skills initiative helping VCFSE organisations in Somerset with technology needs, including digital transformation guidance and IT infrastructure advice.
• SkillShare A mentoring and expertise-sharing programme connecting VCFSE organisations in Somerset with skilled volunteers and professionals who provide guidance on governance, fundraising, and organisational development.
• VCFSE Insights Hub A data and research platform providing the VCFSE sector in Somerset with access to local insight, research, and evidence to inform decision-making and funding applications.
• VCFSE ShareSpace An online collaborative space where VCFSE organisations in Somerset can connect, share resources, communicate, and support each other digitally.
• Spark a Change A volunteer registration and matching platform connecting individuals with volunteering opportunities across Somerset's VCFSE sector.
• Training and Events Capacity-building sessions, workshops, networking events, and training programmes covering governance, funding, volunteer management, and organisational development for VCFSE groups in Somerset.
• Funding Support Expert guidance and strategic support to help VCFSE organisations in Somerset identify, apply for, and manage funding from various sources.

Quantifiable outcome

• £50,000 Innovation Fund pilot created simpler, fairer funding pathway for smaller VCFSE organisations — 26 applications received, 8 awarded funding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NHS Somerset ICB is a key commissioning partner. Spark Somerset and the ICB jointly developed the Children and Young People's Mental Health Network and co-designed the £50,000 Innovation Fund pilot to make NHS funding more accessible to smaller VCFSE organisations. They also co-produced a report on 'Improving Accessibility and Fairness in NHS Procurement' which was endorsed by the ICB's Contract Oversight Group and Finance Committee.
• Somerset CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Somerset Council works with Spark Somerset as a key statutory partner, including co-delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme. Spark Somerset's Neighbourhood Health Framework work also engages Somerset's Health and Wellbeing Board.
• Healthwatch SomersetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch Somerset is a partner in the multi-agency group that produced the 'Support for Children and Young People to Understand Their Feelings and Mental Health in Somerset' report, commissioned by NHS Somerset ICB.
• Somerset Parent Carer ForumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSomerset Parent Carer Forum participated in the multi-agency group that produced the CYP mental health report, representing the voice of parent carers in mental health service design.
• NHS Somerset Foundation TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Somerset Foundation Trust participated in the multi-agency group that produced the CYP mental health report, representing the NHS provider perspective in mental health service design.
• Children and Young People's Mental Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Spark Somerset-led network that provides a collective voice for VCFSE organisations working with children and young people on mental health. The network enabled advocacy that led to the Innovation Fund pilot and the NHS procurement accessibility report.
• Somerset VCFSE CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA county-wide collaboration of VCFSE organisations facilitated by Spark Somerset, aiming to amplify the collective voice and impact of the voluntary sector in Somerset.
• Somerset Mental Health NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Spark Somerset-supported network bringing together organisations working in mental health across Somerset to collaborate, share resources, and advocate collectively.
• Somerset Youth AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Spark Somerset-supported alliance focused on youth services in Somerset, enabling cross-sector collaboration on youth-focused initiatives.
• VCFSE Dementia PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Spark Somerset-supported partnership addressing dementia care and support through collaboration across the VCFSE sector in Somerset.
• Somerset Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA research partnership in which Spark Somerset participates, working with academic and statutory partners to improve access to local data and research that supports VCFSE sector planning and advocacy.
• VCFSE Insights HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn online data platform developed by Spark Somerset (with UK SPF funding) to improve access to reliable local data for VCFSE organisations, supporting evidence-based planning and advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Locality: Locality is a national membership body supporting community-led organisations, social enterprises, and community groups across England with advice, training, and influencing work. Its operating model — free sector support funded by grants and member subscriptions — is closely analogous to Spark Somerset's VCFSE infrastructure role.
• WCVS (Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action): WCVS is a county-level VCFSE infrastructure charity providing training, funding guidance, networking, and volunteer support to voluntary organisations in Warwickshire. Its service mix, funding model, and target audience are near-identical to Spark Somerset, making it a strong same-model peer in a different region.
• Volunteer Cornwall: Volunteer Cornwall is a county-level infrastructure charity supporting volunteering and VCFSE organisations in Cornwall, with a service portfolio (volunteer matching, training, funding guidance) that closely mirrors Spark Somerset's Spark a Change platform and broader support offering.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): NAVCA is the national membership body for local CVS infrastructure organisations in England — the exact category that Spark Somerset occupies at county level. Both provide infrastructure support, training, funding guidance, and advocacy to VCFSE organisations, with NAVCA serving as the sector's national voice and Spark Somerset as a member operating the same model in Somerset.

Broad incumbents

• UK Community Foundations: UK Community Foundations is the national membership body for community foundations across the UK, including Somerset Community Foundation. It operates one tier above the kind of local infrastructure/provider role Spark Somerset plays, focused on coordination, standards, and advocacy across the network.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): NCVO is the largest umbrella body for the UK voluntary sector, offering policy, research, and infrastructure support that overlaps with Spark Somerset's convening and advocacy work. It is a broader, national-scale incumbent covering the same thematic ground Spark Somerset covers at county level.

Regional players

• Devon Community Foundation: Devon Community Foundation is a neighbouring regional grantmaking body supporting VCFSE organisations in the Southwest. While its primary activity is grantmaking rather than capacity-building infrastructure, it shares Spark Somerset's regional geography and beneficiary base, making it a meaningful adjacent peer.
• Somerset Community Foundation: Somerset Community Foundation is a local grantmaking body operating in the same county as Spark Somerset, distributing funds to VCFSE organisations. While its focus is grantmaking rather than capacity-building, it shares Spark Somerset's geographic territory and target beneficiaries, with overlapping partnership opportunities.
• ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England): ACRE supports rural community organisations across England through a network of 38 county-based member organisations providing similar infrastructure support to Spark Somerset. ACRE's rural focus and county-membership model map directly onto Spark Somerset's role in a predominantly rural county.

Emerging players

• Reach Volunteering: Reach Volunteering is a UK charity connecting skilled professionals with trustee and volunteering roles in the voluntary sector. It overlaps with Spark Somerset's SkillShare mentoring programme and volunteer-support remit, although operating at UK rather than county level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sparksomerset
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spark-somerset
• Instagraminstagram.com/sparksomerset

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Spark Somerset