Volunteer Centre Sutton

What Volunteer Centre Sutton does

Volunteer Centre Sutton, legally constituted as the Sutton Borough Volunteer Bureau (charity number 1048978), is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in 1965 and headquartered in the London Borough of Sutton. The organisation functions as a volunteer brokerage and community-infrastructure body, connecting local residents with volunteer opportunities across Sutton and surrounding South London boroughs. Its service model combines a volunteer matching platform with in-person advisory services, training programmes for volunteers, and capacity-building support for the local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. The organisation holds the London Youth Bronze Quality Mark, attesting to a defined standard of youth-work delivery.

The operational footprint comprises a portfolio of specialised projects beyond the core brokerage function. Active programmes include Health Navigators (a hospital-to-community support service bridging NHS discharge pathways with voluntary-sector provision), Refugee Community Sponsorship and the New Communities Programme, MAPS (Migrant and Asylum Project Support), the National Lottery-funded Community Volunteer Squad, the Mayor of London-backed New Deal for Young People, and the newly launched Wellbeing Support Project. The Volunteer Hub digital platform, introduced in 2024, underpins volunteer-to-opportunity matching and represents the organisation's primary proprietary technology asset.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercially revenue-generating. Income derives from institutional funders — primarily the London Borough of Sutton via a five-year recommissioning contract (delivered jointly with Community Action Sutton), the Greater London Authority, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the Mayor of London's office. All services to beneficiaries (volunteers and community organisations) are free at point of use, with grant income covering operational costs, project-specific delivery, and staff salaries across an 11-50 employee headcount. There is no evident fee-based service line, earned-income stream, or individual-donor fundraising operation, making institutional grant continuity the singular critical revenue driver.

Name

Volunteer Centre Sutton

Legal name

Sutton Borough Volunteer Bureau

Website

https://vcsutton.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volunteer Centre Sutton is a 60-year-old UK charity (Sutton Borough Volunteer Bureau, charity #1048978) that brokers volunteer placements, runs digital and in-person training, and delivers specialised community projects including Health Navigators and refugee programmes across the London Borough of Sutton, funded primarily by local authority and lottery grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Voluntary Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteer & Companion Support Services (Hospice Volunteer Programs) (HSABAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Volunteer coordination services
• Community mentoring programmes
• Youth advocacy support
• Refugee integration services
• Community health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Sutton Coldfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: Volunteer Centre Sutton receives significant government funding from Sutton Council for infrastructure support and various project-specific grants. Additional funding comes from the Greater London Authority via Sutton Council and the Mayor of London's New Deal for Young People fund.
2. National Lottery Funding: The Community Volunteer Squad received funding from the National Lottery, demonstrating diversified funding sources for specific projects.
3. Donations: The organisation accepts donations from the public, including specific fundraising initiatives such as the Christmas Appeal and event-based fundraising (e.g., Serpentine Swim, Mount Snowdon climbs for MAPS Mentoring).
4. Charitable Trust Funding: MAPS Mentoring and other projects receive support from charitable foundations including the Jack Petchey Foundation for youth awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Volunteer Centre Sutton is the local infrastructure organisation for volunteering in the London Borough of Sutton, recruiting, vetting, and deploying volunteers while delivering a portfolio of community programmes. These include one-to-one mentoring for vulnerable young people (MAPS), independent advocacy for children in care, befriending for older residents, free community health checks (Health Navigators), practical household support (Community Volunteer Squad), benefits form filling, and refugee integration projects for Ukrainian, Afghan, and Hong Kong communities.

Product overview

Volunteer Centre Sutton operates as a charitable infrastructure organization offering a portfolio of community support programs rather than a unified software product. The organization provides volunteering coordination services and direct community programs including MAPS Mentoring and MAPS Advocacy for young people, Sutton Befrienders for older residents, Health Navigators for health outreach, Community Volunteer Squad for practical assistance, Ukraine and Afghanistan Support Projects for refugees, Benefits Form Filling for welfare support, Young Commissioners and Sutton Youth Board for youth engagement, and a Volunteer Hub platform. These programs are delivered through partnerships with London Borough of Sutton, Together for Sutton, Citizens Advice Sutton, and other local organizations, functioning as interconnected community services under unified organizational leadership rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAPS Mentoring One-to-one mentoring service for vulnerable children and young people in Sutton, including those who are Children in Care, Care Leavers, or involved in child protection proceedings. Provides peer guidance, emotional support, and positive role models in partnership with Together for Sutton.
• MAPS Advocacy Independent advocacy service providing advocates for children and young people in Sutton involved in child protection proceedings, Looked After Children, and Care Leavers. Delivered in partnership with Together for Sutton, helping young people have their views heard in professional decision-making.
• Sutton Befrienders Befriending service providing companionship and support to older Sutton residents experiencing loneliness or isolation, particularly those living alone or without family nearby.
• Health Navigators Community health outreach project providing free blood pressure and pulse checks to Sutton residents at local events, workplaces, community groups, and health venues. Includes NHS App support, health education, and signposting to relevant health services, delivered in partnership with the London Borough of Sutton's Public Health Directorate.
• Community Volunteer Squad Volunteer-led service connecting Sutton residents with practical short-term support for one-off tasks such as household repairs, gardening, light outdoor work, changing lightbulbs, moving furniture, driving to appointments, and decluttering, supporting independence at home.
• Ukraine Support Project Support service for Ukrainian families in Sutton, including a Saturday School (around 50-60 children weekly), teenage club, adult cultural sessions, choir, men's football group, English courses, and MAPS Mentoring integration.
• Afghanistan Support Project Support services for Afghan families in Sutton, including weekly English conversation sessions helping women build confidence, language skills, friendships, and community connection.
• Benefits Form Filling Volunteer service helping Sutton residents complete complex benefit forms, with volunteers trained by Citizens Advice Sutton. Has helped residents secure over £500,000 in welfare benefits since 2023.
• Young Commissioners Youth engagement project enabling young people aged 11-25 in Sutton to help make the community safer by working with the Metropolitan Police and council safety teams on community initiatives, with Jack Petchey Award recognition.
• Wellbeing Support Project New project supporting older Sutton residents before they reach crisis point through regular volunteer home visits, funded by Sutton Council.
• Volunteer Hub Online platform designed to help organisations across the London Borough of Sutton find and connect with local volunteers more easily, supporting volunteer-organisation matching.
• Community Health and Wellbeing Project Community health and wellbeing support services for Sutton residents, complementing the Health Navigators project.
• Sutton Youth Board

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ free health and wellbeing checks delivered since May 2023
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• London Borough of Sutton - Public Health DirectoratecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Health Navigators project is delivered in partnership with the London Borough of Sutton's Public Health Directorate. This partnership enables the provision of free blood pressure and pulse checks across community settings, contributing to early intervention and prevention of health issues.
• Community Action SuttoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Volunteer Centre Sutton and Community Action Sutton work together to deliver infrastructure support to Sutton's charity, community, and faith sector. They were successfully recommissioned by Sutton Council in March 2026 to continue this partnership for five years.
• Together for SuttoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether for Sutton is a delivery partner for MAPS Advocacy, working with Volunteer Centre Sutton to support children and young people in care or involved in child protection proceedings. This partnership enables comprehensive support services for vulnerable young people in Sutton.
• Citizens Advice SuttoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Advice Sutton trains Benefits Form Filling volunteers and serves as a referral partner for Community Volunteer Squad. This partnership enables residents to access vital welfare support they are entitled to.
• Age UK SuttonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAge UK Sutton is a referral partner for Community Volunteer Squad, referring older residents who would benefit from practical support to remain independent at home.
• Christ Church SuttonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for Saturday Ukrainian School and weekly adult cultural sessions. The church provides the space for educational and community activities supporting Ukrainian families.
• Family Hub, Sutton Central LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Ukrainian Teenager Club meetings, held fortnightly with Ukrainian-speaking leaders. Provides accessible community space for youth engagement.
• Salvation Army Church SuttonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for weekly drop-in sessions, Friday women's wellbeing sessions, and community support consultations for Ukrainian and other community members.
• Trinity Church SuttonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for Positive English Course with Ukrainian-speaking teacher, supporting integration of Ukrainian community members.
• The Sound LoungeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for Friday drop-in sessions offering private consultations and community support, hosting women's wellbeing events.
• Creative HeritageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of annual 'Around the World' multicultural festival where Ukrainian community performed cultural pieces, supporting community integration and cultural preservation.
• Sutton Women's CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvited Ukrainian choir Ukrainskyi Vinochok to perform at Power of Women Event celebration. Also hosts Friday drop-in sessions.
• Goals CheamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFootball venue for Men's Football Group sessions held every Friday, supporting mental health and social connection for Ukrainian men.
• South London Waste PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth Navigators project delivered health checks at commercial events, providing community health outreach opportunity.
• Diabetic UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth Navigators partnered with Diabetes UK for drop-in events, providing health screening and awareness.
• Faccini House SurgeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGP surgery where Health Navigator volunteers support patients to use the NHS App, demonstrating integration with primary care services.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): National infrastructure body for the voluntary sector in England, operating at scale across volunteer development, advocacy, and member services similar to VCS's local infrastructure role.

Regional players

• Volunteer Scotland: Scotland's national volunteer development agency, structurally analogous to VCS but operating across a different UK nation with a similar volunteer infrastructure mandate.

Direct peers

• CVS Croydon: Neighbouring South London CVS offering comparable volunteer infrastructure, charity support, and community development services to a similar urban borough population.
• Community Action Sutton: Direct peer and co-delivery partner for Sutton Council infrastructure support contract, providing complementary charity-sector capacity building in the same borough.
• Volunteer Centre Camden: Closest London analogue - a London borough volunteer centre operating an essentially identical model of volunteer brokerage and community project delivery.
• Citizens Advice Sutton: Local advice charity operating in the same borough with overlapping beneficiary base; trains VCS's Benefits Form Filling volunteers and shares referral pipelines.
• Together for Sutton: Strategic delivery partner for MAPS Advocacy; a Sutton-based voluntary sector coalition with overlapping service beneficiaries and co-funded program delivery.
• Age UK Sutton: Local charity referral partner addressing older residents' needs; comparable mission focus on vulnerable populations and similar Sutton-based service delivery model.

Emerging players

• Do-it.org: UK-wide digital volunteer matching platform; competes in volunteer brokerage with VCS's Volunteer Hub but at national scale rather than single-borough focus.
• Reach Volunteering: UK charity specialising in skilled professional volunteering placements; complementary rather than competing service, but operates in adjacent volunteer infrastructure space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/ukrainiansinsutton
• Xx.com/VCSutton1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volunteercentresutton

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Volunteer Centre Sutton