Holborn Community Association

What Holborn Community Association does

Holborn Community Association (HCA) is a registered charity (Charity Number 801064, Company Number 02344228) founded in 1989 and headquartered in Holborn, London WC1. The organisation provides arts, movement, play and care activities for people of all ages, operating across three community centres (Holborn House Community Centre, opened September 2021 and designed by Stirling prize-nominated 6a architects; Millman Street Community Centre; plus multiple outreach settings) and serving early years (0-5), children and young people (4-18), adults, and older people (55+). Programme verticals include Creative Health, Movement and Wellbeing, Health and Care, and Community Voice, with specific services such as the Day Centre for vulnerable older people, a Befriending Scheme matching 27 isolated seniors with volunteer befrienders, the Doorstep Help Programme providing food and prescription deliveries, and the Digital Media Project producing award-winning youth content.

HCA's business model is a multi-stream charity model combining restricted and unrestricted grants from institutional funders (Camden Strategic Partners Fund, Camden Community Infrastructure Levy, GLA Walking and Cycling Grants, GLA Good Growth Fund, BBC Children in Need, John Lyons Main Grant Scheme, Independent Age, London Community Foundation, Power to Change, Ageing Better Camden), self-generated income from venue hire at Holborn House (Emerald Hall, Green Room, Reception, Workspace) and Millman Street, and individual donations enhanced through Gift Aid. The 2020 Annual Report disclosed total income of £503,564, split between grants (54.5%), self-generated income (36.9%) and donations (8.6%). The 2019-2020 operating year supported 2,880 people with 24,000 attendances, with demographics of 41% BAME, 31% children aged 4-18, and 17% over 55.

The organisation is community-led, governed by a board of trustees chaired by Crispin Burdett with Paul Crozier as Director, and operates with a small staff complement of 1-10 employees. Distribution is entirely direct through its physical centres and outreach settings in the Holborn area, with no geographic expansion beyond WC1. HCA has received industry recognition including RIBA London Awards 2023 for architecture, Architectural Journal Top 10 must-see buildings in 2021, and an LSE Awards nomination in April 2026. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, technology platforms, or proprietary digital products; the operating model is service-delivery focused rather than technology-focused.

Name

Holborn Community Association

Legal name

Holborn Community Association

Website

https://holborncommunity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Holborn Community Association is a registered charity operating community centres in Holborn, London, delivering arts, movement, play and care activities for residents of all ages from early years to older people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: Revenue from Camden Strategic Partners Fund, Camden Community Infrastructure Levy, GLA grants, Independent Age, London Community Foundation, Power to Change, Ageing Better Camden, BBC Children in Need, John Lyons Main Grant Scheme, and other charitable foundations
2. Venue Hire: Rental income from hiring out spaces at Holborn House Community Centre and Millman Street Community Centre for events, meetings, workshops, sports, and community gatherings
3. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, with Gift Aid scheme to increase value by 25%

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Holborn Community Association operates as a registered charity providing community spaces and programmes across three centres in the Holborn area of London. It delivers arts, movement, play and care activities spanning Early Years (0–5), Children & Young People (4–18), Adults, and 55+ segments, alongside venue hire, a Day Centre for vulnerable older people, a Befriending Scheme, and the Doorstep Help Programme for food/prescription delivery.

Product overview

Holborn Community Association operates as a community organization providing venue hire services and community programs. The organization offers two main venue hire locations: Holborn House Community Centre (opened September 2021, RIBA-accredited architecture by 6a architects) and Millman Street Community Centre. The venue hire business provides flexible spaces including Emerald Hall, Green Room, Reception, and Workspace areas for sports, meetings, workshops, and events. Beyond venues, HCA delivers a comprehensive suite of community programs including Early Years activities (0-5 years), Children & Young People programs (Digital Media Project, arts, gymnastics, ballet, taekwondo), Adults activities, and 55+ programs (dance, yoga, tai chi, art). Support services include a Day Centre for vulnerable older people, a Befriending Scheme matching isolated seniors with volunteers, and the Doorstep Help Programme providing food/prescription deliveries and advocacy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venue Hire - Holborn House Community Centre Multi-use venue hire space in central London featuring RIBA-acclaimed architecture. Available spaces include Emerald Hall (124 sq.m for sports/physical activities), Green Room (meetings for 10), Reception (up to 20 people), and Workspace (for 4 participants). Located near Holborn, Farringdon and Russell Square stations.
• Venue Hire - Millman Street Community Centre Community centre venue available for movement activities, dance, martial arts, and film location hire. Recently renovated with modern facilities.
• Early Years Activities Activities and programmes for children from 0–5 years, including soft play, role play sessions, Rhyme Time and family support delivered at community venues and outreach settings.
• Children & Young People Activities Programmes for children and young people including Digital Media Project, arts groups, pottery, gymnastics, ballet, taekwondo, and STEM Homework Club.
• Adults Activities Activity programmes for adults including arts, fitness, and community engagement opportunities.
• 55+ Activities Programmes for older people aged 55+ focusing on physical, social and cognitive stimulation including dance, yoga, tai chi, computer classes, and art sessions.
• Day Centre Services Day care services for vulnerable older people providing lunches, hairdressing, advice, therapy, and care planning and advocacy.
• Befriending Scheme Matches isolated older people with volunteer befrienders for regular contact, including IT volunteer digital skills sharing.
• Doorstep Help Programme Delivery service for food and prescriptions, providing advocacy, advice, medication management, and regular contact for vulnerable individuals, delivered in partnership with Coram's Fields.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,880 people supported and 24,000 attendances recorded in 2019-2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 6a architectscoreTechnology or IntegrationStirling prize-nominated architectural firm that designed Holborn House Community Centre, opened September 2021
• Holborn LibraryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder 5s sessions moved to Holborn Library from May 2019, partnership for Rhyme Time activities
• Somerset HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Somerset House for Summer Film Project; young people's film won London Spirit Award
• Mind in CamdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Voice Collective with Digital Media Project
• Coram's FieldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Doorstep Help programme supporting vulnerable people

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Castlehaven Community Association: Camden-based community association delivering cross-generational programmes (youth, older adults, families) from community facilities, with venue hire and grant-funded activities. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and operating model to HCA.
• Kentish Town Community Centre: North London community centre offering activities, venue hire, and cross-age programmes to a local neighbourhood population. Closely mirrors HCA's venue-plus-programming model in a neighbouring borough.
• St Luke's Community Centre: Islington community centre providing social, educational, and wellbeing activities across age groups alongside venue hire. Operates an equivalent multi-generational, community-led model in inner London.
• The Winch: North London (Camden) community charity running children, youth, and family services from a community facility with strong volunteer engagement. Comparable to HCA's youth and family programme mix.
• Centre 404: North London community organisation supporting people with learning disabilities and families through activity programmes, advice, and outreach. Closely comparable as a community-based, grant-funded social services provider.

Regional players

• Age UK Camden: Camden-focused charity delivering information, activities, and support services for older people. Highly comparable to HCA's 55+ offering (Day Centre, Befriending, Doorstep Help) within the same borough.
• Voluntary Action Camden: Camden infrastructure charity supporting local voluntary and community organisations with funding, training, and development. Comparable as a Camden-anchored community support intermediary.

Others

• Mind in Camden: Camden mental health charity partnered with HCA on the Voice Collective and Digital Media Project. Adjacent as a peer-and-partner organisation working on community mental wellbeing in the same catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holborn-community-charity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Holborn Community Association