Mobile club and volunteering platform Groop has raised £3 million in equity from socially conscious equity investor the Hartham Group.

Groop helps those running clubs, volunteer organisations or simply connecting staff to use their time more efficiently. Like other social media platforms, staff and volunteers communicate in real time.

However, its real value is offering a secure platform to ensure data is never misused. This has become more important at a time of increased compliance requirements and growing awareness of data privacy and security.

Formed in 2012, Groop’s subscribers include The Royal Voluntary Service and Essex County Council. To date, it has recorded more than 279,000 volunteer hours and 500,000 participations in community activity.

The company rebranded from RunAClub earlier this month to reflect its wider appeal to anybody involved in the charity or volunteering sector.

Sally Higham, Groop CEO and founder, said: “With this investment, we are enhancing our platform to service all community groups from grassroots to national organisations across all sectors. To become the trusted, global community management platform.

‘‘We’re enabling everyone, via our platform, to get started and more effectively run a club or group with all the complex issues of paperwork, legal requirements and data protection taken care of.”

Hartham Group, set up by serial entrepreneur Jeffrey Thomas, invests in companies that use technology which catalyst change in society and promote a citizen-centric data economy. Thomas previously invested in Ark Data Services and co-founded Skyscape Cloud Services in 2012.

Thomas said: ‘We are living in a world of unprecedented change. We are witnessing a revolution founded on data, which will have a more profound change on individuals than any revolution that has come before. Data and digital now mediate our interactions with others.

“We must build a connected society that uses personal data responsibly to create economic and social value. Groop embraces all of our values. We have invested equity and will continue to provide management experience and support to propel Groop into hyper growth.”