The Baca Charity

What The Baca Charity does

The Baca Charity is a registered UK charity (Charity No. 1124569, Company No. 6510559) founded in 2012 that provides supported accommodation, education, and therapeutic care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) aged 16-17 who arrive in the UK without families, frequently having experienced trafficking or exploitation. The charity operates 12 specialised homes across the East Midlands (Loughborough, Northampton) and East of England (Cambridge), each staffed by residential workers or live-in volunteers. Its service stack spans initial risk assessments and 24/7 on-call safety support, an in-house education centre (Baca College) delivering daily ESOL, Maths, and ICT instruction, in-house art/dance/drama therapy, legal accompaniment through the asylum process, medical registration and ongoing healthcare, independent living skills training, sports and community integration programmes, family tracing, and statutory care coordination. The model explicitly follows Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, targeting transition from immediate safety through to independence, with reported outcomes including no missing-young-person incidents over the last three years, 90% of care leavers transitioning positively to independent accommodation, and 80% annual improvement in personal safety. Approximately 500 young people from 17 countries have been supported since inception.

The charity's revenue model is a hybrid of statutory fees and charitable fundraising. Local authorities pay approximately 75% of operating costs as 'looked after' children fees covering housing and food, sourced exclusively via referrals from local authority children's services and the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The remaining ~25% is raised from a diversified base including 18+ trusts and foundations (Samworth Foundation, Paul Hamlyn, Big Lottery, Children in Need, Henry Smith, Swire, John Lewis Partnership Foundation, Magnify, CHK, and others), individual donors (one-time and monthly giving programmes), corporate partnerships (e.g., Wagamama), faith and community groups, and a commercial product line anchored by the 'Come, Eat!' recipe book (£15, launched June 2024) and associated supper clubs. A £1.89M social investment round from Social and Sustainable Capital in April 2020 has anchored capacity expansion. Operational infrastructure is supported by specialised partnerships including Fundraise Up for payment processing (PCI-DSS compliant), Culture Leicestershire for cultural programming, local colleges for Entry 1 qualification accreditation, Free Wills for legacy giving, and Charity Challenge for fundraising events. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates with a total of 37 staff, volunteers, interns, and trustees, maintaining ISO 9001 quality management certification and UK GDPR compliance.

Name

The Baca Charity

Legal name

The Baca Charity

Website

https://bacacharity.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Baca Charity is a UK registered charity providing supported accommodation, education, and trauma-informed therapeutic care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16-17, operating 12 specialised homes across the East Midlands and East of England with statutory referrals exclusively from local authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Social Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Supported accommodation services
• Refugee youth services
• Asylum support programs
• Therapeutic education services
• Social care charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Loughborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Funding: As 'looked after' children, Baca receives money from local authorities covering housing and food allowances. This constitutes approximately 75% of their work.
2. Trusts and Foundations Grants: Funding from regional and national trusts and foundations for holistic services including education, therapy, trips, and sports.
3. Individual Giving: Donations from individual supporters, including monthly giving programs which are highlighted as most effective.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate engagement and partnerships providing additional funding and support.
5. Faith and Community Groups: Support from faith groups and community organizations.
6. Recipe Book Sales: The 'Come, Eat!' recipe book is sold at £15 per copy with all profits going directly to fund Baca's vital work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Baca Charity provides supported accommodation across 12 specialised homes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16-17 in the East Midlands and East of England. Services are delivered as an integrated package including in-house education (Baca College: ESOL, Maths, ICT), therapeutic support (art, dance, drama therapy), legal and medical guidance, living skills training, and community integration programmes. All services follow a trauma-informed, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs-based holistic model, with young people referred exclusively via local authorities and the National Referral Mechanism.

Product overview

The Baca Charity operates a portfolio of integrated services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16-17 in the UK. The core offering consists of 12 specialised supported accommodation homes with residential staff, Baca College (an in-house education centre providing ESOL, Maths, and ICT), and therapeutic support including art, dance and drama therapy. These are supplemented by practical services covering legal guidance through the asylum process, medical registration and healthcare, living skills training (cooking, budgeting, household management), sports and leisure activities, community integration programmes, family tracing, religious community support, and statutory care coordination. The charity also publishes the 'Come, Eat!' recipe book featuring recipes from young people, with all profits funding their vital work. Baca follows Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, providing holistic support from basic needs through to independence, with approximately 500 young people supported since inception.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Come, Eat!: A recipe book featuring 14 global recipes from young people at Baca, published 19th June 2024. All profits support Baca's work.
• Baca College

Products and services

• Supported Accommodation (12 Specialised Homes) Twelve specialised supported homes across East Midlands and East of England providing safe accommodation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16-17, each staffed with a residential worker or volunteer living on-site.
• Baca College (Education Service) In-house specialist education centre providing daily English (ESOL), Maths, and ICT classes for newly arrived young refugees, with Entry 1 qualifications delivered through a partnership with local colleges.
• Art, Dance and Drama Therapy In-house therapeutic support delivered by trained therapists via one-to-one and group sessions in art, dance, and drama therapy to help young refugees process trauma beyond verbal language.
• Safety Services Initial risk assessments, personalised safety plans, 24/7 on-call support, ID cards, and ongoing safety education throughout a young person's journey to independence.
• Legal Support Continuous, comprehensive support throughout the asylum process, including accompaniment to all legal appointments, help accessing legal representation, and navigation of Home Office appointments.
• Medical Services Initial health assessments, scabies checks, registration with local doctors and dentists, ongoing immunisations, dental and optical care, and assistance with HC1 forms for free prescriptions.
• Living Skills Training Practical life skills workshops covering cooking, cleaning, budgeting, shopping, household appliance use, utility bills, and preparation for transition to semi-independent housing.
• Sports and Leisure Activities Weekly sports sessions including football, cricket, volleyball, badminton, swimming, and gymnastics, plus connections to local sports clubs to enhance physical wellbeing and community engagement.
• Community Integration Programme Programmes connecting young refugees to local clubs, places of worship, arts activities, youth clubs, and annual celebration events recognising achievements and cultural diversity.
• Family Tracing Identification of family connections and support in re-establishing contact with family members where appropriate and safe.
• Religious Community Support Support for young people to practice their religion through provision of necessary items and connection with local places of worship according to individual preferences.
• Statutory Support Regular statutory meetings ensuring young people's needs are met and progress is reviewed with social services throughout transition to independence.
• Come, Eat! Recipe Book A 72-page hardback cookbook featuring 14 global recipes from young refugees at Baca, celebrating food, memories, and cultures, priced at £15 per copy with all profits funding Baca's vital work.
• Come, Eat! Supper Clubs Community fundraising initiative where hosts organise supper events using recipes from the Come, Eat! cookbook, receive a complimentary copy of the book, and raise vital funds for Baca's work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3 years no young people have gone missing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fundraise UpcoreOthersThird-party payment processor for handling donations through the website. Adheres to PCI-DSS standards for secure payment handling. Has its own privacy policy.
• Free Wills (Quick Wills Ltd)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering free will writing services to supporters to encourage legacy giving to Baca.
• WagamamacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner whose teams engaged with Baca. Regional Marketing Manager Alice Eagle provided testimonial about the partnership benefit.
• Culture LeicestershirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned art exhibition 'All Together We Are Stronger' featuring young refugees' artwork inspired by injera. Collaborated on creating the 'Come, Eat!' recipe book.
• Local CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnerships with local colleges ensure smooth transitions for young people from Baca College to formal education. Partnerships include accredited Entry 1 qualifications through local college partnership.
• City of SanctuaryminorOthersRecommended for item donations for refugees and asylum seekers in areas where Baca is not present.
• Open Hands LeicesterminorOthersItem donation partner in Leicester for refugees.
• NNRF (Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum)minorOthersItem donation partner in Nottinghamshire for refugees.
• Charity ChallengeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvents company offering challenge events (treks, walks, mountain climbs, bike rides) for charity participants.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Home-Start UK: UK family support charity supporting families with young children through volunteer-led home visiting. Tangentially comparable as a UK voluntary-sector family support provider, but a different beneficiary group.
• ECPAT UK: UK charity fighting child exploitation and trafficking, working alongside the National Referral Mechanism used by Baca. Partial overlap as a thematic partner addressing trafficking and exploitation affecting the same beneficiary group.
• Become (formerly After-Care Leaving): UK charity supporting children in care and care leavers, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, through advice and coaching. Comparable beneficiary overlap, though operates an advice rather than residential model.

Broad incumbents

• Action for Children: Large UK children's services charity operating fostering, residential, and family support services nationally. Comparable scale of children's services provision with significant overlap on UASC and care leaver programmes.
• The Children's Society: National charity supporting vulnerable children including asylum-seeking and trafficked children through advocacy and direct services. Overlapping mission and beneficiary group but with a wider portfolio of child welfare programmes.
• Barnardo's: One of the UK's largest children's charities, running fostering, residential care, and specialist services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as part of a much broader portfolio. Comparable end-customer but a much larger incumbent operating across many child welfare areas.

Direct peers

• Refugee Council: UK charity providing support, advice and advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children. Directly comparable mission to Baca and overlapping beneficiary base in the UK asylum system.
• Centrepoint: UK charity providing accommodation, education and employability support for young people including those leaving care. Closely comparable operational model (supported housing plus education/skills) though serves a slightly broader 16–24 cohort.
• Safe Passage (charity): UK charity helping unaccompanied child refugees access safe legal routes to sanctuary, including family reunion. Comparable target population (UASC) with adjacent service model focused on casework rather than residential care.
• Hope for Children: UK-based charity focused on supporting children in crisis, including refugee and displaced children. Comparable mission and donor-base characteristics, though international in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bacacharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/bacacharity
• Instagraminstagram.com/baca_charity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-baca-charity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Baca Charity