Percy Hedley Foundation

What Percy Hedley Foundation does

The Percy Hedley Foundation is a registered disability charity (Charity Number 515943) and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1953 in Newcastle upon Tyne to serve 12 children with cerebral palsy and now operating as one of the leading specialist disability providers in North East England. The organisation delivers an integrated continuum of services across the lifespan: two specialist schools (Percy Hedley School and Northern Counties School) for children and young people aged 3-19 with complex physical disabilities and learning difficulties; Hedley's College, a specialist further education provider for 72 students aged 16-25; four residential homes (Leybourne, Tyne House, Wansbeck House, plus a fourth location) for adults aged 18+ requiring 24/7 care; independent supported living services; and adult day provision through Hedley's Horizons (Forest Hall) and Horizons North Shields, complemented by Hedley's Beyond, an employability programme placing learners with local employers and the Volunteer Police Cadets scheme with Northumbria Police. Across these services, the Foundation supports approximately 650 individuals and families annually, employs over 1,000 staff, and delivered more than one million hours of education, activities, care and therapy in 2025 across 10 sites.

The business model is commissioned service delivery rather than product sales. Revenue is generated through local authority social services contracts, NHS Continuing Healthcare packages, and personal care budgets, with placement fees negotiated per individual package and contract durations typically spanning multiple years. GTM is effectively direct enterprise sales to commissioning bodies and family-led inbound enquiries, supplemented by digital channels (website, Instagram) and community fundraising events (Percy Hedley Ball, Fire Walk, Golf Day, Great North Run). No proprietary software, app, API, or AI capability is disclosed — the technology layer consists of specialist care management systems and internal SharePoint infrastructure (PHF Connect), with assistive technology limited to partner-supplied devices such as Sela/RNID haptic shirts for deaf students. Leadership transitioned in December 2024 with John Preston's permanent appointment as Chief Executive. Quality is externally validated through Percy Hedley School's Outstanding Ofsted rating, the National School Awards Leadership Team of the Year (2024), and British Diversity Awards shortlisting for Community Project of the Year (2025).

Name

Percy Hedley Foundation

Legal name

The Percy Hedley Foundation

Website

https://percyhedley.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Percy Hedley Foundation is a North East England disability charity operating two specialist schools, a further education college, residential homes, and adult day services for around 650 individuals with complex learning difficulties and disabilities, delivered by over 1,000 staff across 10 locations and funded primarily through local authority and NHS commissioning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Care and Special Education

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Specialist disability education
• Residential care services
• Further education college
• Adult day services
• Complex learning support

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Care and Education Services: The Foundation generates revenue through commissioned care and education services from local authorities, NHS trusts, and government bodies. Services include residential care, specialist schooling, further education, and adult day services funded through public sector contracts and personal care budgets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Percy Hedley Foundation is a registered UK disability charity providing specialist education, residential care, supported living, further education, and adult day services for individuals with complex learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and additional communication needs from age 3 through adulthood. It operates two specialist schools, a further education college, four residential homes, independent supported living services, and adult day/employability programmes across 10 locations in North East England. Services are commissioned by local authorities and NHS trusts and supported by a multidisciplinary therapy team.

Product overview

The Percy Hedley Foundation is a disability charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of specialist services rather than a single product. The organization operates two specialist schools (Percy Hedley School and Northern Counties School) for children and young people aged 3-19, a specialist further education college (Hedley's College) for ages 16-25, four residential care homes, independent supported living services, an adult day service (Hedley's Horizons), and an employability programme (Hedley's Beyond). The services span education, care, accommodation, and lifelong learning for people with complex learning difficulties, disabilities, and additional communication needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Percy Hedley School
• Northern Counties School
• Hedley's College
• Residential Homes (Leybourne, Tyne House, Wansbeck House and a fourth home)
• Independent Supported Living
• Hedley's Horizons (including Horizons North Shields)
• Hedley's Beyond

Quantifiable outcome

• 650 individuals and families supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

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.

• SintonscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 February 2024Leading law firm Sintons selected the Percy Hedley Foundation as their charity partner for two years. The team has fundraised over £9,005 through various activities including charity golf day, hike, dog walk, Great North Run, and bake sales.
• Northumbria PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation welcomed a third cohort of police cadets from Hedleys College as Volunteer Police Cadets with Northumbria Police. The scheme teaches hate crime, anti-social behaviour, and preventing crime while encouraging active community roles.
• EEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEE has been volunteering with Hedleys College for months, providing hundreds of hours of support. In a DIY-SOS style project, they created an incredible Memorial Garden for staff and students.
• Barratt HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPercy Hedley School students helped create the first inclusive room in one of Barratt Homes' Show Homes at Old Durham Gate in Durham, including geometric wall panelling, sensory items, and student artwork.
• Sela and RNIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing haptic technology shirts for deaf students at Northern Counties as part of the #UnsilenceTheCrowd project, enabling deaf students to experience match days as mascots for Newcastle United.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• United Response: UK charity providing supported living, residential care, and day services for people with learning disabilities and autism. Comparable service portfolio and reliance on local authority commissioning contracts.
• Royal Mencap Society: One of the largest UK learning disability charities, providing residential care, supported living, education, and day services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Comparable integrated service model (education + care + supported living) and similar reliance on local authority commissioning.
• MacIntyre: UK charity providing residential care, supported living, education, and lifelong learning services for people with learning disabilities and autism. Highly comparable integrated education-to-adulthood service model and nonprofit charity structure.
• Community Integrated Care: One of the UK's largest social care charities, providing specialist residential care, supported living, and day services for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. Highly comparable operating model with national reach versus Percy Hedley's regional depth.
• Hft: National UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through supported living, residential care, and day services. Closely comparable operating model, with multi-decade history and similar reliance on local authority and NHS commissioning.
• Voyage Care: Major UK provider of specialist residential care, supported living, and day services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable service mix; for-profit (private equity-backed) structure provides a contrast on growth capital.
• Sense: UK national disability charity supporting people with complex disabilities including those with sensory impairments and learning difficulties, operating specialist education, residential, and community services. Highly comparable scope and mission to Percy Hedley, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.

Regional players

• Hesley Group: Specialist residential care and education provider focused on autistic adults and children, with services in the North of England. Comparable specialist disability focus and residential model, operating as a for-profit/charitable hybrid in a similar regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• National Autistic Society: UK-wide charity providing specialist education (schools and colleges), adult services, and advocacy for autistic people. Adjacent rather than directly overlapping in mission, but comparable in scale and in operating specialist education and care services.
• United Learning: Large UK non-profit schools group operating mainstream and specialist SEND schools. Comparable as an operator of Ofsted-rated specialist schools, though serving a broader educational portfolio than Percy Hedley's disability-focused offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/percy_hedley_foundation
• Xx.com/percyhedley
• Facebookfacebook.com/percy.hedley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/percy-hedley-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Percy Hedley Foundation