Catch22

What Catch22 does

Catch22 is a UK-registered charity and social business (Catch22 Charity Ltd., charity no. 1124127; company limited by guarantee no. 06577534) founded in 1822 and headquartered at 27 Pear Tree Street, London. It designs and delivers over 120 publicly commissioned services across six areas: employment and training, criminal justice, education, child exploitation, children's social care, and health and wellbeing. Its service portfolio spans the County Lines Support and Rescue programme, the Redthread youth violence intervention programme (operating in 10 NHS hospitals in London and Birmingham following a 2024 merger), Catch22 College alternative education, the Dawes Unit research division, victim-care services across multiple regions, and the Drawing the Line public campaign.

The organisation serves vulnerable populations including children at risk of exploitation, care leavers, offenders and ex-offenders, long-term unemployed adults, and victims of crime. In 2023–2024 Catch22 touched more than 140,000 people across 100+ services, with reported outcomes including 98% of Young People and Families service users feeling safer and 90% of employability participants feeling more motivated to enter the job market. It employs between 5,001 and 10,000 people and operates from regional offices spanning London, Birmingham, Hertfordshire, Kent, Stoke-on-Trent, Leicester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Herefordshire, and the West Mercia region.

Catch22 generates revenue primarily through multi-year contracts with UK local authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the NHS, supplemented by donations via PayPal and specialist training/consultancy for professionals. Its core technology stack comprises standard third-party SaaS — WordPress for content, Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for analytics, Mailchimp for email, Salesforce for CRM, SmartRecruiters for recruitment, and Click4Assistance for web chat — with no proprietary platforms. The 2024 merger with Redthread and a pipeline of 2025–2026 programme launches (Jobs Guarantee West Midlands, Ignite, Westminster CLIC, Navigator and Tailored Support) indicate active expansion of both service surface and geographic footprint.

Name

Catch22

Legal name

Catch22 Charity Ltd.

Website

https://catch-22.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Public Sector Charities

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)

Keywords

• Public services delivery
• Employment and training
• Criminal justice services
• Child exploitation support
• Victim and witness care

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Commissioning: Catch22 generates revenue through contracts with local authorities, government bodies, and public commissioners. Services are commissioned to deliver public services including criminal justice interventions, children's social care, employment and training programmes, and health services. The organisation operates over 120 public services commissioned by local authorities and other public bodies.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Catch22 accepts donations from individuals and corporate partners. Donations are processed via PayPal and used to support charitable objectives across programmes and services, with flexibility to direct funds to areas of greatest need.
3. Training and Consultancy Services: Catch22 generates revenue through specialist training and consultancy services for professionals, delivered through expert training programmes and sector-leading events. Services include gang awareness training and understanding violence in young people training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Catch22 is a UK social business (registered charity and company limited by guarantee) that designs and delivers over 120 publicly commissioned services spanning employment and training, criminal justice, education, children's social care, child exploitation prevention, and health and wellbeing. Services are commissioned primarily by local authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and NHS partners, and delivered free at point of use to beneficiaries including vulnerable children, young people, unemployed individuals, and victims of crime. The organisation also provides specialist training and consultancy for professionals, and accepts charitable donations.

Product overview

Catch22 is a social business (not-for-profit) that has designed and delivered over 120 public services for over 200 years. The portfolio is organised into six main service areas: Employment and Training (including Catch22 College, Ignite, Westminster CLIC, Jobs Guarantee West Midlands, and the Digital Skills Academy in partnership with Salesforce); Criminal Justice (including County Lines Support and Rescue across multiple regions, the Dawes Unit research division, and Gang Awareness Training); Education (Catch22 College alternative education, primary/secondary/Post-16 provisions); Child Exploitation (Catch On educational resource, Navigator and Tailored Support Service, Redthread hospital-based youth work, Youth Violence Intervention Programme, Young Women's Service, STEPS, Music To My Ears, and the Drawing the Line campaign); Victim Services (Beacon Victim Care, Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care, Victim First, Birmingham Counselling Service); and Health and Wellbeing (including Mental Health Youth Work Service, substance use, and housing support). The organisation also provides specialist training through its Training and Networks division, runs the Catch22 Minutes podcast, and publishes research through its Policy Library.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Redthread: Youth Violence Intervention Programme delivering transformative youth work in hospital emergency departments across 10 hospitals in London and Birmingham.

Products and services

• Catch On Free educational resource about Child Exploitation aimed at pupils in Years 7 and 8 (aged 11-13), later expanded to include SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) activities.
• Navigator and Tailored Support Service Engages children and young adults at risk of, involved in, or vulnerable to violence at 'reachable moments' in police custody, hospitals and healthcare settings in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
• Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands Pilot programme in Birmingham and Solihull providing six-month fully subsidised work placements for 275 young people aged 18-21 unemployed for 18+ months, including pre-placement support, an in-work Career Coach, a £300 bursary, and mental health support.
• Westminster CLIC (Care Leavers Into Careers) Supports care experienced young people and those at risk aged 16-30 across Westminster to build confidence and skills for employment, apprenticeships, training or education through career mentors, one-to-one support, workshops, and wraparound wellbeing support.
• Ignite Employability programme in partnership with Banyan Software Foundation across West Midlands, delivering structured workshops on future work employability skills, one-to-one employability coaching, Catch22 Skills Labs, wraparound support, and pathways to sustainable employment.
• County Lines Support and Rescue Specialist support service for children, young people and their families who are criminally exploited through county lines. Available in London, Merseyside, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester.
• Redthread (Youth Violence Intervention Programme) Delivers transformative youth work in NHS hospitals and other health settings through the Youth Violence Intervention Programme operating from 10 hospitals in London and Birmingham, supporting young victims of violence and exploitation at moments of crisis (including a Young Women's Service variant in four London hospitals with up to a year of community follow-up).
• Young Women's Service Specialist service meeting girls and young women affected by violence and exploitation in four London hospitals, providing support during hospital stay and in the community for up to a year.
• STEPS (Support Through Exploitation and Prevention Service) Supports children aged 8-18 and young people up to 24 with additional needs who are impacted by Child Criminal Exploitation and/or Child Sexual Exploitation in Herefordshire.
• Music To My Ears Creative arts project supporting children and young people affected by child criminal exploitation through music-based activities in Leatherhead.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of people supported by Young People and Families team felt safer
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KFCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2025Third-year partnership providing employability opportunities. Catch22 partners with KFC to support young people into employment through work placements and career development.
• RedthreadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2024Redthread delivers transformative youth work in hospitals and health settings. Set to merge with Catch22, expanding youth violence intervention services to 10 hospitals in London and Birmingham.
• Banyan Software FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Ignite programme supporting people facing employment barriers in the West Midlands. The programme delivers structured workshops on future work employability skills, one-to-one coaching, and wraparound support.
• Buckinghamshire New UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for an 18-month pilot project making the UK live events sector more neurodiversity-friendly. Led by Dr Anahita Malek in partnership with Autism Bucks and Catch22, developing an open-source toolkit for neurodiversity-friendly event design.
• Autism BucksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in neurodiversity-friendly live events pilot project with Buckinghamshire New University and Catch22. Testing practical solutions and developing open-source toolkit for event design.
• Supplytrain CICcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Jobs Guarantee West Midlands pilot in Birmingham and Solihull. Supplytrain brings extensive experience of employer engagement from the Kickstart programme to help turn placements into genuine stepping stones toward lasting employment.
• Sport 4 Life UKcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWest Midlands employment charity partnering with Catch22 for Jobs Guarantee pilot. Strengthens local delivery and routes into work, creating a powerful support system for young people furthest from the job market.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership extended for Digital Skills Academy. Salesforce partnership supports digital skills training and career pathways in technology for Catch22 participants.
• Bath Spa UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Click Start programme plugging gaps in digital and tech careers. Fully funded short courses addressing digital skills gaps for Catch22 participants.
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment department selecting Catch22 to deliver Jobs Guarantee programme. DWP refers eligible young people through Jobcentre Plus for employment support.
• Learn Plus UsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatch22's apprenticeship provision joined Learn Plus Us network, expanding reach and access to apprenticeship opportunities for programme participants.
• King's College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Children's Liver Unit at King's College Hospital. Catch22 uses youth work expertise to build holistic support networks for young liver patients while in hospital.
• Various UK Local AuthoritiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatch22 works with local authorities across the UK to commission and deliver over 120 public services including children's social care, criminal justice, and victim services.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Barnardo's: The UK's largest children's charity, delivering services across child exploitation, children's social care, and emotional wellbeing. Directly comparable to Catch22 in mission, service portfolio, and government-commissioned delivery model.
• NSPCC: National child protection charity delivering safeguarding, child exploitation prevention, and direct services to children. Shares Catch22's child-protection focus and government-commissioned service delivery model.
• Action for Children: Major UK charity delivering children's social care, fostering, and family support services on behalf of local authorities. Directly comparable to Catch22 in operating model and beneficiary segments.
• The Prince's Trust: UK charity focused on youth employment, training, and employability programmes for disadvantaged young people. Closely comparable to Catch22's employment and training portfolio (Ignite, Jobs Guarantee, Westminster CLIC).
• St Giles Trust: UK charity helping people break out of the criminal justice system through offender rehabilitation, victim support, and prison-leaver employment services. Directly comparable to Catch22's criminal justice portfolio.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, including care leavers. Comparable to Catch22's care leaver, housing support, and youth employment services.
• Turning Point: UK social enterprise delivering health, social care, and substance misuse services commissioned by local authorities and the NHS. Comparable to Catch22's health and wellbeing and substance misuse service lines.

Broad incumbents

• Shelter: Large UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, advocacy, and supported housing services. Overlaps with Catch22's housing support and care leaver pathways, though with a national-policy orientation.
• YMCA England & Wales: National federation delivering youth, housing, health, and family services across England and Wales. Broadly comparable in target beneficiaries and locally commissioned service delivery.
• Crisis UK: UK charity focused on homelessness and education/training for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable to Catch22 on employability and disadvantage-focused service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catch22charity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0ZmzoeCt88INQIj-J6b-8A/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Catch22charity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/574980
• Instagraminstagram.com/catch22charity

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Catch22