Family Action

What Family Action does

Family Action is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 264713), headquartered in London, founded in 1869 as the Charity Organisation Society and operating for over 150 years. It provides practical, emotional, and financial support to disadvantaged and socially isolated families across England, Wales and the Isle of Man, serving approximately 60,000 families per year across a portfolio of programmes including the National School Breakfast Programme (350,000 children daily, Department for Education commissioned), FamilyLine national helpline, FOOD Clubs, PAC-UK adoption and special guardianship support (Ofsted 'Outstanding'), SENDIASS services, perinatal and mental health support, and employability programmes such as HeadStart and Barclays LifeSkills.

The organisation operates a hybrid service delivery model spanning direct face-to-face delivery through 150+ local projects, telephone/text/email/web chat support via FamilyLine (with 24/7 crisis text via Shout partnership), in-school delivery, and commissioned public sector contracts. Technology infrastructure is modest — the website uses OpenStreetMap for service location and standard digital self-help content; no proprietary AI, platform, or product technology is disclosed. The platform architecture is essentially service-delivery operational rather than technology-product based.

Family Action is funded through a diversified mix: individual regular and one-off donations (£5/£10/£25 monthly tiers), corporate partnerships (NewDay since 2016 raising £2m+, Barclays since 2020, JPMorgan 10-year partnership, Bloomberg since 2021, Credit Karma since 2025, plus Akelius and DC Advisory), major gifts and philanthropy (£10k-£100k impact tiers), legacy bequests (via Remember A Charity and Octopus Legacy partnerships), and commissioned services from local authorities, NHS and central government (notably the DfE NSBP contract). Pricing for beneficiaries is free; donor pricing uses suggested subscription tiers with custom amounts. Operations are governed by a Board of Trustees under CEO Sir David Holmes CBE, with HRH The Princess of Wales as patron. M&A activity includes the 2018 merger with PAC-UK and the April 2026 acquisition of MhIST (Bolton mental health charity).

Name

Family Action

Legal name

Family Action

Website

https://family-action.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Family Action is a UK registered charity, founded 1869, providing practical, emotional and financial support to disadvantaged families across England, Wales and the Isle of Man through helplines, food programmes, school breakfast delivery, adoption support and commissioned public services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Support and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Family support services
• Child welfare services
• Social support services
• Adoption support services
• Community food programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Regular monthly donations and one-off gifts from individual supporters. Donation options include £5, £10, £25 monthly or custom amounts. Donations help supply food parcels, keep FamilyLine running, and support families in crisis.
2. Corporate partnerships: Financial contributions, employee volunteering, product partnerships, in-kind support, and project sponsorship from corporate partners including Barclays, NewDay, Bloomberg, Akelius, Credit Karma, and DC Advisory. Partnership Manager provided for bespoke arrangements.
3. Major gifts and philanthropy: Large-scale donations from major donors and philanthropists. Example impact: £10,000 expands FOOD Clubs to new community; £25,000 delivers year of counselling for domestic abuse survivors; £100,000 scales FamilyLine nationwide for 365 days. Individual Giving Manager manages relationships.
4. Legacies and bequests: Gifts left in Wills by supporters. Partner with Remember A Charity consortium. Contact via [email protected] or 020 7241 7638.
5. Commissioned services: Family Action delivers contracted services commissioned by local authorities, NHS, and government bodies including the Department for Education (National School Breakfast Programme). Services include adoption support, SEND services, social prescribing, and children's services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Family Action is a UK national charity that delivers free practical, emotional and financial support services to families and individuals across England, Wales and the Isle of Man. Its core offerings include the FamilyLine national helpline, the National School Breakfast Programme, FOOD Clubs providing low-cost food to families facing hardship, PAC-UK adoption and special guardianship support, parenting programmes, SEND advice services, mental health and wellbeing support, and employability programmes such as HeadStart and Barclays LifeSkills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PAC-UK: Ofsted 'Outstanding' adoption support agency providing specialist support to all those affected by adoption and special guardianship arrangements
• FamilyLine
• FOOD Clubs
• HeadStart
• LifeSkills

Products and services

• FamilyLine Free national emotional support helpline for adults 18+ offering information and guidance on family relationships, conflict, parenting, caring responsibilities and financial worries. Accessible by phone (0808 802 6666), text (07537 404 282), email, and web chat, Monday–Friday 9am–7pm, with 24/7 crisis text support via the Shout partnership (text FAMILYACTION to 85258).
• National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) Largest school breakfast provision in England, delivering nutritious breakfasts to approximately 350,000 children daily across primary schools. Funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Family Action on a commissioned basis.
• FOOD Clubs (Food On Our Doorstep) Community-based food clubs providing good-quality food at low cost to families at risk of food insecurity, with an emphasis on dignity, community events and member choice. Operated via local sites including Bristol, Cardiff, City and Peterborough clubs, often with corporate partner volunteer support (e.g. DC Advisory, Akelius English tuition in London and Essex).
• PAC-UK Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Ofsted 'Outstanding'-rated specialist adoption and special guardianship support service for adopted people, birth parents, adoptive families and special guardians, including counselling, training, FamilyConnect intermediary services and the Adopteens online peer community. Reaches over 6,000 people annually and operates via [email protected] and 0300 1800 090.
• HeadStart Skills and Employability Programme Skills and employability programme empowering vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to secure and stay in employment. Supported by Bloomberg since 2021.
• BOSS - Lincolnshire Behaviour Outreach Support Service Bespoke service for schools providing training and outreach support to help achieve the best outcomes for children with behavioural and additional needs, delivered in Lincolnshire.
• Barclays LifeSkills (delivered by Family Action) UK's largest employability programme, delivered by Family Action in partnership with Barclays since 2020, helping young people transition from education to work via LifeSkills Open (group-based) and LifeSkills Plus (one-to-one, referral-based) formats.
• Christmas Toy Appeal Annual Christmas Toy Appeal providing gifts to children who would otherwise have none at Christmas; delivered over 75,000 gifts last year including 11,000 toys. Supported by corporate partners such as DC Advisory.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000 families supported per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Credit KarmaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Credit Karma came onboard as partner early 2025, donating as part of their 25 Million Point Challenge. Goal is to encourage members to enhance their financial standing and collectively increase credit scores by 25 million points in 2025.
• BloombergcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Bloomberg has worked with Family Action since 2021 as a key supporter of HeadStart skills and employability programme. HeadStart empowers young people to develop skills, confidence and experience needed to secure and stay in employment.
• BarclayscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Since 2020, partnership supporting vulnerable families. COVID-19 Community Aid Package helped over 4,000 families by providing financial grants and opening 18 new FOOD Clubs. Now delivers Barclays LifeSkills programme across England through LifeSkills Open (group-based) and LifeSkills Plus (referral-based one-to-one). LifeSkills Assistance Grants also available.
• NewDaycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016NewDay is Family Action's longest-standing corporate partner, supporting since 2016 and raising over £2m through financial contributions, volunteering, gifts in kind and fundraising events including London to Paris Cycle and National Three Peaks Challenge. Partnership based on shared vision of helping people move forward.
• DC AdvisoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDC Advisory has supported Family Action through Toy Appeal, challenge events, and volunteering at FOOD clubs in London and Manchester. Recently come onboard as partner.
• AkeliusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAkelius is partnering with Family Action to fund English tuition at FOOD clubs in London and Essex. Initiative empowers families with English as a second language to access opportunities from local volunteering to meaningful employment.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.coreGTM or Marketing Partner10-year partnership supporting Family Action through various initiatives including volunteering and fundraising.
• ShoutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Shout provides free 24/7 crisis support via text for FamilyLine callers outside of hours. Text FAMILYACTION to 85258 for access. Available on weekends and bank holidays.
• Consortium of Adoption Support AgenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of the Consortium of Adoption Support Agencies (CASA), supporting the adoption and special guardianship sector.
• Early Years AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action belongs to Early Years Alliance to create spaces and platforms for families to share stories and enable organizational learning.
• Children's AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action belongs to Children's Alliance to create spaces and platforms for families and enable organizational learning from service delivery.
• Maternal Mental Health AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is member of Maternal Mental Health Alliance through its children & families work, supporting perinatal mental health.
• National Energy ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of National Energy Action through its food and financial hardship work.
• Feeding Britain networkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of Feeding Britain network through its food and financial hardship work.
• End Child Poverty CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of End Child Poverty Coalition through its food and financial hardship work.
• Council for Disabled ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of Council for Disabled Children through its SEND work.
• Children & Young People's Mental Health CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of Children & Young People's Mental Health Coalition through its health & wellbeing work.
• Mental Health AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of Mental Health Alliance through its health & wellbeing work.
• London YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of London Youth through its young people services.
• Young Carers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of Young Carers Alliance through its young people services.
• School Food Plan AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is proud member of School Food Plan Alliance through its schools & education work.
• The Royal Foundation Centre for Early ChildhoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Action is working with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to launch 7 short films bringing science behind early brain development to life, supporting anyone working with children and families.
• Remember A CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily Action is part of Remember A Charity consortium of over 200 charities raising awareness of leaving gifts to charities in Wills.
• Octopus LegacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Octopus Legacy provides free Will writing service for Family Action supporters. Voucher code FAMILY-FREE available.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind: England and Wales's leading mental health charity, providing advice, support and local Mind network services. Comparable as Family Action expands mental health services (including the MhIST acquisition), though Mind is a far larger broad-spectrum mental health incumbent.

Direct peers

• The Children's Society: UK charity supporting vulnerable children and young people, including work on county lines, exploitation, mental health and disability. Comparable as a similarly sized national charity with services overlapping Family Action's young people and mental health portfolios.
• NSPCC: Leading UK children's charity focused on child protection, abuse prevention and therapeutic support. Comparable as a nationally recognised family-facing charity with government contract relationships and extensive helpline services (Childline parallels FamilyLine).
• Action for Children: UK national charity supporting disadvantaged children, young people and families through fostering, residential care, SEND, mental health and family support services. Closely comparable in mission, scale and service mix to Family Action.
• Home-Start UK: UK family support charity offering volunteer-led home visiting and early years support for families with young children. Directly comparable as a peer in parent support, early intervention and community-based family services, though smaller in scale.
• Barnardo's: One of the UK's largest children's charities, providing adoption support, family support, mental health and SEND services across the country. Directly comparable as a broad-based family and children support charity with similar commissioning relationships with UK government.
• Relate: UK's largest provider of relationship support and counselling, including family and couples therapy. Comparable to Family Action's FamilyLine offering (relationships, conflict, parenting, caring) and family counselling services.

Emerging players

• Contact (for families with disabled children): UK charity supporting families of disabled children with advice, information and peer support. Comparable to Family Action's SENDIASS and special educational needs work, though more specialist in scope.
• Gingerbread: UK charity supporting single parent families with advice, training and peer support. Comparable as a specialist family-focused charity addressing a specific family hardship segment, though smaller and more narrowly scoped than Family Action.

Others

• Shout: UK 24/7 text-based crisis support service that Family Action partners with to provide out-of-hours coverage for FamilyLine. Included as an adjacent enabling partner rather than direct competitor; both serve overlapping crisis-support audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLLRX-bRwnQNVlm6UCZgLjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/familyaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/family_action
• Xx.com/family_action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Family Action