Aspens Charities
Aspens Charities is a UK-registered charity delivering residential, supported living, day, children's and Positive Behaviour Support services for people with autism and learning disabilities, and their families, across Kent and Sussex under contracts with 30 local authorities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersKent, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aspens Charities does
Aspens Charities is a UK-registered charity (Charity number 1171446, Company number 10342980) headquartered in Pembury, Kent, delivering care and support services for adults, children and young people aged 8-25 on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, alongside their families and carers, across South East England. The organisation operates an integrated network of services spanning Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey and the London Borough of Bexley, including residential care, supported living, day opportunities, community outreach, children's short breaks and social support groups, specialist and family support, and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), with regional offices in Battle and Littlehampton. Underpinning the service model is the PBS methodology, a person-centred, behaviour-analytic approach to support individuals with complex needs that has been highly commended at national awards, and the organisation is accredited as a Disability Confident employer.
Aspens generates revenue primarily through commissioned service contracts with 30 different local authorities, structured across 21 individual framework contracts and 8 service contracts, making local authority commissioning the dominant funding stream. Diversified, secondary revenue streams include dedicated individual fundraising from donors, trusts and foundations, retail income from four high-street charity shops (Bexhill, Crowborough, Paddock Wood, Seaford) plus an eBay shop, and consumer income from the Bluebell Cafe & Animal Farm visitor attraction at Pembury and meeting room hire at the Roebuck Centre in Hastings. The Roebuck Enterprises day centre extends the offer into creative workshops (drama, baking, crafts) for adults with autism and learning disabilities, and a "Learn with Us" programme provides accredited health and social care training to external professionals. Marketing reach spans LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter/X, newsletters and events including RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, supported by an annual impact report process; services are accessed through a formal local-authority and family referral process rather than direct consumer pricing.
Aspens Charities firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aspens Charities
- Legal name
- Aspens Charities
- Website
- https://aspens.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Aspens Charities is a UK-registered charity delivering residential, supported living, day, children's and Positive Behaviour Support services for people with autism and learning disabilities, and their families, across Kent and Sussex under contracts with 30 local authorities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aspens Charities industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Care Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Aspens Charities is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kent
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Aspens Charities business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Local Authority Contracts: The majority of funding comes from 30 different local authorities through 21 individual framework contracts and eight different service contracts for care and support services.
- High Street Retail: Charity shops on high streets providing additional income and community presence. Includes shops in Bexhill, Crowborough, Paddock Wood, and Seaford, plus an eBay shop.
- Individual Fundraising: Dedicated fundraising team raises funds from individuals, trusts, and foundations to support charitable projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aspens Charities product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aspens Charities provides high-quality care and support services to people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities across South-East England, through an integrated network that includes adult residential and supported living services, day opportunities and community outreach, children's short breaks and activity clubs, family and specialist support, and Positive Behaviour Support. The charity also operates the Roebuck Enterprises day centre in Hastings and the Bluebell Cafe & Animal Farm visitor destination at its Pembury headquarters, and runs high street charity shops to supplement commissioned funding.
Product overview
Aspens Charities offers a comprehensive integrated network of care and support services across Kent, East Sussex, and West Sussex for people on the autism spectrum, with learning disabilities, and their families. The portfolio includes adult residential and supported living services, children's services (social groups, clubs, holiday activities, and short breaks), Positive Behaviour Support, Family Support, Specialist Support, and professional training programs. Additional services include the Roebuck Enterprises day centre, Bluebell Cafe & Animal Farm visitor attraction, and high street charity shops for community engagement and fundraising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adult Services Comprehensive care and support services for adults on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, including residential care, supported living, day opportunities, and community outreach across Kent and Sussex.
- Children's Services Specialist support services for children and young people with disabilities, autism, and complex needs aged 8-25, including social support groups, after-school clubs, Saturday clubs, holiday activities, and short break residential services in East Sussex and West Sussex.
- Positive Behaviour Support Person-centred support service using behaviour analytic strategies to improve quality of life for individuals with complex and challenging behaviours, delivered by a nationally recognised specialist team.
- Family Support Support service that walks alongside families of neurodivergent individuals and those with learning disabilities or complex needs, helping them feel confident, connected, and supported.
- Specialist Support Person-centred, strengths-based support for families of neurodivergent children and young people, whether formally diagnosed or not, including those with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
- Learn with Us - Training for Professionals Training and professional development services for care professionals offering recognised qualifications in health and social care to support career progression.
- Roebuck Enterprises Day Centre Day centre in Hastings, East Sussex offering creative workshops including drama, baking, crafts, and activities for adults with autism, associated needs, and learning disabilities.
- Bluebell Cafe and Animal Farm Visitor attraction at the Pembury site featuring a cafe (open Monday-Friday), animal farm with guinea pigs, ferrets, ponies, emus and alpacas, woodland walk, and children's playground.
- High Street Charity Shops Charity retail outlets in Bexhill, Crowborough, Paddock Wood, and Seaford, plus an eBay online shop, providing additional income for the charity and a community presence in local towns.
Companies that use Aspens Charities
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aspens Charities technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Aspens Charities partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Local Authorities (30 different authorities)core30 different local authorities provide funding for services through 21 individual framework contracts and 8 different service contracts. Local authorities include those across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey, and the London Borough of Bexley.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aspens Charities competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hft: One of the UK's largest charities supporting people with learning disabilities, providing residential, supported living, and day services. Directly comparable to Aspens in mission, service mix, and reliance on local authority commissioning.
- Voyage Care: Large UK provider of supported living and residential care for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. A scaled competitor in the same commissioning market.
- Choice Support: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through personalised support and supported living. Operates in overlapping geographies and competes for similar contracts.
- Mencap: The UK's leading learning disability charity, offering supported living, residential care, and family support. Operates a much larger national footprint than Aspens but competes for the same commissioner relationships.
- SeeAbility: Specialist UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and sight loss through residential and community services. Comparable in beneficiary focus and service delivery model.
- Sense: UK disability charity supporting people with complex disabilities including learning disabilities and autism, offering residential, day, and family services. Directly comparable in mission and service mix.
- MacIntyre: National charity providing lifelong learning, residential, and supported living services for people with learning disabilities and autism. Comparable in mission and service model.
- National Autistic Society: UK charity focused on autism services, including residential, supported living, schools, and family support. Closely comparable to Aspens in autism specialism and service portfolio.
- United Response: National charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through supported living and personalisation services. Competes for similar local authority contracts.
Emerging players
- Certitude: London-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through supported living and community services. Regional overlap and comparable beneficiary focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aspens Charities social profiles
Digital presenceAspens Charities financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aspens Charities leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Aspens Charities funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aspens Charities M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aspens Charities
What does Aspens Charities do?
Aspens Charities provides high-quality care and support services to people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities across South-East England, through an integrated network that includes adult residential and supported living services, day opportunities and community outreach, children's short breaks and activity clubs, family and specialist support, and Positive Behaviour Support. The charity also operates the Roebuck Enterprises day centre in Hastings and the Bluebell Cafe & Animal Farm visitor destination at its Pembury headquarters, and runs high street charity shops to supplement commissioned funding.
Is Aspens Charities a public or private company?
Aspens Charities is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Aspens Charities founded?
Aspens Charities was founded in 2016. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Aspens Charities based?
Aspens Charities is headquartered in Kent, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Aspens Charities make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Local Authority Contracts are the primary driver. The others are high Street Retail and individual Fundraising.
Who are Aspens Charities's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hft, Voyage Care, Choice Support, Mencap, SeeAbility, Sense, MacIntyre, National Autistic Society and United Response. Certitude is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aspens Charities have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aspens Charities.
What industry is Aspens Charities in?
Aspens Charities's product category is Disability Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.