Deaf Action

What Deaf Action does

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity established in 1835 and headquartered at 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh, serving deaf, deafened, deafblind, and hard of hearing individuals across Scotland and the South of England. The organization operates as a comprehensive social services provider rather than a technology platform, delivering a portfolio of 16+ service lines that includes BSL/English interpreting and communication support (interpreters, electronic notetakers, lipspeakers, communication support workers), social care (community support in South England, social work in Edinburgh and the Lothians, supported accommodation, and a residential care home), specialist deaf equipment provision for homes and workplaces, youth services, employability support, BSL-delivered counselling and wellbeing services, and educational courses spanning BSL (taster through SQA Level 3 / SCQF levels 3-6), deaf awareness, lipreading, and digital skills. The Albany Street building also functions as a community hub, hosting Brennan's Library, the Blackwood Bar, community events, and cultural programming including the Edinburgh Deaf Festival and BSL Burns Week.

The business model is a hybrid charity model with two revenue streams: charitable donations and fundraising (individual donors, corporate supporters, community fundraising, events, and legacy giving) and service fees (BSL interpreting bookings, course tuition, specialist equipment sales and hire, and room hire at Albany Street). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth within the deaf community, the deafaction.org website, BSL video content (including the 'Deaf Like Me' storytelling series), email newsletters, organic social media, and partnerships with other deaf and community organizations. The organization is incorporated as Deaf Action Ltd (a Scottish private company limited by guarantee, company number SC396876) and registered as a charity (SC009898), governed by a board of trustees led by Chairperson Rosie Addis and CEO Philip Gerrard. In 2021, Deaf Action merged with Sonus, expanding capacity under the Deaf Action brand, and operates with 51-100 employees.

Name

Deaf Action

Legal name

Deaf Action Ltd

Website

https://deafaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1835

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Deaf Action is a deaf-led UK charity, established in 1835 and headquartered in Edinburgh, providing BSL interpreting, social care, specialist equipment, BSL courses, and community services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals across Scotland and South of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services for the Deaf Community

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Deaf community services
• Sign language training
• Interpreting services
• Social care services
• Specialist deaf equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and fundraising: Deaf Action generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporate supporters, and community fundraising activities including events, raffles, and appeals.
2. Service fees: Revenue generated from services such as room hire, specialist equipment sales, and communication/interpreting services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity that delivers direct services to deaf and hard of hearing people across Scotland and South England. Its core offerings are BSL/English interpreting and communication support, social care (community support, supported accommodation, residential care), specialist deaf equipment for home and workplace, youth services, employability support, BSL counselling and wellbeing, and accredited British Sign Language, deaf awareness, lipreading and digital skills courses.

Product overview

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of services to deaf and hard of hearing people across Scotland and South England. The organization operates as a service provider rather than a software platform, offering face-to-face and community-based support. Core services include BSL interpretation and communication support, community care (social work, supported accommodation, residential care), specialist equipment provision, youth services, and educational courses (BSL, deaf awareness, lipreading, digital skills). The portfolio also includes advocacy, befriending services, health and wellbeing support, and employability assistance. The organization runs the historic Albany Street building as a community hub hosting the Blackwood Bar, Brennan's Library, BSL classes, and community events including the Edinburgh Deaf Festival and BSL Burns Week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Befriending Service
• BSL Video Production
• Communication & Interpreting Agency
• Care in the Community
• Specialist Equipment
• Youth Service
• British Sign Language Courses
• Deaf Awareness Courses
• Lipreading Courses
• Digital Skills Training
• Hard of Hearing Services
• BSL Health & Wellbeing Support
• Employability Service
• Room Hire
• Brennan's Library
• Edinburgh Deaf Festival

Segments4 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 minor.

• GS-JJminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 December 2025GS-JJ is an official badge partner for Deaf Action, providing custom enamel badges and stickers. Their contribution supports events, fundraising work, and community activities, helping enhance organizational visibility and community engagement.
• EWS Financial AdvisorsminorOthersCorporate supporter who contributed to the Christmas Lift Appeal fundraising campaign.
• Gallagher Insurance BrokersminorOthersCorporate supporter who contributed to the Christmas Lift Appeal fundraising campaign.
• TSB's Community FundminorOthersCorporate supporter who contributed to the Christmas Lift Appeal through community fund nomination.
• Ecclesiastical InsuranceminorOthersCorporate supporter who contributed to the Christmas Lift Appeal fundraising campaign.
• Lloyd and WhyteminorOthersCorporate supporter who contributed through British Dental Association charity nomination to the Christmas Lift Appeal.
• Deaf History ScotlandminorOthersCommunity organization that provided generous support for the Christmas Lift Appeal.
• Bonnetmakers and Dyers of the Trades House of GlasgowminorOthersTraditional trade organization that supported the Christmas Lift Appeal.
• Albany Deaf ChurchminorOthersLocal deaf community organization that supported the Christmas Lift Appeal.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): The UK's largest charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, providing similar services including hearing aids, information, advocacy, and BSL courses. Direct competitor for donations, BSL training, and national service contracts.
• SignHealth: UK charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of deaf people, providing BSL-accessible health services, advocacy, and supported living — directly overlapping with Deaf Action's community care and health services.
• British Deaf Association (BDA): The UK's leading membership organization for deaf people, led by and for the deaf community. Overlaps with Deaf Action on deaf-led advocacy, BSL promotion, and community engagement in Scotland and across the UK.
• National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS): UK charity focused on deaf children and young people, providing youth services, family support, and education advocacy. Comparable to Deaf Action's youth service, family BSL courses, and deaf students information.
• Action Deafness: A deaf-led UK charity providing community support, BSL training, interpretation, and advocacy. Direct competitor in the deaf-led service space with overlapping service offerings including BSL courses and accessibility advice.

Broad incumbents

• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People: UK charity training hearing assistance dogs and providing deaf support services. Adjacent in the deaf support ecosystem with overlapping fundraising and awareness-raising audiences.
• Sense: National disability charity supporting deafblind people and those with complex needs. Compares on deafblind services component of Deaf Action's portfolio and on supported residential care.

Regional players

• Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD): Scottish national body for the deaf sector, providing information, advocacy, and coordination across Scotland. Directly competes with Deaf Action in Scotland for deaf awareness training, advocacy, and policy engagement.

Emerging players

• Deafblind UK: Specialist UK charity supporting people with combined sight and hearing loss. Overlaps with Deaf Action's deafened and deafblind customer segment and supported accommodation services.
• Remark! (Remarkable Signs / Remark Interpreting): Social enterprise providing BSL interpreting, translation, and deaf-led services across the UK. Direct competitor in the BSL/English interpreting agency space and a comparable deaf-led service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deafaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Deaf Action