Talkback UK
Talkback UK is a Buckinghamshire-based charity, founded in 1998, delivering autism and learning-disability support services across South-East England through education, employability, advocacy, social enterprises, and digital programmes for individuals aged 14 and over.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersWycombe, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Talkback UK does
Talkback UK is a registered charity (no. 1093732) and company limited by guarantee (no. 04279266) founded in 1998, headquartered in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with additional operational sites in Aylesbury and High Wycombe. The organisation delivers autism and learning-disability support services across South-East England, organised around a "Talkback Pathway" model spanning key life stages from age 14 through adulthood. Core service lines include the Equip Post-16 Specialist Provision (education support funded through Education, Health and Care Plans), Personal Development and Skills, Employability Services, Autism Peer Support, Transitions, Sports Academy, and Performing Arts Academy. The Your Voice sub-brand delivers advocacy and consultancy services, including Experts by Experience training for professionals.
The business operates as a community-based charity rather than a technology company. There is no proprietary software platform; the technology footprint consists of the talkback-uk.com website, a YouTube channel (Talkback TV) for virtual sessions, and standard social-media presence. Revenue is generated through three streams: adult social care funding commissioned by local authorities (primarily Buckinghamshire Council), charitable donations and grants (including Thames Valley Police Community Fund and Youth Music), and education services delivered in partnership with colleges and funded by EHCPs. The organisation also operates two trading-style social enterprises — The Accessible Workshop (woodworking with NOCN-accredited qualifications, launched 2021) and ChaTea Café (hospitality work experience, launched 2025) — plus a digital arm (Talkback Digital) for virtual sessions. Customer concentration is high, anchored on Buckinghamshire Council commissioning and a small set of college partners; the beneficiary base spans hundreds of individuals annually across Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties.
Talkback UK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Talkback UK
- Legal name
- Talkback-UK Ltd
- Website
- https://talkback-uk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Talkback UK is a Buckinghamshire-based charity, founded in 1998, delivering autism and learning-disability support services across South-East England through education, employability, advocacy, social enterprises, and digital programmes for individuals aged 14 and over.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Talkback UK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Autism Support Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)
Keywords
Where Talkback UK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wycombe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Talkback UK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Social Care Funding: Adult Social Care Funded Provision for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, provided through local authority funding arrangements with Buckinghamshire Council and surrounding areas.
- Donations and Charitable Funding: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and grant-making organizations including Thames Valley Police Community Fund and Youth Music.
- Education Services: Post-16 Specialist Provision and Equip programme working in partnership with colleges, funded through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Talkback UK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Talkback UK is a registered charity providing autism and learning disability support services across Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. It delivers person-centered programmes through the "Talkback Pathway" covering key life stages from age 14 through 100+, including post-16 specialist education (Equip), personal development and skills training, employability support, autism peer support, transitions, sports and performing arts, and self-advocacy (Your Voice). It also operates two social enterprises — The Accessible Workshop (woodworking) and ChaTea Café — that provide real-world work experience.
Product overview
Talkback UK is a charity providing autism and learning disability support services across Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. Their portfolio consists of multiple interconnected services organised around a 'Talkback Pathway' model spanning all key life stages: Pre-16 Transitions, Post-16 Education (Equip programme), and Post-18 Adult Services. Core services include the Equip Post-16 Specialist Provision for education support, the Personal Development and Skills Programme, Employability Services, Autism Peer Support, Transitions, Sports Academy, and Performing Arts Academy. They operate two social enterprises: The Accessible Workshop (woodworking with NOCN accredited qualifications) and ChaTea Café (hospitality work experience). Their digital arm includes Talkback Digital with Talkback TV YouTube channel for virtual sessions. The Your Voice advocacy service provides Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, and training for professionals. Services are coordinated through their registered charity (1093732) with locations in Amersham, Aylesbury, and High Wycombe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Accessible Workshop: A social enterprise offering woodworking and practical skills, enabling adults with learning disabilities or autism to build real-world work skills and gain understanding of how their skills can create positive social change.
- Talkback Digital
- Talkback TV
- Your Voice
Products and services
- Equip (Post-16 Specialist Provision) Education support programme for young people aged 16-25 with learning disabilities or autism, providing individual learning packages based on EHCP outcomes, college support, life skills, employability skills, work experience, and supported internship opportunities.
- Personal Development and Skills Programme Programme enabling people with learning disabilities and autistic people to build confidence in managing their own lives through skills development including travel training, sports, arts, and employment support.
- Employability Services Employment support services helping people with learning disabilities and autistic people find and maintain work, including work experience placements, supported internships, and job coaching.
- Autism Peer Support Flexible strengths-based service supporting adults with autism and/or learning disability to feel heard, valued and connected through peer support networks.
- Transitions Service Support service for people aged 14+ in schools designed to help them transition and deal with the fears of moving into adulthood, including travel training packages.
- Sports Academy Sport and physical activity sessions offering ways to maintain physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence, and provide avenues for expression and personal growth through specialist coaching.
- Performing Arts Academy Drama, dance, music and arts sessions providing creative expression and performance opportunities through weekly theatre groups working towards regular productions.
- Your Voice (Advocacy Services) Advocacy and self-advocacy services including Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, Experts by Experience programme, Easy-read services, and consultancy for professionals.
- The Accessible Workshop Woodworking and practical skills social enterprise enabling adults with learning disabilities or autism to build real-world work skills through commissioned projects, with income reinvested into the enterprise. Offers NOCN accredited courses from Entry Level 3 to Level 2 in Carpentry and Joinery.
- Talkback Digital Online service delivery programme offering virtual sessions including keep fit, movement, seated exercise, sport, dance, art, mindfulness and wellbeing through Talkback TV YouTube channel and live broadcasts.
- ChaTea Café Community café in High Wycombe providing work experience opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities and autism to develop skills in serving, money handling, food hygiene and customer service.
- Youth Club Supervised monthly youth club for young autistic people aged 16-24 providing activities such as sports, crafts, music and socialising opportunities.
Companies that use Talkback UK
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Talkback UK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Talkback UK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Buckinghamshire CouncilcorePrimary local authority partner commissioning adult social care services and supporting young people with SEND. Working alongside Buckinghamshire Council on Adult Social Care Travel Assistance Policy development, SEND initiatives, and community engagement programmes.
- NHScoreHealthcare partner working with Talkback on various health and wellbeing initiatives, including autism support courses and health passport development.
- Reading Borough CouncilminorLocal authority partner in the Reading area providing support and commissioning services.
- Milton Keynes CouncilcoreLocal authority partner supporting autistic adults and those with learning disabilities in Milton Keynes, including sponsorship of the Umbrella Project for neurodiversity celebration.
- Bucks College GroupcorePrimary education partner providing college-based support for young people with learning disabilities and autism as part of the Equip programme.
- Green Dragon Eco FarmminorHorticultural work experience partner providing opportunities for members to develop skills in a farm environment.
- Missenden AbbeyminorCommunity partner venue used for various Talkback activities and programmes.
- BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture)coreEducation partner college providing educational support for young people with learning disabilities and autism.
- Discover Bucks MuseumminorWork experience partner enabling members to build retail and customer service skills through museum shop placement.
- National Paralympic Heritage TrustminorWork experience placement partner in Aylesbury providing opportunities for members to develop vocational skills.
- The Mustard Seed Cafe and Food HubminorWork experience partner in High Wycombe providing hospitality and customer service training opportunities.
- Thames Valley PolicecoreFunded creation of cyber safety, cuckooing, and modern slavery training films through Thames Valley Police Community Fund. Joint initiative to keep vulnerable people safe.
- Ultimate FilmscoreProfessional film production company that works with Talkback members to create training videos on topics including cyber safety, cuckooing, and modern slavery. Ensures authentic representation of autistic and learning disability perspectives.
- Chiltern RangersminorCommunity organization partnered with for outdoor activities and environmental projects including planting at Sands area.
- Q:Alliance (MK LGBTQ+ Charity)minorLGBTQ+ charity in Milton Keynes partnering to support member Harry's participation in social groups and Pride events.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Talkback UK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hft: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including autism, through personalised services, supported living, and employment programmes. Highly comparable in mission, beneficiary profile, and adult social care commissioning model.
- United Response: National UK charity providing person-centred support for people with learning disabilities and autism, including education, employment, and independent living services. Comparable in scale and range of community-based disability support.
- MacIntyre: UK charity providing learning disability support including education, supported employment, and life skills programmes. Highly comparable in operating model and target beneficiary cohort.
- Kingwood: UK charity specifically supporting autistic people and those with learning disabilities through personalised programmes, employment support, and community participation — closely aligned with Talkback's mission.
- Advance: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions through advocacy, employment, and community programmes. Directly comparable service portfolio.
- Ambitious about Autism: UK charity focused specifically on autism education and transition support for young people, including post-16 provision and employability programmes. Comparable focus on educational transitions for autistic youth.
Broad incumbents
- Mencap: The largest UK charity for people with learning disabilities, offering education, employment, advocacy, and social care across the country. Directly comparable in mission; significantly larger and broader in geographic reach.
- Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including those with learning disabilities and autism, offering social care, education, and advocacy services. Overlapping beneficiary base and service mix.
- National Autistic Society: The UK's leading charity for autistic people, providing education, advocacy, employment, and community services nationwide. Highly overlapping beneficiary base and service categories.
Regional players
- Certitude: London-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through personalised services. Comparable mission but primarily focused on the London region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Talkback UK social profiles
Digital presenceTalkback UK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Talkback UK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Talkback UK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Talkback UK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Talkback UK 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 Talkback UK
What does Talkback UK do?
Talkback UK is a registered charity providing autism and learning disability support services across Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. It delivers person-centered programmes through the "Talkback Pathway" covering key life stages from age 14 through 100+, including post-16 specialist education (Equip), personal development and skills training, employability support, autism peer support, transitions, sports and performing arts, and self-advocacy (Your Voice). It also operates two social enterprises — The Accessible Workshop (woodworking) and ChaTea Café — that provide real-world work experience.
Is Talkback UK a public or private company?
Talkback UK is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Talkback UK founded?
Talkback UK was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Talkback UK based?
Talkback UK is headquartered in Wycombe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Talkback UK make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Social Care Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Funding and education Services.
Who are Talkback UK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hft, United Response, MacIntyre, Kingwood, Advance and Ambitious about Autism. Broad incumbents are Mencap, Sense and National Autistic Society. Certitude is listed as a regional player.
Does Talkback UK have an API?
No public API is recorded for Talkback UK.
What industry is Talkback UK in?
Talkback UK's product category is Disability and Autism Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of EDAKAKAK, Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational). Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.