Thistle Foundation

What Thistle Foundation does

Thistle Foundation is a Scottish registered charity (SC016816) and company limited by guarantee (SC24409), founded in 1944 to support ex-service personnel and now delivering person-centred health, wellbeing and supported living services to adults with long-term health conditions, disabilities and challenging life circumstances across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Midlothian. Its core offerings include Supported Living via skilled Personal Assistants, the 10-week Lifestyle Management Course (delivered face-to-face, online via Easygenerator, and in a youth-specific variant), Mindfulness Based Living and Mindfulness in Nature courses, Thistle Gym supported exercise sessions, Thistle Outdoors adaptive cycling, Veterans support (Scotland-wide), and the Midlothian Wellbeing Service embedded in all 12 GP practices. The organisation also runs Connecting Craigmillar, a community development project in its home neighbourhood, and Thistle Academy, launched in 2022 as a paid training pathway for social care workers.

The organisation holds no proprietary technology; its delivery stack relies on third-party platforms (Easygenerator for e-learning, Panopto for course video hosting, the Mindfulness Association app for guided practices) overlaid on human-mediated coaching, group facilitation and Personal Assistant support. All services are provided free of charge to participants, with revenue derived from a mix of individual donations and community fundraising, trust and foundation grants, and statutory funding from the Scottish Government and Health and Social Care Partnerships, including a £250,000 award in June 2022 for the Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach national programme. The organisation holds Care Inspectorate Grade 4 'Good' ratings across its regulated Supported Living services and operates from its Centre of Wellbeing at 13 Queen's Walk, Edinburgh, under the leadership of CEO Mark Hoolahan.

Name

Thistle Foundation

Legal name

Thistle Foundation

Website

https://thistle.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Thistle Foundation is a Scottish charity founded in 1944 that delivers free, person-centred health, wellbeing and supported living services to people with long-term health conditions, disabilities and challenging life circumstances across Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife and Midlothian.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Eating & Feeding Assistance (HSABABAE), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Social care services
• Supported living
• Wellbeing coaching
• Community health support
• Disability support services

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, regular giving programmes, and community fundraising events including Kiltwalk participation, challenge events (Edinburgh Marathon, half marathons), summer fair, Christmas fair, and online fundraising through Easyfundraising. The charity also receives support through trust and foundation grants.
2. Scottish Government Funding: Core funding from Scottish Government for national development programmes. Received initial £250,000 funding for Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach national programme working with NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships and Third Sector organisations.
3. Trusts, Foundations and Statutory Funding: Funding from trusts, foundations and statutory bodies for specific programmes and community projects such as Connecting Craigmillar (originally partnership with Link Up/Inspiring Scotland) and adaptive bike sessions (City of Edinburgh Council funding).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thistle Foundation delivers person-centred health and wellbeing support for adults living with long-term health conditions, disabilities, and challenging life circumstances across Scotland. Core services include Supported Living with Personal Assistants, 1:1 wellbeing coaching, 10-week Lifestyle Management Courses (face-to-face and online), Mindfulness Based Living and Mindfulness in Nature courses, supported gym and adaptive cycling, plus community development through Connecting Craigmillar and workforce training via Thistle Academy. All services are provided free of charge to participants.

Product overview

Thistle Foundation is a charity providing person-centred health and wellbeing support primarily for people living with long-term health conditions, disabilities, and challenging life circumstances. The organization operates a multi-service model centered on Supported Living (skilled Personal Assistants supporting independent living), Health and Wellbeing Services (coaching, courses, mindfulness), and community programs. Key service offerings include the Lifestyle Management Course (10-week program available face-to-face, online, or youth-specific versions), Mindfulness Courses (Mindfulness Based Living and Mindfulness in Nature), Thistle Gym (supported physical activity), Thistle Outdoors (adaptive cycling), Veterans Support, Midlothian Wellbeing Service (embedded in GP surgeries), and Connecting Craigmillar (community development). Thistle Academy provides training for social care workers. Services are delivered through a hybrid model of in-person and remote support across Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife, Midlothian, and Scotland-wide for veterans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thistle Academy: Learning and development pathway providing training for people looking to start or return to work in social care, including a four-week foundation course and SVQ accreditation.
• Thistle Outdoors
• Connecting Craigmillar
• Midlothian Wellbeing Service
• Thistle Wellbeing Service

Products and services

• Supported Living Person-centred support service enabling disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to live independently in their homes and communities through skilled Personal Assistants and Wellbeing Practitioners. Grade 4 'Good' rated by the Care Inspectorate across all areas inspected.
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% increase in people seeking support year-over-year, demonstrating growing demand and trust in services.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Edinburgh Food ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2023Partnership to create community support hub at Thistle's Centre of Wellbeing. Edinburgh Food Project operates foodbank, provides employment support and money advice services from the shared space, bringing together crisis support and wellbeing services.
• Let the People SingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Community-led group of local residents with lived experience of addiction and recovery. Thistle's Connecting Craigmillar team supported setup of The Bothy recovery hub on Niddrie Mains Road. Let the People Sing organises and runs activities with some in partnership with Turning Point Scotland.
• Scottish GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2022Scottish Government provided £250,000 initial funding for Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach national development programme. Thistle is working with NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships and Third Sector organisations to reshape rehabilitation services for people with long-term health conditions across Scotland.
• Midlothian Health and Social Care PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership delivering Midlothian Wellbeing Service. Thistle practitioners are based in all 12 Midlothian GP practices. Collaboration aims to support culture change, shifting emphasis towards prevention, anticipatory care, recovery and support for self-management.
• Cycling UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdaptive bikes are loaned to Thistle by Cycling UK. Thistle Outdoors provides adaptive cycling sessions for adults with long-term health conditions, disabilities and challenging circumstances using these bikes.
• City of Edinburgh CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Edinburgh Council provides funding for adaptive bike sessions at Thistle, enabling Thistle Outdoors project to support people with disabilities and long-term health conditions to access cycling.
• University of Edinburgh Centre of Regenerative MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint event at Edinburgh Bio Quarter to showcase stem cell research to young people in local community and Thistle YP members, featuring adaptive bike demonstrations.
• Turning Point ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird sector partner providing services at The Bothy recovery hub alongside Let the People Sing community members.
• Queen Margaret UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership involving workshops with Let the People Sing and The Bothy community members.
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra ChorusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural partner performing at Thistle Foundation Christmas Fair and festive celebrations at Centre of Wellbeing, contributing to community engagement and fundraising.
• CCPS (Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThistle is a member of CCPS and fully endorsed their submission to the Independent Review of Adult Social Care. Thistle participates in CCPS campaigns including Rethink to 13 for fair pay in social care.
• IRISS (Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to share stories about COVID-19 crisis impact on people's outcomes. Thistle's stories and others collated into 'A Shared Experience' online resource.
• Personal Outcomes NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThistle Coach and Senior Leader Julie Gardner invited to share Thistle's stories about COVID-19 impact, contributing to national learning resource.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hft (Home Farm Trust): National UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through personalised support, supported living and community programmes. Comparable in 1:1 PA-led model and long-term condition focus, though broader geography.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Large UK health charity delivering self-management, wellbeing coaching and rehabilitation support for people living with long-term conditions. Comparable in long-term-condition wellbeing coaching methodology, though condition-specific.
• Mencap: UK's largest learning disability charity delivering supported living, advocacy, employment and wellbeing services. Comparable in supported living delivery and population served, though with greater national scale and brand reach.
• Sue Ryder: UK charity providing palliative, neurological and long-term condition support including self-management, wellbeing services and community programmes. Comparable in long-term-condition focus and wellbeing service delivery model.
• Leonard Cheshire: UK-wide disability charity providing supported living, employment support and wellbeing services. Operates at significantly larger scale with similar person-centred methodology and comparable target population.

Direct peers

• Enable Scotland: Scottish charity delivering supported living, self-directed support and community-based services for people with learning disabilities and long-term conditions. Closest Scottish-sector peer to Thistle's person-centred supported living model.
• Cornerstone (Cornerstone Community Care): Scottish social care charity providing personalised support, housing and wellbeing services for disabled people and those with complex needs across Scotland. Comparable in funding model (grants/contracts), service breadth and target population.
• Real Life Options: UK social care provider offering personalised supported living and community support for people with disabilities, mental health needs and complex conditions. Directly comparable in personal-assistant-led model and commissioning structure.
• Capability Scotland: Scotland-wide disability charity providing supported living, personal assistant services and wellbeing programmes for disabled people. Directly comparable in mission, geography and service mix to Thistle's Supported Living and Health & Wellbeing lines.
• Quarriers: One of Scotland's largest social care charities, providing supported living, mental health, autism and disability services. Comparable in person-centred ethos, breadth of service portfolio and Scottish-wide operating geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thistlefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thistle_foundation
• Xx.com/thistlecharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-thistle-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Thistle Foundation