What The Forward Trust does

The Forward Trust is a UK-registered social justice charity (charity number 1001701; company number 2560474) headquartered in Kennington, London, operating across England and Wales in both prison and community settings. It supports individuals affected by addiction, criminal justice involvement, homelessness, and unemployment, delivering an integrated portfolio of services spanning drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, criminal justice and resettlement programmes, employment and skills services, residential rehabilitation, housing assistance, family support, and peer recovery communities. Named delivery assets include Clouds House (residential addiction treatment in Dorset), The Bridges (residential rehab in Hull), The Brink (Liverpool), Blue Sky Services (employment social enterprise), Forward Connect (a 5,200-member peer support community), the NHS-commissioned RECONNECT prison reconnection service, and the government-funded Restart Scheme. In financial year 24/25 the organisation reported supporting 31,780 clients, with 8,413 helped to make transformational changes and 33% of staff holding lived experience of addiction or criminal justice involvement.

The organisation is not a technology company; its core delivery rests on therapeutic programmes, 12-step and trauma-informed rehabilitation approaches, and peer support rather than proprietary software or platforms. It confirms no consumer application, no public API, and no disclosed AI capability. Digital touchpoints are limited to the Forward Connect peer community, Recovery Online resources, and web-based content.

The business model is that of a commissioned-service charity blended with philanthropic fundraising. Its primary revenue mechanism is government contracts — NHS commissions, HM Prison and Probation Service contracts, and probation service partnerships — won through formal procurement, complemented by individual donations, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and legacy giving. Services to end beneficiaries are free at the point of use. Go-to-market is a dual motion: a sales-led/commissioning motion targeting government buyers and an event-driven fundraising motion (challenge events, community fundraisers) supported by high-profile advocacy from Royal Patron HRH The Princess of Wales and Chair Tony Adams MBE.

Name

The Forward Trust

Legal name

The Forward Trust

Website

https://forwardtrust.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Forward Trust is a UK social justice charity operating across England and Wales that helps people recover from addiction and leave behind crime, providing drug and alcohol treatment, criminal justice, employment, housing, and peer support services funded by government commissions and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social services charity (addiction recovery and criminal justice rehabilitation)

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Addiction recovery services
• Criminal justice rehabilitation
• Residential rehabilitation centres
• Community drug treatment
• Employment support programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: The Forward Trust receives government funding through NHS commissions, prison service contracts, and probation service partnerships to deliver addiction treatment, criminal justice support, and rehabilitation services.
2. Individual Donations: Individual supporters donate through one-time gifts, regular monthly donations, and fundraising activities including challenge events, community fundraisers, and personal appeals.
3. Trusts and Foundations: The charity receives grants and funding from charitable trusts and foundations for specific programmes and initiatives.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Companies support the charity through corporate donations, employee fundraising, and cause-related marketing partnerships.
5. Legacy Giving: The Forward Trust receives gifts in Wills from supporters who leave legacies to support future work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Forward Trust is a UK social justice charity delivering free, integrated support services that help individuals break cycles of addiction and offending. Its portfolio spans community and residential drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, prison and probation-based rehabilitation, employment and enterprise support, housing and resettlement assistance, and peer recovery communities. Services are commissioned by NHS, HM Prison and Probation Service, and local authorities, supplemented by charitable grants and donations.

Product overview

The Forward Trust is a social justice charity offering a portfolio of integrated support services across England and Wales. The organisation provides a unified service model combining drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, criminal justice services, employment programmes, residential rehabilitation, housing assistance, and peer recovery communities. Key services include Clouds House (residential addiction treatment), The Bridges - Hull (12-week rehab), Blue Sky Services (social enterprise employment), Forward Connect (peer support community with 5,200 members), RECONNECT (NHS prison reconnection service), Restart Scheme (employment support), and Enterprise Support (business bootcamp for ex-offenders). The charity also runs awareness campaigns including More Than My Past and Taking Action on Addiction. Services are delivered across both prison and community settings, supporting over 31,000 clients annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blue Sky Services: Social enterprise providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders and those affected by addiction
• Forward Connect
• The Bridges - Hull
• Clouds House
• The Brink Liverpool
• ReNew
• Restart Scheme
• RECONNECT
• Enterprise Support

Products and services

• Drug & Alcohol Support Services Community and residential treatment for people with drug and alcohol addiction, including structured day programmes, 12-step approaches, harm reduction, and recovery support across multiple regional hubs in England and Wales.
• Mental Health Support Support services for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those with co-occurring addiction or criminal justice involvement, delivered through community and prison-based teams.
• Criminal Justice Services Rehabilitation, resettlement, and continuity-of-care support for individuals in prison or on probation, delivered in partnership with HM Prison and Probation Service at sites including HMP Brixton, Wormwood Scrubs, Cardiff, Coldingley, Grendon, and Send.
• Employment Support Services Programmes helping individuals into sustainable employment, including the Restart Scheme, employability training, CV and interview support, numeracy qualifications, and job placement assistance, particularly for those with criminal records or addiction histories.
• Residential Rehabilitation Services Residential addiction treatment programmes: Clouds House near Shaftesbury in Dorset and The Bridges in Hull deliver 12-week residential rehabilitation for individuals with drug and alcohol addiction.
• Recovery Support Ongoing recovery support for individuals in recovery from addiction, providing sustained engagement beyond formal treatment to help maintain long-term sobriety.
• Housing Services Support to secure stable accommodation and prevent homelessness, including resettlement assistance for those leaving prison and tenancy support for individuals in recovery.
• Family Support & Specialist Programmes Support services for families affected by addiction, including the ReNew family support service and specialist programmes such as Relationships Matter.
• The Brink Liverpool A recovery-focused service in Liverpool providing support for individuals affected by addiction, delivered as a community hub within The Forward Trust's footprint.
• Forward Connect Peer support community with 5,200 members providing ongoing connection and mutual support for individuals in recovery from addiction.
• Blue Sky Services Social enterprise providing employment opportunities and training for individuals with criminal records or those in recovery from addiction.
• Enterprise Support Business support service helping ex-offenders and those in recovery start and grow their own businesses, including the Ex-Offender's Business Bootcamp.
• RECONNECT NHS-commissioned service helping people leaving prison reconnect with vital health and wellbeing support.
• Restart Scheme Government-funded employment programme supporting individuals into sustainable work, including those from challenging backgrounds such as ex-offenders and people in recovery.
• Multiply Programme Numeracy and mathematics qualification programme helping individuals gain qualifications that improve employability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31,780 clients supported in 24/25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS-commissioned RECONNECT service supporting people leaving prison to reconnect with health and wellbeing services. This partnership delivers NHS-funded programmes in prison settings.
• HM Prison and Probation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnerships with prisons across England and Wales delivering substance misuse services, rehabilitation programmes, and resettlement support within custody settings.
• Probation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with probation services to deliver community-based support for individuals on supervision, including recovery navigators and continuity of care programmes.
• Hope and Vision CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity founded by former client Tony A, working to support people leaving residential rehab with housing and community reintegration. Works with The Forward Trust to provide continued support pathways.
• Blue Sky ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise providing employment opportunities for people with criminal records. Merged with RAPt to form The Forward Trust, continues operating as an employment social enterprise.
• KwilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online Will-writing service partnership enabling supporters to leave legacies to The Forward Trust. Kwil provides free Will-writing services with The Forward Trust as an affiliated charity option.
• Reeds SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm sponsor providing long-term support to The Forward Trust for 15 years, engaged in supporting individuals through the criminal justice system.
• Care Quality CommissioncoreOthersRegulatory body that inspects and registers The Forward Trust's services, ensuring compliance with health and social care standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Change Grow Live: One of the largest UK substance use and criminal justice charities, delivering community drug and alcohol treatment, recovery support, and prison in-reach services. Direct peer to Forward Trust's commissioned substance misuse and reentry work.
• WDP: UK charity providing drug and alcohol treatment, recovery support, and prison-based services. Comparable commissioned service model and population focus to Forward Trust.
• Phoenix Futures: UK charity providing residential rehabilitation, community drug and alcohol treatment, prison in-reach, and recovery housing. Direct peer to Forward Trust's residential rehab and reentry pathway.
• Turning Point: UK health and social care provider operating substance use, mental health, and learning disability services. Comparable as a large, multi-commissioner nonprofit working in the same local authority and NHS tendering environment.
• We Are With You (formerly Addaction): Major UK substance use charity delivering drug and alcohol treatment, recovery support, and family services. Closely comparable service portfolio and commissioner base to Forward Trust.
• Cranstoun: Charity delivering substance use treatment, criminal justice, housing, and domestic abuse services across the UK. Comparable in combining addiction, criminal justice, and housing support within an integrated model.
• Humankind: UK health and social care charity providing drug and alcohol treatment, mental health, housing, and employment services. Comparable commissioned service mix and beneficiary profile to Forward Trust.
• Catch-22: Social business delivering criminal justice, education, and employability services, including prison in-reach and resettlement. Comparable in serving justice-involved populations and operating Restart Scheme employment programmes.

Emerging players

• Adfam: UK charity supporting families affected by drug and alcohol use. Comparable as a specialist family support provider aligned with Forward Trust's ReNew family services.

Regional players

• The Nelson Trust: Charity supporting women, families, and those affected by addiction and criminal justice involvement, with significant residential and community provision. Comparable in mission and service mix though with a stronger women-focused niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forwardtrust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Forward Trust