Partners in Support

What Partners in Support does

Partners in Support is a not-for-profit social care organisation headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, that provides supported living and community outreach services to adults with learning disabilities and autism. Founded in 2008 by Martin Nicholas — whose 25-year career in learning disability services and personal experience as a sibling of a person with a disability shaped the founding vision — the organisation supports approximately 46 individuals with a staff base of over 150, primarily through carefully matched, directly employed (non-agency) support workers. Core services include Supported Living, where personalised staffing teams deliver anything from 24-hour to part-time support in the individual's own home, and Community Outreach Support, which enables participation in local community activities. The operating model emphasises person-centred service design, family involvement in recruitment, and senior management accessibility, differentiating the organisation from generic, high-volume care providers.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through two channels: local authority commissioning (predominantly Herts County Council, which assesses needs and funds support packages directly) and individual budgets/direct payments, where service users purchase support directly. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; each package is tailored to assessed needs. The organisation holds a CQC Outstanding rating (19 June 2019) and has accumulated multiple national and regional awards through 2024–2025. There is no external investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding history; the entity operates as a founder-led independent not-for-profit.

Partners in Support explicitly states it does not intend to scale nationally, choosing instead to remain a small, Hertfordshire-only provider focused on quality rather than geographic spread. The organisation's technology stack is limited to conventional sector tools (Pinpoint for recruitment, standard CMS/blog, organic social channels) with no proprietary software, APIs, or AI capabilities. Strategic posture is therefore defensive on geographic expansion but offensive on quality, brand, and award-led sector positioning, with growth dependent on continued Herts County Council commissioning relationships and organic case-load expansion within the existing catchment.

Name

Partners in Support

Legal name

Partners In Support

Website

https://partnersinsupport.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Partners in Support is a Hertfordshire-based not-for-profit organisation providing personalised supported living and community outreach services to 46 adults with learning disabilities and autism, funded primarily via Herts County Council commissioning and individual direct payments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Living and Social Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Supported living services
• Learning disability support
• Community outreach care
• Autism support services
• Personalized social care

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevenage

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Commissioning: Commissioned by Herts County Council following assessment of individual needs. Council agrees funding amount for each person's support package and pays Partners in Support directly.
2. Individual Budgets / Direct Payments: Some individuals use their personal budgets or direct payments to purchase support services directly from Partners in Support, giving them choice and control over their care.
3. Supported Living Services: Provision of tailored staff teams for people living in their own homes, ranging from 24-hour support with sleeping-in staff to fewer hours of support based on individual needs.
4. Community Outreach Support: Supporting adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to participate in community activities and maintain meaningful relationships outside of paid support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Partners in Support is a not-for-profit social care organisation delivering person-centred Supported Living and Community Outreach services to adults with learning disabilities and autism in Hertfordshire. Specially recruited staff teams are matched to each individual and provide 24-hour or part-time support in the person's own home, alongside community participation support. Services are commissioned primarily by Herts County Council following needs assessment, or purchased directly through individual budgets and direct payments.

Product overview

Partners in Support is a not-for-profit social care organisation offering a unified portfolio of personalised support services to adults with learning disabilities and autism across Hertfordshire. The core offering consists of Supported Living (providing bespoke, individually matched staffing for people in their own homes) and Community Outreach Support (enabling active community participation). These services are unified by the company's person-centred mission and values, supported by consistent staffing (no agency use), family involvement in recruitment and reviews, and a commitment to remaining small and local. A published case study (Judith's Story) illustrates the model in practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Living Personalised 24-hour or part-time staffing support provided to adults with learning disabilities and autism living in their own homes in Hertfordshire. Staff are specially recruited and matched to each individual based on shared interests and compatible personalities, with families and individuals fully involved in the recruitment process.
• Community Outreach Support Support services helping adults with learning disabilities and/or autism participate as active members of their local communities, including assistance with daily activities, social engagement, and pursuing personal interests outside of paid support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46 people supported to live independently in Hertfordshire since 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• Easyfundraising UKminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 August 2024Charity fundraising partnership through Easyfundraising. Over 8,000 brand partners donate percentages of purchases to Partners in Support. Donations ringfenced for events and activities for staff and people supported.
• Herts County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary commissioning partner. Herts County Council assesses individual needs and agrees funding amounts for support packages, which are paid directly to Partners in Support. This is the primary revenue relationship.
• Registered Social LandlordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Support works closely and in partnership with registered social landlords to provide housing for people they support. They advise on housing needs and signpost individuals towards social landlords for support and advice.
• People Supported and Their FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerson-centred approach where individuals and families are fully involved in support planning, staff recruitment, reviews, and goal-setting. Families participate in interview processes and ongoing service development.
• Dimensions UKstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDimensions UK runs the annual Learning Disability and Autism Leaders List Awards. Partners in Support staff and people supported have been finalists and winners in these prestigious awards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Dimensions UK: A large UK charity providing personalised support for people with learning disabilities and autism, including supported living and community-based services. It is highly comparable because it operates in the same niche and is already an established partner of Partners in Support via the Learning Disability and Autism Leaders List Awards.
• United Response: A national UK charity providing personalised support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs, including supported living. Directly comparable in that it offers person-centred support commissioned by local authorities, though at a much larger scale than Partners in Support.
• Choice Support: A UK charity providing personalised, community-based support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs, including supported living. Highly comparable in its small-scale, person-centred ethos and reliance on local authority commissioning.
• MacIntyre: A UK charity providing lifelong learning, supported living, and community support for people with learning disabilities and autism. Comparable because its model emphasises personalised, family-involved support commissioned by local authorities, similar to Partners in Support's approach.
• Regard Group: A UK specialist provider of supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable because it focuses on the same population with person-centred support commissioned by local authorities, but at significantly greater national scale.
• Avenues Group: A UK charity and social enterprise providing personalised support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs, including supported living services. Comparable in service model and target population, with similar reliance on local authority commissioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: The UK's largest learning disability charity, providing supported living, day services, and advocacy across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Comparable in target population and service types, but operates as a national incumbent rather than a small, local, bespoke provider.
• Voyage Care: A large UK specialist provider of supported living and residential care for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable in core service offering and commissioning model, but serves a far larger footprint nationally and operates more standardised services.
• Hft (Home Farm Trust): A long-established UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through personalised services including supported living and day services. Highly comparable in mission and service model, but operates at significantly greater national scale and is part of a broader sector body.
• Community Integrated Care: One of the UK's largest social care charities, delivering supported living and community services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and older people. Comparable in service portfolio and commissioning relationships, though it operates nationally and at substantially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/partnersinsupport
• Instagraminstagram.com/partnersinsupport
• Xx.com/prtnrsinsupport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/partners-in-support

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Partners in Support