What Bendrigg Trust does

Bendrigg Trust monetises through a hybrid of course fees and voluntary fundraising, with no statutory funding received. Course fees for residential stays range from approximately £200 for a 2-night adult weekend to £870 for a 5-night family week, partially offset by an average ~£168 per-visitor subsidy raised through fundraising (annual fundraising target ~£600,000). Beyond Bendrigg, launched in 2023, adds a fee-based B2B training and consultancy line selling disability-awareness, accessibility and inclusion expertise to outdoor, leisure and tourism operators (bespoke organisational courses from £1,000, individual open courses from £95–£180). The trust supplements income with event fundraising (Great North Run, London Marathon, Great North Swim, Kendal Mountain Festival), corporate partnerships, regular monthly giving, legacies, merchandise sales and community hire of the sensory room. Distribution is exclusively direct via the centre's bookings team, website, phone, and email, with no reseller or marketplace channels. Annual reach is approximately 3,000 visitors supported by 11–50 paid staff and 200+ volunteers (over a third of whom have disabilities themselves).

Name

Bendrigg Trust

Legal name

Bendrigg Trust

Website

https://bendrigg.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bendrigg Trust is a UK registered charity running a residential activity centre in Cumbria that delivers accessible outdoor adventure courses, adaptive accommodation, and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions for disabled children, adults, families, schools and groups, plus fee-based disability-awareness training through its Beyond Bendrigg programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Outdoor Education and Disability Inclusion Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Accessible activity breaks
• Disability outdoor education
• Residential activity centre
• Disability awareness training
• Inclusive adventure courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Kendal

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Fees charged to participants for residential activity courses. Prices vary by course type, duration, and participant/carer status. Subsidised by approximately £168 per person through fundraising.
2. Donations: Individual donations through online portal, cheque, bank transfer, and text message. Regular monthly giving programme encouraged.
3. Event Fundraising: Charity places in running and swimming events (Great North Run, London Marathon, Great North Swim) with registration fees and minimum sponsorship targets.
4. Training and Consultancy (Beyond Bendrigg): Fee-based training programmes for organisations in disability awareness, accessibility, and inclusion. Bespoke training courses from £1000+ for organisations; open courses from £120-180 per day for individuals.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Charity of the Year partnerships, sponsorship of events/projects/equipment, employee fundraising, match funding, and in-kind gifts.
6. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Bequests left in supporters' wills to fund future accessible adventure experiences.
7. Shop and Retail: Sale of Bendrigg merchandise and items from online wishlist.
8. Community Hire: Sensory room hire for community use on hourly or daily basis; accessible play area annual donation for local community use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bendrigg Trust operates a residential activity centre in Cumbria providing accessible, all-inclusive activity breaks for disabled children and adults and people with additional support needs. The Trust delivers outdoor adventure activities (climbing, canoeing, caving, zip wire, cycling, etc.) coupled with specialist accessible accommodation featuring ceiling hoists, profile beds, and wet rooms. Beyond its own centre, Bendrigg also runs 'Beyond Bendrigg' training and consultancy, sharing 45+ years of disability inclusion expertise with outdoor, leisure, and tourism organisations.

Product overview

Bendrigg Trust is a registered charity (no. 508450) providing accessible residential activity breaks for disabled and disadvantaged people. The organization offers a unified portfolio of services centered on its residential activity centre in Cumbria, located between the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks. Core offerings include accessible accommodation (Bendrigg Lodge and Acorn House) with specialized aids such as ceiling hoists, profile beds, and wet rooms, paired with diverse outdoor adventure activities including climbing, canoeing, caving, zip wire, abseiling, archery, bushcraft, cycling, and sensory experiences. The Trust delivers multiple course types: school residentials, family breaks, adult courses, group residentials, and Duke of Edinburgh's Award programmes at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Additionally, the Beyond Bendrigg programme extends the organization's 45+ years of expertise through training and consultancy services in disability awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for the outdoor, leisure, and tourism sectors. Local community offerings include day activities, activity clubs, and sensory room hire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Bendrigg: Training, research and consultancy programme sharing knowledge, expertise and skills on disability awareness, accessibility and inclusion to the outdoor and tourism sectors.

Products and services

• Bendrigg Residential Activity Breaks Accessible residential activity breaks for disabled children and adults and people with additional support needs, offering outdoor adventure activities at the centre in Cumbria.
• Outdoor Adventure Activities Inclusive adventure activities including climbing, canoeing, caving, zip wire, abseiling, tube slide, archery, bushcraft, cycling, orienteering, sensory swing, campfire, arts and crafts, sports hall, disco, crate stack, gorge walking, and fell walking.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award Courses Fully inclusive and accessible Duke of Edinburgh's Award courses at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, including expeditions and residential components for people with disabilities.
• Beyond Bendrigg Training and Consultancy Disability awareness, accessibility, and inclusion training, research and consultancy services for the outdoor, leisure and tourism sectors, sharing knowledge and expertise developed over 45 years.
• Accessible Accommodation Accessible accommodation at Bendrigg Lodge (40 guests) and Acorn House (24 guests across 10 en-suite bedrooms) featuring ceiling-mounted hoists, profile beds, automatic doors, shower beds, wet rooms, and wheelchair accessibility.
• Local Community Activities Day activities, regular activity clubs, sensory room hire, and access to specialist facilities for local people and families in the Kendal/Cumbria community.
• Family Activity Breaks Family open courses for families with a disabled member, providing opportunities to spend quality time together trying adventurous activities including climbing, canoeing, caving and cycling.
• Adult Activity Breaks Adult open courses for over 18 year olds with disabilities, offering residential adventures with adaptive equipment, accessible accommodation, and activities.
• School Residential Courses Inclusive and accessible school residential courses for children and students of all abilities, with adaptive equipment and a range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to school objectives.
• Group Residential Courses Activity breaks for groups including charities, support groups, care homes, hospices, and unofficial groups of like-minded people coming together with a designated group leader.

Quantifiable outcome

• A 144% increase in wheelchair users visiting Bendrigg after Acorn House opened in 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Bendrigg delivers disability awareness training for National Trust staff and volunteers across North of England properties. Includes site visits, 'secret shopper' assessments by disabled evaluators, and behaviour change workshops using the COM-B model. Pilot project at one property with evaluation framework measuring attitude and confidence changes.
• PGL TravelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGL has received Beyond Bendrigg disability awareness and inclusion training to improve accessibility at their outdoor adventure centres.
• High Borrans Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education centre that has received Beyond Bendrigg training and reported increased confidence in accessibility improvements.
• Mount Cook Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor centre that has received Beyond Bendrigg training for staff in disability awareness and accessibility.
• Institute of Outdoor LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body for outdoor learning that Bendrigg has worked with to deliver training workshops and share expertise.
• Pioneer Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education centre that has received Beyond Bendrigg training for accessibility and inclusion.
• RamblersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalking charity that has received Beyond Bendrigg training to improve accessibility of walking routes and walking experiences.
• Inclusivitree Forest SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest schools programme that has received Beyond Bendrigg training for inclusive outdoor learning practices.
• North Wales Together at Flintshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to increase accessibility and inclusion for children and young people with learning disabilities across North Wales. Includes training, consultancy, and resources.
• Cumbria CVSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity voluntary services organisation that partnered with Bendrigg to develop bespoke training on involving disabled volunteers in volunteering programmes.
• Cumbria Wildlife TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation charity that has received Beyond Bendrigg training for staff in accessibility and inclusion for disabled visitors.
• Barnstondale Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education centre in Merseyside that has received Beyond Bendrigg consultancy services.
• Conway CentresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education centres that have received Beyond Bendrigg training and consultancy.
• Greenhill YMCA Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA outdoor centre that has received Beyond Bendrigg consultancy services.
• Ravenglass and Eskdale RailwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage railway that has received Beyond Bendrigg consultancy for accessibility improvements.
• National LandscapesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational landscape partnerships that have received Beyond Bendrigg accessibility consultancy.
• Tees Valley Combined AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional authority that has received Beyond Bendrigg consultancy for accessibility improvements.
• University of Central LancashireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnered with Bendrigg to deliver the 2024 Adventure Mind Conference and for placements, research, education and knowledge exchange.
• Duke of Edinburgh's AwardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBendrigg is an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, delivering Bronze, Silver and Gold expeditions and residentials for participants with disabilities.
• The Outward Bound TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Finance & Resources at The Outward Bound Trust serves as Bendrigg trustee, bringing expertise in residential outdoor learning sector.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pioneer Outdoor Centre: Outdoor education centre delivering adventure activities for young people; Beyond Bendrigg training client. Comparable on residential course offering and school/youth customer base.
• Greenhill YMCA Outdoor Centre: YMCA-affiliated outdoor centre delivering residential adventure activities for schools and youth groups; Beyond Bendrigg consultancy client. Comparable on residential outdoor learning model.
• Calvert Trust: UK charity operating three residential outdoor activity centres (Exmoor, Lakes, Kielder) delivering adventure experiences for disabled people — the closest direct peer to Bendrigg in mission, customer base, and accessible accommodation model.
• Conway Centres: Network of residential outdoor education centres (Conway, Anglesey, Tatton) serving schools and youth groups; Beyond Bendrigg training client. Comparable on residential outdoor learning and group bookings.
• Mount Cook Outdoor Centre: Outdoor education centre delivering adventure activities for schools and groups; existing Beyond Bendrigg training client. Comparable on activities, customer mix, and operational model.
• Barnstondale Outdoor Centre: Residential outdoor centre in Merseyside serving schools and groups; Beyond Bendrigg consultancy client. Comparable on residential course model and target segments.
• High Borrans Outdoor Centre: Residential outdoor education centre in Cumbria working with schools and groups; a Beyond Bendrigg training client. Comparable on geography, target segments, and service model, though with a less specialist disability focus.

Broad incumbents

• PGL Travel: UK-wide operator of residential outdoor activity centres for schools and groups. Directly comparable on activity mix (climbing, canoeing, caving) and DofE delivery, but commercial rather than charity-led. Existing Beyond Bendrigg training client.
• The Outward Bound Trust: Large UK charity running residential outdoor learning centres for young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Overlaps with Bendrigg on residential outdoor education and inclusion mission but serves a broader population; a trustee of Bendrigg is also Outward Bound's Director of Finance & Resources.

Emerging players

• Inclusivitree Forest Schools: Forest schools programme focused on inclusive outdoor learning for children with additional needs; Beyond Bendrigg training client. Comparable on inclusive outdoor education mission, though operating at smaller scale and without residential infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/BendriggTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/bendriggtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bendriggtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/bendriggtrust
• Xx.com/BendriggTrust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Bendrigg Trust