What Autistic Minds does

Autistic Minds is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1143855) founded in September 2010 in Treforest, Wales, and originally established as The Autism Directory before rebranding to Autistic Minds in June 2021. The organisation delivers a portfolio of interconnected support services for autistic adults, families, and professionals: the Autism Directory online resource, the HelpHub UK-wide telephone helpline staffed by autistic advisors, the annual Autistic Minds LIVE exhibition events in Cardiff and Llandudno (free to visitors, monetised through exhibitor/sponsorship packages from £250 plus VAT and £5 seminar All-Day Access Badges), a paid autism awareness training and consultancy practice, an employment programme, and a physical Caerphilly Community Hub at 4A Market Street. Eighty percent of the 48-person staff are autistic, and the charity is led by founder and CEO Nadine Honeybone alongside COO Gareth Tarrant and Community Coordinator Rhys Jenkins.

The business model is a hybrid of charitable fundraising and earned income. Five revenue streams are identifiable: charitable donations and fundraising (including Cardiff Half Marathon and Virgin Money London Marathon charity places and JustGiving campaigns); social-enterprise merchandise sales through wholly-owned subsidiaries Ambition Prints UK, Green Valley Workshop, and Resin Rat, with an online store described as launching; exhibition and sponsorship fees at LIVE shows; paid seminar access badges; and paid corporate autism awareness training in 3-hour half-day and 6-hour full-day formats. Visitor access to LIVE shows is free, with discounts available to third-sector exhibitors.

Customer segments span autistic adults and individuals seeking support and employment (primary), families of autistic people, professionals working with autistic communities, and organisations serving the autism community that exhibit or sponsor LIVE events. Geographic operations are Wales-focused for direct service delivery, while the HelpHub and online Autism Directory provide UK-wide and global reach respectively. There is no disclosed API or developer surface, no patents, no AI/ML capability, no funding rounds, and no institutional investors; the entity is governed as a nonprofit under the UK Charity Commission.

Name

Autistic Minds

Legal name

Autistic Minds

Website

https://autisticminds.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Autistic Minds is a UK-registered charity (founded 2010) delivering autism support services, including an online directory, a national HelpHub helpline, annual LIVE exhibitions, corporate training, and a community hub, primarily serving autistic adults, families, and professionals across Wales and the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• Disability advocacy
• Community helpline
• Autism training programs
• Nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Treforest

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and fundraising: The charity relies on donations and fundraising activities including running events like the Cardiff Half Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon charity places, and general fundraising campaigns.
2. Social enterprise merchandise sales: Autistic Minds sells autism-related merchandise (t-shirts, mugs) through its Caerphilly Community Hub and upcoming online store. Profits fund support services for the autistic community.
3. Exhibition and sponsorship fees: Organizations pay to exhibit at or sponsor Autistic Minds LIVE shows. Sponsorship packages start at £250 plus VAT, with promotional options from £30 plus VAT. Discounts available for third sector and non-profit groups.
4. Seminar access fees: Visitor entry to LIVE shows is free, but seminar access requires purchase of an All-Day Access Badge for approximately £5.
5. Training and consultancy services: The charity delivers autism awareness talks and bespoke training to businesses. While limited free 1-hour talks are available per year, most training involves a fee critical for sustaining charity operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Autistic Minds is a UK-registered charity (no. 1143855) that delivers an integrated autism support ecosystem, including an online directory of autism services (The Autism Directory), a national telephone helpline (HelpHub) staffed by autistic advisors, autism awareness training for organizations, an employment programme for autistic adults, and annual regional exhibitions (Autistic Minds LIVE). The charity was founded in September 2010 by Nadine Honeybone, originally as The Autism Directory Charity, and rebranded to Autistic Minds in June 2021.

Product overview

Autistic Minds is a registered charity (1143855) operating as a platform of interconnected support services for the autistic community. The portfolio comprises The Autism Directory (flagship online resource directory), the HelpHub (national helpline staffed by autistic advisors), Autistic Minds LIVE Shows (annual exhibition events in Cardiff and Llandudno), Autism Awareness Training (delivered to businesses), an Employment Programme (skills training for autistic adults), and a physical Caerphilly Community Hub offering social groups and merchandise. The organization was founded in September 2010 (originally as The Autism Directory) and rebranded to Autistic Minds, with approximately 80% of its 48 staff being autistic, reflecting its lived-experience-led approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Autism Directory Free online directory that signposts autistic individuals and families to autism-related services, providers, and resources across the UK.
• HelpHub Helpline National telephone helpline staffed by autistic advisors that provides information, guidance, and emotional support to autistic individuals, families, and professionals seeking autism-related advice.
• Autistic Minds LIVE Shows Annual in-person exhibitions held in Cardiff and Llandudno that connect autistic individuals, families, and caregivers with service providers, exhibitors, and seminars.
• Autism Awareness Training Paid training programme delivered to organisations, employers, and professionals to build understanding of autism and inclusive practices.
• Employment Programme Support programme that helps autistic adults prepare for, find, and sustain employment, including coaching and employer engagement.
• Caerphilly Community Hub Physical community hub in Caerphilly/Treforest, Wales, that serves as a drop-in space for autistic adults and a base for workshops, peer support, and staff operations.
• Autism Merchandise Branded merchandise (apparel and accessories) sold online and at events to raise awareness and generate funds for the charity.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Welsh Rugby UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds delivered an autism awareness talk to the Welsh Rugby Union to increase understanding among staff and community.
• Level Playing FieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds has delivered community awareness talks to Level Playing Field organization.
• Race Equality FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds delivered autism awareness training to Race Equality First.
• Nationwide SwanseaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds provided autism awareness training to Nationwide Swansea staff.
• Welsh WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds delivered autism awareness training to Welsh Water employees.
• St David's CardiffcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutistic Minds' autistic designers worked with St David's Cardiff on their Guide for Autistic Guests and development of their calm and safe room.
• Heritage HikerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelen from Heritage Hiker leads monthly walking groups for the autism community from the Caerphilly Community Hub during summer months.
• Ambition Prints UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise under the Autistic Minds umbrella providing employment opportunities for autistic individuals. Part of the charity's enterprises division.
• Green Valley WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise creating products like bird houses, providing meaningful employment for autistic individuals. Part of Autistic Minds enterprises.
• Resin RatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise creating resin products, providing employment for autistic individuals. Participates in events and fairs alongside other enterprises.
• Elidyr Communities TrustminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutism-related charity that exhibits at Autistic Minds LIVE shows to reach the autism community.
• WidgitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSymbol-based learning and communication resources provider; exhibited at LIVE shows.
• National Autism TeamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutism support organization; exhibited at Autistic Minds LIVE shows.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Scottish Autism: Scotland's largest autism charity providing services across education, employment, and day services. Comparable service mix (training, employment programmes, community support) but operates primarily north of the border rather than competing with Autistic Minds' Wales/UK-wide focus.
• Autism NI: Northern Ireland's autism charity offering training, advocacy, and family support services. Shares the autism-specific charity mission, awareness training offering, and community engagement model, though operating in a different UK region.
• Asperger East Anglia: Regional UK charity providing services for autistic adults including employment support and training. Directly comparable in adult-focused employment programmes and training delivery, but with a primarily East of England geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK-wide charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including autistic individuals with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Comparable in charity structure, training, and employment programmes, but with a broader disability mandate rather than autism-specific focus.

Others

• ADHD Foundation: UK neurodiversity charity offering awareness training, education, and workplace support. Comparable in neurodiversity training and corporate awareness delivery model, but with an ADHD rather than autism primary focus.

Direct peers

• National Autistic Society: The UK's largest autism charity, providing information, support, training and campaigning for autistic people and families. Directly comparable to Autistic Minds in mission (autism support and advocacy) and services (training, helplines, community programmes), though at substantially greater scale.
• Contact (for families with disabled children): UK charity providing support, advice, and training for families of disabled children including autistic children. Comparable in family-support and awareness training services and the helpline/community model, though serving a broader disability population.
• Ambitious about Autism: UK charity focused on education and support for autistic children and young people. Comparable in charity structure, awareness training, and community-based service delivery, with overlapping employment programme work for autistic adults.
• The Challenging Behaviour Foundation: UK charity supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism whose behaviour is described as challenging, including family support, training, and advocacy. Comparable in family-support services, training delivery, and charity-led community engagement model.
• Autism Education Trust: UK organisation focused on autism training and resources for education professionals. Directly comparable in awareness training and educational resource development, though with an education-sector-only focus versus Autistic Minds' broader community remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/autisticmindsuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/autisticmindsuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autisticmindsuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Autistic Minds