What Cartrefi Cymru does

Cartrefi Cymru is a Wales-based, not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative providing social care services to individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and older people. Founded in 1989 by families and activists and headquartered in Cardiff, the organisation supports over 600 individuals and employs more than 1,200 colleagues across 12 regional offices spanning all major Welsh local authority areas. It is registered as a charity (number 702290), a registered company (number 2420623), and is co-owned by its team members and the people it supports, with co-production embedded in its constitutional governance.

The organisation delivers four core service lines: Supported Living (24/7 domiciliary and housing-related support for individuals with learning disabilities or autism, typically delivered in their own homes as tenants); Sessional and Floating Support (flexible, non-residential support for those who do not require round-the-clock assistance); Short Breaks (supported holiday options delivered through partnerships with housing associations in Anglesey, Gwynedd, and Powys); and Home Care (a redesigned service for older people delivered in collaboration with Gwynedd Council). Underlying care-delivery frameworks include the proprietary Vanguard Systems Thinking Method and the Person-Centred Active Support System. Technology supporting operations is described as person-centred support services with no disclosed AI, software-as-a-service platforms, or application products.

Revenue is generated primarily through commissioned local authority contracts across Welsh councils, with supplementary revenue from grants and donations. As a not-for-profit co-operative, surplus is reinvested into services rather than distributed. Pricing for commissioned care is not publicly disclosed; ancillary community events are priced between £1.50 and £25 per activity. The go-to-market is relationship-led B2G (business-to-government) sales focused on winning and renewing statutory social care contracts. The organisation is a Living Wage Employer accredited by the Living Wage Foundation and is registered and inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales, with additional membership in the Restraint Reduction Network.

Name

Cartrefi Cymru

Legal name

Cartrefi Cymru Co-operative Ltd

Website

https://cartrefi.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cartrefi Cymru is a Wales-based not-for-profit co-operative supporting over 600 people with learning disabilities, autism, and older adults. Through commissioned local authority contracts, it delivers supported living, sessional support, short breaks, and home care across 12 regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Commissioned Contracts: Cartrefi Cymru delivers statutory social care services commissioned through local authority contracts. As a not-for-profit co-operative, revenue is reinvested into services rather than distributed to shareholders. The organization also receives grants and donations to support additional initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cartrefi Cymru provides person-centred social care services to people with learning disabilities, autism, and older people across Wales, commissioned primarily through local authority contracts. Core services include Supported Living (24/7 housing-related support in individuals' own homes), Sessional and Floating Support (flexible, non-residential assistance), Short Breaks (respite holidays with support staff), and Home Care for older people. Services are delivered by trained colleagues across more than 11 regional offices covering most Welsh counties.

Product overview

Cartrefi Cymru is a not-for-profit co-operative offering a portfolio of social care services across Wales. The core offerings include Supported Living (24/7 domiciliary care and housing support for individuals with learning disabilities or autism), Sessional and Floating Support (flexible assistance for those without round-the-clock needs), Short Breaks (supported holiday experiences), and Home Care (collaborative service with Gwynedd Council for older people). These services are delivered through a network of regional offices and are designed to promote independence, social inclusion, and community participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Living Specialist support for individuals with learning disabilities or autism to live independently as tenants in their own homes, providing registered domiciliary care and housing-related support typically on a 24/7 basis.
• Sessional and Floating Support Flexible support services for individuals who have care or support needs but do not require round-the-clock assistance, ideal for those living independently who may need help with personal care, managing bills, or engaging in social activities.
• Short Breaks Holiday options with support staff providing valuable learning experiences and stepping stones towards greater independence for individuals with learning disabilities, while offering respite for families and carers.
• Home Care Home care service for older people delivered in collaboration with Gwynedd Council, redesigning the traditional 'one size fits all' model to empower frontline colleagues working within local communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced support hours while increasing choice and individuality for individuals supported

Named customers2 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Care Workers' Charity (CWC)coreOthersCartrefi has partnered with The Care Workers' Charity to provide grants of up to £500 to help colleagues experiencing hardship. The fund assists with daily living expenses, essential household items, health improvements, travel expenses, repairs, and rent/mortgage payments. This partnership demonstrates Cartrefi's commitment to colleague wellbeing.
• Gwynedd CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCartrefi Cymru collaborates with Gwynedd Council to transform the home care experience for older people in the region. The partnership focuses on redesigning services away from the traditional 'one size fits all' model, with frontline colleagues working within local communities empowered to focus on what matters for the people they support.
• Housing Associations (Anglesey, Gwynedd, Powys)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBy partnering with housing associations in Anglesey, Gwynedd, and Powys, Cartrefi provides people with learning disabilities the opportunity to enjoy short breaks in welcoming accommodation close to home. These partnerships enable valuable learning experiences and stepping stones towards greater independence.
• Restraint Reduction NetworkminorOthersCartrefi Cymru is a member of the Restraint Reduction Network, demonstrating commitment to ethical care practices and reducing restrictive practices in social care settings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Response: United Response is a UK charity providing supported living, personal assistance, and community services to people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Highly comparable to Cartrefi in scale, mission, and commissioner-funded service model across England and Wales.
• Dimensions UK: Dimensions is a UK not-for-profit specialist provider of support for people with learning disabilities and autism, delivering supported living, residential care, and personal support. Comparable to Cartrefi in service portfolio, commissioning model, and person-centred philosophy.
• Voyage Care: Voyage Care is one of the UK's largest supported living and residential providers for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable to Cartrefi in service portfolio (supported living, respite, home care) and reliance on local authority contracts, though operating across England.
• Community Integrated Care: Community Integrated Care is a UK social care charity providing supported living, residential, and home care for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Directly comparable to Cartrefi in scale, geography (UK-wide), and commissioner-funded delivery model.
• Hft: Hft is a UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, providing supported living, residential care, and shared lives services. Comparable to Cartrefi as a learning disability support provider in the UK, with similar local-authority-funded service mix and person-centred approach.
• Consensus Support Services: Consensus provides supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable to Cartrefi in service scope and local-authority commissioned care model, serving overlapping geographies.
• Lifeways: Lifeways provides supported living and residential care for people with learning disabilities across the UK. Comparable to Cartrefi as a specialist learning disability provider delivering 24/7 support commissioned by local authorities.
• Mencap: Mencap is the UK's largest learning disability charity, providing supported living, residential, day services, and advocacy. Comparable to Cartrefi in mission, service mix, and use of local authority commissioning for core services.

Broad incumbents

• Care Inspectorate Wales-registered home care providers (e.g., Care Wales / domiciliary care networks): Care Inspectorate Wales is the statutory regulator that inspects and registers providers like Cartrefi; competing providers within the same inspection regime (e.g., New Horizons, MD Support Services) share the regulatory and commissioning landscape Cartrefi operates in.

Emerging players

• Sense: Sense is a UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness, learning disabilities, and autism. Comparable as a mission-led, charity-status disability services provider reliant on local authority commissioning, though with a narrower specialism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CartrefiCymruCyf
• Facebookfacebook.com/CartrefiCymruCoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cartrefi-cymru-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/cartreficoop
• Xx.com/CartrefiCymru

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cartrefi Cymru