Barod

What Barod does

Barod is a registered charity (Charity number 265008; Registered Company number 1073381) providing substance misuse support services across South and West Wales. Founded in 1972 as SWAPA, the organization operated under the name Drugaid before rebranding to Barod in December 2017 following the mergers of predecessor bodies Cysylltu Contact (2015) and SANDS (2016). Barod delivers free, confidential services to individuals and families affected by drug and alcohol use, operating across 11 counties through multiple channels: physical drop-in centers, the Spike on a Bike outreach service, the Barod mobile application (launched September 2025), and the Naloxone Click & Deliver postal program (launched 2021).

The service portfolio spans harm reduction (needle exchange, Naloxone distribution, blood-borne virus testing), structured treatment, family support, recovery support, and professional training delivered through the Wired Carers and Drug & Alcohol Awareness programs. Operational technology includes the mobile app providing harm reduction tools and community chat, plus the Naloxone postal fulfillment system. The organization is a founding member of the Drug Aid Consortium Wales (DACW) and a lead partner in the VERVE alliance launching June 2026 on a 10-year term.

Revenue is derived primarily from public sector commissioning contracts — Local Health Boards, Area Planning Boards, Welsh Government, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Big Lottery — supplemented by training income from professional audiences at tiered pricing. End-user services are provided free of charge. The organization employs 180+ paid staff (200+ including volunteers), is led by CEO Caroline Phipps (in role since 1999), and holds Gold Investors in People and Gold MIND Workplace Wellbeing accreditations.

Name

Barod

Legal name

Barod Project

Website

https://barod.cymru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Barod is a Welsh registered charity delivering free substance misuse treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services across 11 counties in South and West Wales, funded primarily by Local Health Boards and Welsh Government commissioners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Misuse Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Substance misuse support
• Addiction recovery services
• Harm reduction services
• Naloxone distribution
• Drug alcohol treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Barod is principally funded by Local Health Boards, Area Planning Boards, Unitary Authorities, Welsh Government, Police and Crime Commissioner, Big Lottery, European Social Fund, and Supporting People. As a charity, services are provided free to users.
2. Donations: Accepts donations through JustGiving platform to support their mission of ensuring those affected by substance use get the support they need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Barod is a registered charity providing free, confidential, non-judgmental substance misuse support across South and West Wales. Services include adult treatment and recovery, young persons' programs (Choices), family support, harm reduction (needle exchange, Naloxone Click & Deliver), a Wales-wide live webchat, a free mobile app for young people, rural outreach (Spike on a Bike), and paid training programs for professionals. Operations are delivered directly and through consortium partnerships such as GDAS, DDAS/GCAD, VERVE, and Cyfle Cymru.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GDAS (Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service): Substance misuse service for adults in Gwent area, run by a consortium of Barod, Kaleidoscope and G4S
• DDAS (Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service)
• VERVE
• Choices
• Cyfle Cymru
• DASPA
• Tyfu

Products and services

• Adult Substance Misuse Services Free, confidential, non-judgmental specialist substance misuse support for adults affected by their own or someone else's drug or alcohol use, including assessment, recovery care planning, family therapy, harm reduction, and aftercare.
• Choices Young Persons Services Specialist drug and alcohol services for children and young people, including under-18s and up to age 25, focused on early intervention, harm reduction, peer mentoring and family support.
• Family Support Services Support for families, parents, carers and friends affected by someone else's drug or alcohol use, including family therapy and crisis support.
• Naloxone Click & Deliver Service National Wales-wide free postal delivery service for Naloxone, a life-saving medication that temporarily reverses opioid overdose effects.
• Live Webchat Service Wales-wide live webchat with trained Barod support workers available 7 days a week for advice, harm reduction information and referrals.
• Barod Mobile App Free mobile app on iOS and Android, designed by young people for young people, providing substance information, harm reduction tools, goal tracking, daily diary, community chat, and live webchat access.
• Spike on a Bike Outreach Service Rural harm reduction outreach across Dyfed delivered by motorbike, providing clean injecting equipment and harm reduction interventions — first service of its kind in Europe.
• Professional Training Programmes Paid accredited and non-accredited training courses (open and in-house) for professionals on drugs, alcohol, harm reduction and substance use topics, including 2.5-hour, half-day, full-day and two-day formats and bespoke in-house delivery up to 16 participants.
• VERVE Substance Use Support Single-access substance use support service for adults, children and young people in Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea, delivered as a 10-year integrated alliance commissioned from June 2026 by Adferiad, Barod, Kaleidoscope, The Wallich, and the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Drug and Alcohol Leadership Board.
• Cyfle Cymru (Out of Work Service) Employment, training and education support service delivered in consortium with Kaleidoscope and Hafal for individuals affected by substance misuse or mental health conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44% increase in drug poisoning fatalities in Wales in recent years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VERVE AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026VERVE is a new integrated alliance bringing together Adferiad, Barod, Kaleidoscope, The Wallich, and the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Drug and Alcohol Leadership Board to deliver single-access substance use services for 10 years starting June 2026.
• Kaleidoscope ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in GDAS (Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service) alongside Barod and G4S, providing substance misuse services across Gwent area including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, and Torfaen.
• G4ScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in GDAS and GCAD services, providing criminal justice and operational support for substance misuse treatment services.
• HafalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Cyfle Cymru (Out of Work Service) alongside Barod and Kaleidoscope, helping individuals affected by substance misuse or mental health conditions into employment, training, and education.
• Developing A Caring Wales (DACW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of charities aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across Wales. Barod is a founding member. Includes partners: Barod, Kaleidoscope, Hafal, CAIS, GOFAL, New Link Wales, The Wallich, Llamau.
• Royal Voluntary ServiceminorOthersListed as a partner organization with whom Barod enjoys partnerships across South and West Wales for service delivery.
• Wales Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction (WCADA)minorOthersPartner organization in the Wales substance misuse sector.
• Treatment and Education Drug Service (TEDS)minorOthersPartner organization providing specialist drug treatment services.
• CAISminorOthersPart of the DACW consortium providing substance misuse support services.
• GOFALminorOthersMental health and wellbeing organization; partner in young person's peer mentoring service in Cwm Taf area.
• New Link WalesminorOthersPart of the DACW consortium providing support services.
• The WallichminorOthersHomelessness charity partner; consortium member in VERVE alliance for Neath Port Talbot and Swansea substance use services.
• LlamauminorOthersYouth homelessness charity partner in Wales.
• MINDminorOthersMental health charity partner; Barod has Gold recognition in MIND Workplace Wellbeing Index.
• Terrence Higgins TrustminorOthersPartner agency providing peer support groups for people affected by blood borne viruses.
• The Nelson TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering the Feeding Recovery project with Alcohol Change and Barod, supporting people in recovery through food-based activities promoting wellbeing.
• Alcohol ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for the Feeding Recovery project delivered by Barod in partnership with The Nelson Trust, focused on connecting people around food to promote recovery and wellbeing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Change Grow Live: One of the UK's largest substance use treatment providers, delivering commissioned drug and alcohol services nationally. A broad incumbent competitor that wins many of the same type of public-sector tenders Barod pursues across Wales and the wider UK.
• Cranstoun: UK-wide charity providing substance use, domestic abuse, and criminal justice services. A broader incumbent whose portfolio of community-based treatment and recovery programmes directly overlaps with Barod's adult and family support services.
• We Are With You: Major UK-wide substance use charity providing free treatment and support for adults and young people. A broad incumbent operating across multiple regions with overlapping service lines (community treatment, recovery, family support, digital tools) comparable to Barod's portfolio.
• Turning Point: UK social enterprise delivering substance use, mental health, and learning disability services through commissioned contracts. A broad incumbent that competes for the same Welsh and UK local-authority substance misuse tenders as Barod.

Direct peers

• Adferiad Recovery: Welsh substance use and mental health charity formed via merger, delivering recovery-focused services across Wales. Co-alliance partner with Barod in the VERVE 10-year integrated substance use contract for Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea.
• Hafal: Welsh mental health charity serving people affected by serious mental illness and substance use. Co-partner with Barod in the Cyfle Cymru out-of-work service and fellow DACW consortium member, serving overlapping client populations in Wales.
• CAIS: Welsh charity providing substance misuse support, recovery, and residential services. Fellow DACW consortium member with Barod, operating comparable treatment, education, and harm reduction programmes across Wales.
• Kaleidoscope Project: Welsh substance misuse charity delivering drug and alcohol services across multiple regions. Joint consortium partner with Barod in GDAS (Gwent) and Cyfle Cymru, providing near-identical community-based treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services.

Regional players

• The Wallich: Welsh homelessness and substance use charity operating across Wales. Co-alliance partner with Barod in the VERVE integrated substance use service and partner in the DACW consortium, with overlapping client base and service delivery geography.

Others

• Alcohol Change UK: UK charity focused on reducing alcohol harm through policy, research, and direct projects. Strategic co-development partner with Barod on the Feeding Recovery project, addressing the same client population via complementary (not competing) channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearebarod
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@barod2067
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeAreBarod
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Barod