Positive Futures
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBangor, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Positive Futures does
Positive Futures is a Northern Ireland-registered charity (NIC101385), structured as a company limited by guarantee, that delivers person-centred social care services for people with a learning disability, acquired brain injury, or autism, and for children and families with additional needs. Founded in 1995 by Dr Agnes Lunny OBE and headquartered in Bangor with 13 office locations across Northern Ireland and a Dublin regional office, the organisation operates an all-island model with 501-1,000 employees. Its service portfolio comprises multiple Supported Living services (East Coast, Castle, Marina, Crescent, Windermere, Lakeland, Mid Ulster, Ormiston, Foyle, Ards Peninsula, Sperrin), the Families Matter Shared Lives family-based care programme, the Wheatfield Short Break residential respite service in Belfast (accommodating up to five people), Family Support Services (Arches, Brighter Futures, Better Futures), an Autism Outreach Service, and NAHVI, a Dublin-based service for adults with dual visual impairment and intellectual disability. The organisation's 'technology' is its clinical methodology: a Person-Centred Planning approach combined with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Self Directed Support models, which tailor support packages to individual aspiration, choice, and need rather than fitting people into standardised service slots.
Revenue is generated primarily through commissioned service contracts with Health & Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (subscription-style block commissioning), supplemented by voluntary donations via JustGiving and community fundraising events. There is no disclosed consumer pricing as services are publicly funded. The go-to-market is sales-led through formal commissioning relationships and referrals from health trusts, family/carer inquiries, and local authorities. Customer outcomes evidenced in the data include successful transition of individuals from institutional care (e.g., Muckamore Abbey Hospital) to community-based supported living and supported employment in mainstream workplaces. Positive Futures is governed by a Board of Trustees, operates under no external investor or parent company ownership, and is subject to ongoing Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) inspections across its service sites.
Positive Futures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Positive Futures
- Legal name
- Positive Futures
- Website
- https://www.positive-futures.net/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Positive Futures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Care Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- 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), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE)
Keywords
Where Positive Futures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bangor
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Positive Futures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government/Health Trust Commissioning: Primary revenue stream from commissioned services funded by Health & Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Services include Supported Living, Family Support Services, Short Break Services, and Shared Lives programmes.
- Charitable Donations and Fundraising: Donations received through JustGiving platform and fundraising activities such as community events, corporate donations, and individual contributions from supporters.
- Community Fundraising Events: Funds raised through community activities including country dance events, walks, and other local fundraising initiatives that support children and families services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Positive Futures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Positive Futures delivers commissioned social care support for children, young people, adults and families affected by learning disability, acquired brain injury or autism across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Services span Supported Living houses, Shared Lives family placements, residential short breaks, family support, futures planning for older carers, autism outreach, and a specialist dual-diagnosis housing service (NAHVI). Provision is funded by Health & Social Care Trusts and reinforced by charitable donations and community fundraising.
Product overview
Positive Futures is a social care charity operating across the island of Ireland, providing innovative person-centred support services for individuals with learning/intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, or autism, and their families. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including Supported Living Services (with multiple locations such as East Coast, Castle, Marina, Crescent, Windermere, Lakeland, Mid Ulster, Ormiston, Foyle, Ards Peninsula, and Sperrin), Families Matter Shared Lives Service, Wheatfield Short Break Service, Family Support Services, Better Futures planning, Brighter Futures Project, Autism Outreach Service, and NAHVI for visual impairment with intellectual disability. The services work together to enable people to live independently in ordinary community settings with choice and control, while also providing family support and respite care. The organization was established in 1995 and is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Families Matter Shared Lives: A service giving adults with a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury the chance to be supported by another family or individual in their home.
- Brighter Futures
- Better Futures
- Caring for our World
- Welcome Award
Products and services
- Supported Living Services Multiple supported living services across Northern Ireland (East Coast, Castle, Marina, Crescent, Windermere, Lakeland, Mid Ulster, Ormiston, Foyle, Ards Peninsula, Sperrin) enabling adults with learning disabilities, acquired brain injury or autism to live independently in ordinary houses with personalised support packages commissioned by Health & Social Care Trusts.
- Families Matter Shared Lives Service A service matching adults with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury with approved Shared Lives carers who open their homes to provide short-break, overnight, day, or long-term support, creating long-term relationships and consistent care in a family setting.
- Wheatfield Short Break Service A purpose-built residential short break facility in Belfast (The McSweeney Centre, 31 Henry Place) accommodating up to five people at a time, providing respite for families while offering individuals a safe, home-like environment.
- Family Support Services (The Arches) Services including The Arches Family Support Service that work with the whole family to build resilience and confidence, providing practical support, parenting support, and breaks for caregivers of children and adults with disabilities.
- Better Futures A futures planning project designed to help older carers think ahead and make arrangements for their loved ones with disabilities, providing peace of mind about future care.
- Brighter Futures Project A project providing support to children and young people with learning disabilities, working to build their skills and confidence.
- Autism Outreach Service Specialised outreach support services for individuals with autism, providing tailored support in their own homes and communities.
- NAHVI A housing and support service for people with visual impairment and an intellectual disability (dual diagnosis), established 2001 in Donabate, currently supporting 16 adults. Positive Futures has provided governance and management oversight since 2018, with formal transfer completed in August 2022.
- Self Directed Support Services enabling individuals and families to have control over their support arrangements and funding, choosing how support is delivered to meet their personal outcomes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully supported individuals to transition from institutional care (Muckamore Abbey Hospital) to community living with improved quality of life indicators.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Positive Futures
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Positive Futures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Positive Futures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Keep Northern Ireland BeautifulcorePositive Futures and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful launched 'Caring for our World', a first-of-its-kind partnership delivering free, accessible climate training to organisations supporting people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland. This innovative programme addresses environmental awareness and sustainability for a underserved population.
- Association for Real Change (ARC)corePositive Futures is a member of ARC, the umbrella body representing social care providers in Northern Ireland. ARC has 59 members and advocates on workforce issues, funding, and sector sustainability. Positive Futures participates in ARC campaigns including responses to Real Living Wage funding decisions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Positive Futures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mencap: Mencap is the leading UK charity for people with learning disabilities, providing supported living, residential care, and advocacy across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Directly comparable to Positive Futures as a learning disability support provider operating across multiple UK regions with similar commissioning relationships.
- Hft (Home Farm Trust): Hft is a UK charity providing personalized support for people with learning disabilities, including supported living, shared lives, and residential services. Comparable in service portfolio (supported living + shared lives) and in operating across multiple UK regions for a similar population segment.
- Sense: Sense is a UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including learning disabilities, autism, and sensory impairments. Comparable to Positive Futures' cross-disability portfolio (e.g., NAHVI for dual sensory + IDD diagnosis) and its focus on complex communication needs.
- United Response: United Response is a UK charity providing supported living, personal assistance, and community support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Comparable in person-centred service model and reliance on local authority commissioning.
- Leonard Cheshire: Leonard Cheshire is an international charity supporting people with disabilities through supported living, residential care, and employment programs. Comparable in scale and service breadth, and operates in both the UK and Ireland — directly competitive in Positive Futures' geographies.
- Praxis Care: Praxis Care is the largest charity providing support to people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and autism across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The closest geographic competitor and operational peer given overlapping all-Ireland footprint and similar service mix.
- Turning Point: Turning Point is a UK social enterprise providing supported living, learning disability, mental health, and substance use services. Comparable in service breadth and reliance on local commissioner relationships across the UK.
- Camphill Communities: Camphill Communities provide intentional living communities and supported living for people with learning disabilities and other support needs. Comparable in long-term, community-based model and values-driven approach to person-centred support.
Regional players
- The Cedar Foundation: The Cedar Foundation is a Northern Ireland disability charity providing supported living, employability, and autism services. A direct regional competitor in Positive Futures' primary Northern Ireland market with similar service categories.
- St John of God Community Services: St John of God Community Services operates disability and mental health services across the Republic of Ireland. Comparable as an Ireland-focused disability provider with supported living and respite services, competing for Republic of Ireland commissioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Positive Futures social profiles
Digital presencePositive Futures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Positive Futures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Positive Futures subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Positive Futures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Positive Futures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Positive Futures
What does Positive Futures do?
Positive Futures delivers commissioned social care support for children, young people, adults and families affected by learning disability, acquired brain injury or autism across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Services span Supported Living houses, Shared Lives family placements, residential short breaks, family support, futures planning for older carers, autism outreach, and a specialist dual-diagnosis housing service (NAHVI). Provision is funded by Health & Social Care Trusts and reinforced by charitable donations and community fundraising.
Is Positive Futures a public or private company?
Positive Futures is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Positive Futures founded?
Positive Futures was founded in 1995. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Positive Futures based?
Positive Futures is headquartered in Bangor, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Positive Futures make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government/Health Trust Commissioning is the primary driver. The others are charitable Donations and Fundraising and community Fundraising Events.
Who are Positive Futures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mencap, Hft (Home Farm Trust), Sense, United Response, Leonard Cheshire, Praxis Care, Turning Point and Camphill Communities. Regional players are The Cedar Foundation and St John of God Community Services.
Does Positive Futures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Positive Futures.
What industry is Positive Futures in?
Positive Futures's product category is Social Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.