The Advonet Group
The Advonet Group is a Leeds-based UK charity delivering independent statutory and community advocacy, including Care Act, mental health, mental capacity, and health complaints advocacy, alongside autism and learning disability inclusion services, free to eligible clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Advonet Group does
The Advonet Group is a UK-registered charity and company limited by guarantee that provides independent statutory and community advocacy services primarily across Leeds and, since 2024, into the Bradford and Craven areas. Founded around 2003 through the merger of Leeds Advocacy with other advocacy organisations, the organisation operates from a single headquarters in Leeds and is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Peter Gruen. It is funded through statutory contracts with Leeds City Council (renewed through 2028) and NHS bodies, grants from foundations including the National Lottery Community Fund, Leeds Community Foundation and Comic Relief, and public donations via JustGiving.
The core service portfolio comprises six statutory advocacy products — 1.2 Representative Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, Health Complaints Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), and Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) — plus three inclusion projects: Asking You (for adults with learning disabilities), Leeds Autism AIM, and Bradford and Craven Autism AIM. Supporting infrastructure includes self-advocacy resources, advocacy training courses, and the Leeds Advocacy Network connecting over 35 local voluntary sector partners. All advocacy services are delivered free to eligible clients through professional referral channels and four weekly community advocacy hubs (Seacroft, Armley, Chapeltown, Beeston) plus a remote hub.
The technology stack is entirely off-the-shelf: Microsoft Office 365 Forms for online referrals, Google Translate for multi-language accessibility, JustGiving for donations, Mailchimp for newsletter distribution, and YouTube plus mainstream social channels for outreach. Distribution combines a sales-led professional referral model (social workers and NHS staff), community-led hub delivery, and self-serve online referral forms. The organisation employs 70-80 people (almost 60% part-time) and reports 98% client satisfaction.
The Advonet Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Advonet Group
- Legal name
- The Advonet Group
- Website
- https://advonet.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Advonet Group is a Leeds-based UK charity delivering independent statutory and community advocacy, including Care Act, mental health, mental capacity, and health complaints advocacy, alongside autism and learning disability inclusion services, free to eligible clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Advonet Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Care Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)
Keywords
Where The Advonet Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Advonet Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Statutory Advocacy Contracts: Core advocacy services funded through contracts with Leeds City Council for statutory advocacy including Community Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, IMCA, IMHA, and Health Complaints Advocacy. Contract renewed until 2028.
- NHS Funding: NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and NHS trusts provide funding for health-related advocacy services.
- Grant Funding: Inclusion projects funded through grants from The National Lottery Community Fund, Leeds Community Foundation, Comic Relief, and others for autism AIM services, learning disability projects, and day opportunities.
- Donations: Charitable donations accepted from public via JustGiving platform. Funds help continue advocacy and inclusion work.
- Spot Purchase: Hourly rate charged to local authorities outside Leeds or for advocacy support outside main contract scope (currently noted as service closed).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Statutory Advocacy Services - Free to eligible clients |
| Freemium | Others | Inclusion Services - Free to eligible clients |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Opportunities Service - £13 per hour |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Advonet Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Advonet Group is a registered charity that provides statutory and community advocacy services to vulnerable adults across Leeds and parts of Bradford and Craven. Its core offerings include six statutory advocacy services (1.2 Representative Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, Health Complaints Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy, and Independent Mental Health Advocacy), three inclusion services for autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities (Asking You, Leeds Autism AIM, Bradford and Craven Autism AIM), the Leeds Advocacy Network for partner organisations, and advocacy training courses. All advocacy services are provided free to eligible clients, with delivery primarily funded through statutory contracts with Leeds City Council and NHS bodies.
Product overview
The Advonet Group operates as a single integrated advocacy services organization providing statutory and community advocacy, not a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core advocacy portfolio includes six main services: 1.2 Representative Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, Health Complaints Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), and Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), supplemented by Self-Advocacy resources. The organization also runs three inclusion projects—Asking You for learning disabled adults, Leeds Autism AIM, and Bradford and Craven Autism AIM—plus the Leeds Advocacy Network for partnership coordination. Supporting infrastructure includes online referral forms built on Microsoft Office 365, advocacy training courses, and downloadable self-help resources. All services operate from Leeds with some expansion into surrounding areas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Asking You: Day opportunities service and evening opportunities for adults with a learning disability in Leeds, including weekly groups, citizen advocacy, and Leeds Learning Disability People's Parliament support.
- Leeds Autism AIM
- Bradford and Craven Autism AIM
Products and services
- 1.2 Representative Advocacy Supports people deprived of their liberty who live in community settings such as supported living or private homes, providing independent representation in Court of Protection processes.
- Care Act Advocacy
- Community Advocacy
- Health Complaints Advocacy
- Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
- Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
- Leeds Autism AIM Free advocacy, information, mentoring and peer support service co-led by and run for autistic adults (aged 18 and over) in the Leeds City Council area, offering Autism Hubs, post-diagnostic support, one-to-one peer support, and autistic-led groups.
- Bradford and Craven Autism AIM Project working with autistic adults (aged 18 and over) in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven who get little or no funded support, providing one-to-one peer support, a Health Access Project for GP services, and monthly mental health-focused peer support groups.
- Asking You
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% client satisfaction rate
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Advonet Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Advonet Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
The Advonet Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Forum CentralminorHealth and social care partnership organisation in Leeds
- Voluntary Action LeedsminorLeeds voluntary sector infrastructure organisation
- West Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardcoreFormerly Leeds NHS Clinical Commissioning Group - main NHS commissioner for health services in West Yorkshire
- The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustcoreMajor NHS trust providing hospital services in Leeds
- Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation TrustcoreMental health and learning disability NHS trust
- Leeds Community Healthcare NHS TrustcoreCommunity health services provider in Leeds
- West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care PartnershipminorIntegrated care system partnership
- Live Well LeedsminorSocial prescribing and community support service in Leeds
- Carers LeedsminorSupport organisation for carers in Leeds
- Citizens Advice LeedsminorFree advice services across Leeds
- Leeds MindminorMental health charity in Leeds
- Healthwatch LeedsminorPatient and public involvement in health and social care
- Leeds Safeguarding Adults BoardminorMulti-agency partnership for adult safeguarding
- Leeds City CouncilcoreMain local authority funder for statutory advocacy services
- Leeds Migration PartnershipminorPartnership supporting migrants in Leeds
- Alzheimer's SocietyminorNational dementia charity
- CHANGEminorLearning disability rights organisation providing training on accessible resources
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Advonet Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Alzheimer's Society: Alzheimer's Society is a UK charity providing advocacy and support for people with dementia and their carers. Listed as a partner of Advonet and overlaps thematically with IMCA and care advocacy work for older and cognitively impaired clients.
Broad incumbents
- National Autistic Society: The National Autistic Society is the UK's largest autism charity, providing advocacy, information, and services for autistic adults. It is a broader incumbent that operates at national scale and overlaps specifically with Advonet's Leeds Autism AIM and Bradford and Craven Autism AIM services.
- Mind: Mind is the UK's largest mental health charity, offering advocacy and information services relevant to Advonet's IMHA and mental health advocacy work. A broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor, but they overlap in the mental health advocacy space.
- Mencap: Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity, providing advocacy, day services, and inclusion support. Overlaps with Advonet's Asking You subsidiary for learning disabled adults, but operates at national scale across many more service lines.
Direct peers
- VoiceAbility: VoiceAbility is the UK's largest independent advocacy charity, delivering statutory and community advocacy (IMHA, IMCA, Care Act, NHS complaints) across multiple regions. It is the most directly comparable peer to The Advonet Group in service mix, funding model, and statutory contract structure, but operates at a national rather than local scale.
- POhWER: POhWER is a major UK independent advocacy charity providing IMHA, IMCA, Care Act advocacy, NHS complaints advocacy, and community advocacy across many local authorities. Comparable to The Advonet Group on statutory advocacy portfolio and charity structure, with overlapping geographic and commissioning footprints.
- The Advocacy People: The Advocacy People is a UK charity delivering statutory and independent advocacy services including IMHA, IMCA, Care Act, and NHS complaints advocacy. Closely comparable in service mix and charity operating model to Advonet, competing for similar local authority contracts.
- Asist Advocacy Services: Asist is an independent advocacy charity providing statutory and generic advocacy services in Staffordshire and surrounding areas. Comparable to Advonet on independent advocacy charter status and local-authority contract model.
- Cloverleaf Advocacy: Cloverleaf Advocacy is a Yorkshire-based independent advocacy charity providing statutory advocacy (Care Act, IMCA, IMHA) and community advocacy. Most relevant as a regional peer with overlapping territory and the same statutory contract model.
Regional players
- North Yorkshire Advocacy: North Yorkshire Advocacy is an independent advocacy charity operating in neighbouring North Yorkshire. Comparable in service mix to Advonet and operating in adjacent geography, so a regional peer rather than a direct Leeds competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Advonet Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Advonet Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
The Advonet Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Advonet Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Advonet Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
The Advonet Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Advonet Group 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 The Advonet Group
What does The Advonet Group do?
The Advonet Group is a registered charity that provides statutory and community advocacy services to vulnerable adults across Leeds and parts of Bradford and Craven. Its core offerings include six statutory advocacy services (1.2 Representative Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy, Community Advocacy, Health Complaints Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy, and Independent Mental Health Advocacy), three inclusion services for autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities (Asking You, Leeds Autism AIM, Bradford and Craven Autism AIM), the Leeds Advocacy Network for partner organisations, and advocacy training courses. All advocacy services are provided free to eligible clients, with delivery primarily funded through statutory contracts with Leeds City Council and NHS bodies.
Is The Advonet Group a public or private company?
The Advonet Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Advonet Group founded?
The Advonet Group was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Advonet Group based?
The Advonet Group is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Advonet Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Statutory Advocacy Contracts are the primary driver. The others are NHS Funding, grant Funding, donations and spot Purchase.
Who are The Advonet Group's main competitors?
Alzheimer's Society is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are National Autistic Society, Mind and Mencap. Direct peers are VoiceAbility, POhWER, The Advocacy People, Asist Advocacy Services and Cloverleaf Advocacy. North Yorkshire Advocacy is listed as a regional player.
Does The Advonet Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Advonet Group.
What industry is The Advonet Group in?
The Advonet Group's product category is Social Care Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAM, Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.