Rainbows
Rainbows is a UK pediatric palliative care charity serving 750 babies, children, and young people annually across five East Midlands counties. It operates an inpatient hospice in Loughborough alongside Nurses in Hospitals, Hospice at Home, and bereavement support services, funded primarily through voluntary donations and a 12-shop retail network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLoughborough, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rainbows does
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is a UK-registered charity (No. 1014051) founded in 1994 and headquartered in Loughborough, delivering pediatric palliative care to babies, children, and young people with life-limiting conditions across five East Midlands counties. The organisation operates an inpatient hospice in Loughborough and has extended its reach through three distinct clinical delivery models: facility-based hospice care, a Nurses in Hospitals programme launched in 2020 that embeds specialist nurses inside NHS hospital trusts, and a Hospice at Home service launched in October 2023 that brings end-of-life and respite care into family residences. In addition to clinical care, Rainbows provides therapeutic services, bereavement support, and family liaison.
The organisation is funded predominantly through voluntary income rather than statutory contracts. Government funding covers only the equivalent of approximately seven weeks of operations per year (18% of income), while Gifts in Wills contribute roughly 20%, with the balance drawn from community fundraising, corporate partnerships, and a retail network of 12 charity shops. Rainbows serves approximately 750 babies, children, and young people annually with a workforce of 101–250 staff.
Rainbows was the first children's hospice in England to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission across all five inspection domains, a clinical quality signal that materially strengthens its fundraising proposition and NHS referral pipeline. The current CEO, Jane Burns, was appointed in September 2023, coinciding with the launch of the Hospice at Home service and a renewed period of service model diversification.
Rainbows firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rainbows
- Legal name
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Cope Children's Trust)
- Website
- https://rainbows.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Rainbows is a UK pediatric palliative care charity serving 750 babies, children, and young people annually across five East Midlands counties. It operates an inpatient hospice in Loughborough alongside Nurses in Hospitals, Hospice at Home, and bereavement support services, funded primarily through voluntary donations and a 12-shop retail network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rainbows industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care (HLADAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), Community-Based Palliative Care (Home-Based Non-Hospice) (HLADAHAH), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF)
Keywords
Where Rainbows is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Loughborough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Rainbows business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, community fundraising events, challenges, and supporter activities.
- Gifts in Wills (Legacies): Legacy gifts fund approximately 20% of Rainbows' work. Various types including residuary gifts, pecuniary gifts, specific gifts, and life interests.
- Charity Retail Shops: Multiple charity shops across the East Midlands selling donated items, plus online shops via Vinted, eBay, and Depop.
- Corporate Partnerships: Long-term corporate partnerships including Charity of the Year schemes, Cause Related Marketing (percentage of sales), Business Club membership, and event sponsorship.
- Lottery: Rainbows Lottery providing regular income through weekly draws with prizes.
- Statutory Funding: Government funding covers approximately 18% of annual costs, with annual statutory funding only keeping Rainbows open for 7 weeks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free hospice services for eligible families |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rainbows product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is a registered charity delivering specialist palliative and end-of-life care for babies, children and young people (0-25) with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across the East Midlands. Services are delivered across three care settings: a hospice facility in Loughborough, Clinical Nurse Specialists embedded in acute NHS hospital trusts, and a Hospice at Home service. Care is provided free of charge to eligible families referred by healthcare professionals.
Product overview
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is a charitable hospice organization providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care services. The organization does not operate a technology product platform but instead delivers a comprehensive suite of care services including Hospice Care at its Loughborough facility, Hospice at Home (launched October 2023), and Nurses in Hospitals embedded in acute trusts across the East Midlands. Its therapeutic offerings include Complementary Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Music Therapy, and Physiotherapy. The organization also operates retail charity shops, an online shop through Vinted/eBay/Depop, a weekly lottery, legacy giving programme, and 'Gifts that Give' virtual donation products. Rainbows is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and rated Outstanding. Registered charity number: 1014051.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hospice Care Services Specialist palliative and end-of-life inpatient and day care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, delivered at the hospice in Loughborough. Includes family accommodation and access to therapies.
- Hospice at Home Specialist nursing care provided in the homes of babies, children and young people, enabling end-of-life and palliative care closer to families.
- Nurses in Hospitals Clinical Nurse Specialists based in acute NHS hospital trusts across the East Midlands delivering pediatric palliative care alongside medical teams.
- Outreach Services Care and support extended to families closer to home through Community Hubs hosted in venues across the East Midlands, offering family support, social opportunities, and Rainbows staff access.
- Bereavement Support Long-term bereavement support including a bereavement suite, psychological support, counselling, support groups, and remembrance services for families who have lost a child.
- Family Support Services Multidisciplinary family support including Cultural Link Worker, Spiritual Support Worker, outreach play and Music Therapy, sibling support, youth work, and transition support.
- Sibling Support One-to-one and group support for brothers and sisters aged 5-18, including up to five years of post-bereavement support.
- End of Life Care Comprehensive end-of-life support including individual care plans, pain management, bereavement suite, family accommodation, and funeral arrangement support.
- Symptom Management Expert nursing and therapeutic care for managing distressing symptoms throughout a child's life, working with community nurses, hospital teams and GPs.
- Short Breaks & Respite Planned breaks for children with life-limiting conditions, providing nurse-led clinical care with tailored personal care plans and multidisciplinary support.
- Family Accommodation Onsite accommodation with three twin en-suite bedrooms and one double en-suite bedroom, allowing families to stay together during their child's care.
- Complementary Therapy Therapies including massage, reflexology, aromatherapy and Indian head massage to improve physical and emotional health, provided in hospice, home and hospital settings.
- Hydrotherapy Warm water therapy in a regulated hydrotherapy pool meeting national guidelines, offering sensory, relaxation and stimulation experiences.
- Music Therapy State Registered Music Therapist providing sessions in a fully furnished music room using traditional instruments and assistive technology for children of all abilities.
- Physiotherapy Registered Physiotherapists providing programmes including manual handling reviews, chest clearance programmes, and symptom management for children aged 0-25.
- Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 24/7 specialist telephone advice service for healthcare professionals caring for deteriorating or dying children, with specialist nurse callbacks within 15 minutes.
- Charity Shops Network of twelve charity shops across the East Midlands (Arnold, Beeston, Blaby, Daventry, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Shepshed, Wigston) selling donated goods.
- Online Shop Online retail through Vinted, eBay and Depop platforms selling donated items to raise funds for the hospice.
- Rainbows Lottery Weekly lottery with prizes supporting local families cared for by the hospice.
- Gifts in Wills Legacy giving programme allowing supporters to leave gifts in Wills, including residuary gifts, pecuniary gifts, specific gifts, and life interests, funding approximately 20% of Rainbows' work.
- Gifts that Give Virtual gift donations including Music Therapy, Hydrotherapy, arts and crafts, nursing care, and family support, with electronic certificates provided to loved ones.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% increase in referrals since launching Nurses in Hospitals programme in 2020
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rainbows
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rainbows technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rainbows partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- FarewillminorFree Will-writing partnership allowing supporters to write or update their Will online or over the phone at no charge. Supports legacy giving programme.
- Riviera TravelcoreCause Related Marketing partnership where holidaymakers quote 'Rainbows' when booking and Rainbows receives 10% of holiday value. Has raised over £25,000 since 2012.
- Roseacre Pub CompanycoreCause Related Marketing partnership donating £1 per sale of the 'Rainbows dish' on seasonal menus. Has raised £40,000 through dish sales and own fundraising efforts.
- GuardsmancoreLong-standing corporate partner for over 20 years. Annual corporate golf day is a staple event. Has raised over £266,000 in support of Rainbows' work.
- Business Club MemberscoreOver 50 local businesses supporting Rainbows through monthly donations (from £30/month). Funds directly allocated to nursing staff. Benefits include PR support, logo placement, hospice tours, and event access.
- NHS Trusts and Healthcare ProviderscoreProfessional partnerships across East Midlands including NHS trusts in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire for coordinated pediatric palliative care delivery.
- Together for Short LivesminorNational charity representing children not expected to reach adulthood. Rainbows participates in national committees, initiatives and contributes to publications.
- Hospice UKminorLeading UK charity supporting hospice care. Rainbows contributes to national work groups, committees, quality groups, and benchmarking initiatives.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rainbows competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Together for Short Lives: UK-wide charity and membership body representing children with life-limiting conditions and the hospices that support them. Listed as a strategic partner of Rainbows; comparable as a sector-level organisation rather than a direct service provider.
- Hospice UK: National charity supporting hospice care across the UK through policy, benchmarking and quality initiatives. Listed as a strategic partner of Rainbows; comparable as an umbrella / enabling organisation rather than a service competitor.
Direct peers
- Claire House Children's Hospice: Children's hospice serving North West England and North/Mid Wales, offering palliative care, respite, bereavement support and therapies. Operates an almost identical service mix and funding model to Rainbows.
- East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH): Children's hospice charity operating across East Anglia with hospice sites, hospice-at-home services and family support. Direct peer of Rainbows with an overlapping service portfolio and similar regional fundraising approach.
- Demelza Hospice Care for Children: Children's hospice operating in Kent, South East London and East Sussex with hospice, hospice-at-home and family support services. Direct peer of Rainbows across clinical, fundraising and retail activities.
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices: Children's hospice charity serving Surrey and London with hospice-based care, hospice-at-home and therapies. Operates a similar diversified fundraising model including shops, lottery, and corporate partnerships.
- Martin House Children's Hospice: Children's and young people's hospice covering Yorkshire, providing palliative care, respite, bereavement and family support. Closely comparable to Rainbows in patient population, services, and charity shop / corporate fundraising model.
- Helen & Douglas House: Children's and young adult hospice in Oxford serving families across the South East and beyond. Direct peer with overlapping paediatric palliative care, respite, and family support services.
- Acorns Children's Hospice: UK children's hospice charity providing palliative and end-of-life care across the West Midlands and surrounding regions. Closely comparable to Rainbows in mission, services offered, and fundraising-led nonprofit model.
- Noah's Ark Children's Hospice: Children's hospice supporting babies, children and young people in North and Central London and Hertfordshire. Comparable to Rainbows in service scope and reliance on voluntary income and charity retail.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rainbows social profiles
Digital presenceRainbows financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rainbows leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Rainbows funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rainbows 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 Rainbows
What does Rainbows do?
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is a registered charity delivering specialist palliative and end-of-life care for babies, children and young people (0-25) with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across the East Midlands. Services are delivered across three care settings: a hospice facility in Loughborough, Clinical Nurse Specialists embedded in acute NHS hospital trusts, and a Hospice at Home service. Care is provided free of charge to eligible families referred by healthcare professionals.
Is Rainbows a public or private company?
Rainbows is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rainbows founded?
Rainbows was founded in 1994. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Rainbows based?
Rainbows is headquartered in Loughborough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rainbows make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are gifts in Wills (Legacies), charity Retail Shops, corporate Partnerships, lottery and statutory Funding.
Who are Rainbows's main competitors?
Others on record are Together for Short Lives and Hospice UK. Direct peers are Claire House Children's Hospice, East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Shooting Star Children's Hospices, Martin House Children's Hospice, Helen & Douglas House, Acorns Children's Hospice and Noah's Ark Children's Hospice.
Does Rainbows have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rainbows.
What industry is Rainbows in?
Rainbows's product category is Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAHAI, Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care, with a secondary code of BPAGACAK, Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support. Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.