Kids Inspire

What Kids Inspire does

Kids Inspire is a UK-registered charity (No. 1129513) and company limited by guarantee (No. 06380082) founded in 2007 by Sue Bell OBE DL, providing free, specialist trauma and mental health support to children, young people and families across Essex and Suffolk. Headquartered at Hargrave House, Chelmsford, the organization employs more than 150 paid and voluntary staff delivering services through established referral pathways (schools, GPs, social workers, family self-referral, and step-down from clinical teams), with services prioritized for families on lower incomes who cannot access private therapy. From May 2024 to April 2025, it supported 4,556 children and families and reached 15,836 people in total through direct therapy, community engagement, and training.

The service portfolio spans four core therapeutic streams: Creative Arts Therapies (Drama, Integrative Arts, Music, Dance & Movement, Play); Trauma Resolution Therapies (EMDR, CATT, DDP, Theraplay, Somatic Experiencing, NeuroAffective Touch); Family Therapy; and Talk Therapies (CBT, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic Counselling). Alongside direct therapy, Kids Inspire runs structured one-to-one mentoring for children aged 8+, specialist group programmes (EPIC for parents, NVR for parents of children with challenging behaviours, The Voice youth social group), trauma-responsive professional training, and community engagement programmes including school assemblies, Holiday Clubs, PROM-Unity events and an annual Christmas Appeal.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events; it receives no central government funding and all services are delivered free to beneficiaries. Major funders include the National Lottery Community Fund (£1M grant in 2024 for Suffolk expansion), Garfield Weston Foundation, Monday Charitable Trust, Pears Foundation, and a broad base of corporate partners. Fundraising channels include the GEMs monthly giving programme, Donorbox-powered online donations, JustGiving pages, challenge events (e.g., £35,000 raised by a 30-cyclist Essex-to-Amsterdam ride), an annual Autumn Ball (£28,000 in 2024), and active corporate fundraising partnerships (Dunelm, Tesco, HSBC, Joyce Solutions, Baker Labels and others). The charity states an efficiency ratio of 82p of every £1 donated reaching frontline services, and is currently running a £1.1M capital campaign (£365,000 secured) to purchase a permanent therapeutic services building.

Name

Kids Inspire

Legal name

Kids Inspire

Website

https://kidsinspire.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kids Inspire is a UK children's mental health charity founded in 2007 that delivers free, specialist trauma therapy, mentoring, group programmes and community engagement to children, young people and families across Essex and Suffolk, prioritizing those on lower incomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Trauma-Informed & Resilience-Building Programs (Early Childhood) (EDACAOAD), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Behavioral Support & Positive Behavior Intervention Childcare (HSAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Children's mental health services
• Trauma therapy support
• Youth mentoring programmes
• Family therapy services
• Therapeutic group work

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelmsford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and regular donations from individuals. The charity states that 82p of every £1 donated goes directly towards supporting children, young people, and families.
2. GEMs (Give Every Month): Monthly giving programme where regular donors help children recover from trauma through consistent, long-term contributions.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funding from trusts, foundations, and major donors including National Lottery (£1 million grant), Garfield Weston Foundation, Monday Charitable Trust, Pears Foundation, and others.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate social responsibility partnerships with businesses including event sponsorship, fundraising events, employee volunteering, and workplace giving programmes.
5. Fundraising Events: Revenue from challenge events (marathons, cycling), social events (Golf Days, Christmas events), and community fundraising activities.
6. Capital Campaign: Special fundraising campaign to raise £1.1 million to purchase a new building for therapeutic services. Currently £365,000 secured.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kids Inspire is a children's mental health charity providing free, personalised trauma support to children, young people, and families across Essex and Suffolk. Core services include one-to-one and group Therapies (Creative Arts, Trauma Resolution modalities such as EMDR/CATT/DDP/Somatic Experiencing, Family Therapy, and Talk Therapies), one-to-one Mentoring with trained volunteers, structured group programmes (EPIC, NVR, The Voice), Training for schools and professionals, and Community Engagement activities. All services are provided free of charge with a focus on families on lower incomes.

Product overview

Kids Inspire is a children's mental health charity offering free trauma support to families across Essex and Suffolk. The organization provides a multi-faceted service portfolio centered on therapeutic interventions (Creative Arts, Trauma Resolution, Family, and Talk Therapies), structured mentoring programs with trained volunteers, specialist group work (EPIC, NVR, The Voice), professional training, and community engagement initiatives including school assemblies, Holiday Clubs, and annual Christmas Appeals. Services are personalised around each child with a focus on those on lower incomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapies Comprehensive therapeutic services for children and young people experiencing trauma, including Creative Arts Therapies (Drama, Integrative Arts, Music, Dance & Movement, Play), Trauma Resolution Therapies (EMDR, CATT, DDP, Theraplay, Somatic Experiencing, NeuroAffective Touch), Family Therapy (dyadic and systemic), and Talk Therapies (CBT, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic Counselling). Provided free to children and families, primarily those on lower incomes, across Essex and Suffolk.
• Mentoring One-to-one mentoring service connecting young people aged 8+ with trained volunteer mentors who provide guidance, support, and consistent weekly engagement for a year to improve self-confidence, resilience, and emotional wellbeing. Free to access for children and families across Essex and Suffolk.
• Groups Specialist group work programmes including EPIC (Empowering Parents Improving Connection) for parent support, NVR (Non-Violent Resistance) for parents of children at increased risk of violent/aggressive behaviours or conduct issues, and The Voice youth social group for young people to discuss mental health. Free to participants.
• Training Trauma-responsive training services for schools, professionals, and community members to build awareness and capacity for supporting children's mental health. 575 people attended this training between May 2024 and April 2025.
• Community Engagement Outreach programmes including school assemblies, workshops, Holiday Clubs, PROM-Unity events, and community activities across Essex and Suffolk to raise awareness and support vulnerable children and families. Reaches communities in areas of high deprivation.
• Holiday Club Free holiday club activities for Essex children aged 6-10 from low-income families, providing safe social spaces, new experiences, and respite for parents and carers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4556 children and families received support from May 2024 to April 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHS / CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Partnership with NHS and local CCGs to deliver Specialist Counselling Service for children and young people (aged 5-18, up to 25 with EHCP) commissioned as part of COVID-19 mental health response.
• Essex County Council / Essex HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for capital campaign to purchase new building at Hollycroft, Great Baddow. Essex Housing co-designed the building to meet the specialised needs of a trauma recovery and children's mental health hub. Partnership provides a rare, time-limited opportunity for a permanent home.
• Open DoorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner charity in the Specialist Counselling Service partnership delivering early intervention mental health services for children with low-level depression, anxiety, and low mood.
• South East and North East Essex MindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner charity in the Specialist Counselling Service partnership delivering early intervention mental health services for children with low-level depression, anxiety, and low mood.
• Joyce SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor of Autumn Ball 2024. Hosted third Golf Day in aid of Kids Inspire. Named Corporate Team of the Year for sustained support.
• Barker AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor of Autumn Ball 2024. Volunteered for Christmas Appeal gift wrapping and delivery.
• MatchroomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor of Autumn Ball 2024.
• Baker LabelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner, sponsor of Autumn Ball 2024, and Christmas Appeal supporter providing printed wrapping paper.
• Fundraising RegulatorminorOthersRegistered with the Fundraising Regulator, committing to follow the Code of Fundraising Practice and standards expected of UK charities and fundraisers.
• TuixenminorOthersListed as a supporter/partner of Kids Inspire.
• Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC)minorOthersMember of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition, a network supporting mental health organisations.
• DunelmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting Christmas tree gift collections for the Christmas Appeal at their Chelmsford store.
• TescominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting Christmas tree gift collections and making donations through their stores and head office.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Mental Health: UK mental health policy and research charity working across age groups. Tangentially comparable: addresses youth mental health as part of broader mental health system work, including trauma-informed practice.
• Barnardo's: Large UK children's charity delivering services across mental health, early intervention, family support, and child welfare. Comparable in children-and-family mission and trauma-informed practice but operates as a national incumbent rather than a regional specialist.
• NSPCC: Large UK child welfare charity with counselling services (Childline), school programmes, and family support. Comparable focus on child safeguarding, schools, and trauma recovery but operates at much greater scale and across a broader welfare remit.
• Mind (Essex) / South East and North East Essex Mind: Larger mental health charity serving all ages with counselling, advocacy, and training. Already a listed partner of Kids Inspire in the NHS Specialist Counselling Service. Overlaps in therapy delivery but serves a broader age range and is not children-specialist.

Direct peers

• Anna Freud Centre: Charity focused on children's and young people's mental health through therapy, research, and training. Highly comparable: specialist trauma-informed therapies, family-focused interventions, schools partnerships, and professional training programmes.
• Winston's Wish: UK charity supporting bereaved children and young people through therapy, group work, and family support. Comparable trauma-focused therapeutic model, family-inclusive approach, and charity funding structure.
• YoungMinds: UK charity dedicated to children and young people's mental health, focused on advocacy, parent support, and training. Comparable target beneficiary, mission, and reliance on donations and grants; less direct therapy delivery than Kids Inspire.
• Place2Be: UK children's mental health charity providing counselling and mental health support in schools. Directly comparable to Kids Inspire on mission, beneficiary profile (school-aged children), therapeutic approach, and school-based delivery model.
• Charlie Waller Trust: Charity focused on young people's mental health, particularly depression and suicide prevention, with significant training and schools-facing programmes. Comparable mission, beneficiary group, and training-led funding model.

Emerging players

• Kooth: Digital mental health platform for children and young people offering online counselling and support. Overlaps with Kids Inspire on beneficiary segment and mission but competes via a digital channel rather than face-to-face therapy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kidsinspire
• Instagraminstagram.com/kidsinspire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kids-inspire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Kids Inspire