What SPIRASI does

SPIRASI (legal name: Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative Ltd) is Ireland's sole National Centre for Survivors of Torture, a registered charity (CHY 16923, RCN 20062095) founded by the Spiritans in 1999 and headquartered at 213 North Circular Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. The organization delivers a multidisciplinary rehabilitation model for asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, combining therapy services (individual, family, group, trauma-sensitive yoga), psychosocial support, a volunteer befriending programme, and QQI-accredited English-language and vocational education. It also produces Istanbul Protocol-compliant medico-legal reports that support international protection claims, and operates specialized LGBTQ+ support services. Service delivery occurs through the Dublin headquarters, weekly outreach at Balseskin and Mosney reception centres, and individual therapy in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, and Waterford, with online therapy also available.

The organization runs on a non-profit, government-funded operating model. All services are provided free of charge to clients. Revenue is drawn primarily from the Health Service Executive (HSE), the European Commission Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, CDETB (for education programmes), TUSLA, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Community Foundation Ireland, and World Mercy Fund. A supplementary public donation stream operates via PayPal (single donations of €25-€150), monthly recurring donations (€5-€19), and text-to-donate (FUTURE to 50300). Headcount is approximately 40 staff, and cumulative impact disclosed includes 7,500+ survivors accessing rehabilitation services and 2,800+ learners accessing education programmes.

The underlying technology platform is intentionally minimal: no proprietary software or digital product is disclosed. Core operating assets are the QQI-accredited curriculum, an in-house psychosocial vulnerability screening tool under development with Trinity Centre for Global Health for EU-wide use, and the Istanbul Protocol documentation methodology. Research partnerships with Trinity College Dublin and the University of Ulster (CONTEXT programme) produce academic outputs rather than commercial products. The go-to-market is referral-based, with solicitors, GPs, legal representatives, and reception centres channeling clients through an online Initial Consultation form, supported by awareness content on the website, blog, and Vimeo testimonials.

Name

SPIRASI

Legal name

Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative Ltd

Website

https://spirasi.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPIRASI is Ireland's sole National Centre for Survivors of Torture, providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation, therapy, medico-legal reporting, and education services to asylum seekers and refugees, funded primarily through HSE and EU/Irish government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Torture Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Torture rehabilitation services
• Medico-legal reporting
• Asylum seeker support
• Trauma therapy services
• Refugee integration programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Primary funding from HSE (Health Service Executive), European Commission Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth, Department of Rural and Community Development, TUSLA Child and Family Agency. Services are provided free of charge to clients.
2. Public Donations: Individual donations accepted via PayPal at various amounts (€25, €50, €100, €150 single; €5, €9, €15, €19 monthly). Text-to-donate campaign (FUTURE to 50300 for €4). Corporate donations accepted. Legacy bequests through wills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPIRASI provides free multidisciplinary rehabilitation and integration services to survivors of torture, asylum seekers, and refugees in Ireland. Core offerings include individual, family, and group therapy; psychosocial outreach support at reception centres; Istanbul Protocol-aligned medico-legal reports for asylum claims; QQI-accredited ESOL and vocational education programmes; volunteer befriending; and specialized LGBTQ+ support services.

Product overview

SPIRASI is a nonprofit charitable organization operating as Ireland's National Centre for Survivors of Torture. Rather than a traditional technology product, SPIRASI offers a coordinated suite of rehabilitation and support services organized around a multidisciplinary care model. The core offerings include: Therapy Services (individual, family, and group therapy); Psychosocial Support (outreach and advocacy); the Befriending Programme (volunteer companionship); Medico-Legal Reports (medical-legal documentation for asylum claims); and an Education Programme (QQI-accredited ESOL and vocational courses). Additional services include Professional Training for external organizations, Research partnerships with universities, specialized LGBTQ+ Support Services, and Self Care/Coping Techniques resources. These services are delivered from a main Dublin center with outreach to reception facilities, forming an integrated rehabilitation ecosystem for survivors of torture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapy Services Comprehensive therapeutic interventions including Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, and Group Therapy (Psychoeducation, Mindful Movement, Relaxation, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga). Uses a holistic, phase-model approach focused on safety, empowerment, and choice. Delivered in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Waterford and online.
• Psychosocial Support Outreach support services provided by psychosocial officers at reception centres (Balseskin, Mosney), assisting clients with accessing legal advice, accommodation, healthcare, welfare benefits, and integration services.
• Befriending Programme One-to-one companionship service connecting trained volunteer befrienders with service users to reduce isolation and provide support with integration into Irish society.
• Medico-Legal Reports Independent medical assessments and reports documenting evidence of torture for asylum seekers, using Istanbul Protocol standards to support international protection claims. Requested by torture survivors' legal representatives.
• Education Programme QQI-accredited English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses at 4 levels, along with Computer Literacy, Numeracy, and Knitting classes to support integration and rehabilitation. Funded by CDETB and provided free of charge.
• Professional Training External training programmes for professionals including Working with Survivors of Torture, Cultural Competency, Working with Interpreters, and Vicarious Trauma and Self Care workshops.
• LGBTQ+ Support Services Specialized rehabilitative services for LGBTQ+ clients including peer support groups and LGBTQ+-specific befriending programme targeting isolated clients. Approximately 40 clients attended since 2018.
• Self Care/Coping Techniques Stress-reduction techniques including Capacitar methods, grounding techniques, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices for trauma survivors.
• Initial Consultation Multidisciplinary initial assessment for victims of torture and those who have suffered cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, forming care plans for rehabilitation. Accessed via online referral from solicitors, GPs, and legal representatives.
• Research Programme Partnership-based research initiatives with Trinity Centre for Global Health and Ulster University focused on psychosocial vulnerability, intergenerational trauma, and Complex PTSD among asylum seekers and refugees. Includes development of an EU-wide psychosocial vulnerability screening tool.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,500+ survivors of torture have accessed rehabilitation services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SpiritanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding religious order who established Spirasi in 1999 in response to evolving migration and asylum situation in Ireland. Ongoing spiritual and governance support.
• Trinity Centre for Global Health (TCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on multiple projects including measuring psychosocial vulnerability of asylum seekers, evaluating Spirasi's holistic treatment approach, and developing EU-wide screening tools.
• University of UlstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on CONTEXT research programme relating to psychotraumatology and torture rehabilitation best practices.
• International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a useful resource for health information; independent international health organisation supporting torture victim rehabilitation and prevention.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Irish Refugee Council: Ireland's primary national NGO advocating for refugees and asylum seekers, providing legal aid and policy advocacy. Closest in-country peer that handles referrals into Spirasi; broader mission but overlapping client base and policy advocacy function.
• Cape Town Trauma Centre: South African NGO providing trauma counselling, rehabilitation, and advocacy for victims of violence and torture. Comparable clinical/psychosocial model, but serving a different geography with a different funding ecosystem.
• ASKV/Refugee Support: Netherlands-based foundation providing social and legal support for refugees and undocumented migrants. Compares as a regional peer providing psychosocial and integration support, though less specialized in torture-specific clinical services than Spirasi.

Direct peers

• Freedom from Torture: UK-based national charity providing therapy, medico-legal reports, and advocacy for survivors of torture. Closest direct peer to Spirasi in terms of mission, service mix (therapy + medico-legal documentation), and referral-based model serving asylum seekers.
• Survivors of Torture International: San Diego-based non-profit providing holistic rehabilitation services for torture survivors including therapy, case management, and education - comparable community-based service delivery model to Spirasi.
• Dignity - Danish Institute Against Torture (RCT): Denmark-based internationally recognized torture rehabilitation and research centre. Comparable multidisciplinary model combining therapy, documentation, research, and treatment of refugees - and a member of the IRCT network alongside Spirasi.
• NYU Grossman School of Medicine - Program for Survivors of Torture: Hospital-affiliated programme providing medical, mental health, and social services for torture survivors in New York. Comparable in delivering medico-legal reports using Istanbul Protocol standards and serving asylum seekers through clinical staff.
• Centre for Victims of Torture (CVT): US-based non-profit operating as a national torture treatment centre with multidisciplinary rehabilitation, research, and training programmes. Directly comparable in scope and Istanbul Protocol expertise, with international field operations.
• International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT): Global umbrella organization for torture rehabilitation centres with 150+ members. Spirasi is referenced as part of this network; IRCT shapes standards and funding flows relevant to Spirasi's operations.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - Mental Health Programmes: International medical humanitarian organization with mental health programmes serving conflict-affected populations, including torture survivors. A broader incumbent in the global mental health-and-refugee space, overlapping with Spirasi in psychosocial care delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user7247827
• Xx.com/spirasi
• Facebookfacebook.com/118100508284480
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spiritan-asylum-services-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SPIRASI