Future Pathways
Future Pathways is a Scottish Government-funded, trauma-informed support coordination service for adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system, operated since 2016 through the In Care Survivors Alliance and a network of 149 Delivery Partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Future Pathways does
Future Pathways is a Scottish Government-funded support coordination service for adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect experienced in the Scottish care system. Launched in 2016 (originally as the In Care Survivors Support Fund) and operated by the In Care Survivors Alliance — a consortium comprising NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service, Health in Mind, Penumbra Mental Health, and the Scottish Government — the service has registered more than 3,000 individuals and actively supported 2,122. Eligibility is restricted to people aged 18 or older who experienced abuse or neglect as children in care settings in Scotland; the service does not extend to England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
The organisation operates as a coordinated network rather than a single product, and has no proprietary technology. Core offerings include Support Coordination (trauma-informed coordinators building trust-based relationships and arranging person-centred support), Access to Records (support for retrieving care institution records via Delivery Partners such as Birthlink and Wellbeing Scotland), Counselling and Therapeutic Support (psychological trauma services including EMDR, CBT, mindfulness, and compassion-focused therapy through partners such as the Anchor in Glasgow), Support While You Wait (launched November 2024 for those on waitlists), Peer Support (launched June 2025 with online and in-person sessions across Scotland), and Voices for a Better Future (a lived-experience advocacy group established in May 2022). Future Pathways has worked with 149 Delivery Partners since 2016, with over 40 currently active across Scotland, the UK, and beyond.
Future Pathways is fully funded by the Scottish Government as a public service and does not generate revenue from service users; all support is provided free of charge. Distribution is multi-channel: a free 0808 phone helpline, email registration, online forms, and proactive outreach from Support Coordinators. Marketing relies on word-of-mouth referrals (41% of new registrants), referrals from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, healthcare providers, advocacy organisations, and Members of the Scottish Parliament, supplemented by a website, social media, newsletter, and storytelling content including animations and the VOICES film series. Core in-house headcount is reported as 1–10 employees, with broader delivery capacity provided through the In Care Survivors Alliance partners and the contracted Delivery Partner network.
Future Pathways firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Future Pathways
- Legal name
- Future Pathways
- Website
- https://future-pathways.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Future Pathways is a Scottish Government-funded, trauma-informed support coordination service for adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system, operated since 2016 through the In Care Survivors Alliance and a network of 149 Delivery Partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Future Pathways industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Survivor Support Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
Keywords
Where Future Pathways is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Future Pathways business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Scottish Government Funding: Future Pathways is fully funded by the Scottish Government as a public service. The organisation does not generate revenue from service users; all support is provided free of charge to eligible survivors of childhood abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Future Pathways product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Future Pathways provides free, trauma-informed support coordination for adults who experienced abuse or neglect as children in the Scottish care system. Support Coordinators work one-to-one with registered survivors to arrange access to counselling, psychological trauma support, records access, peer support, education, employment, and community activities, delivered through a network of over 40 active Delivery Partners. The service is fully funded by the Scottish Government and provided at no cost to eligible individuals.
Product overview
Future Pathways is a support service for people who were abused or neglected as a child when they were in the Scottish care system. The service operates as a coordinated network model rather than a single product, comprising several interconnected services: (1) Support Coordination - the core service where dedicated coordinators build relationships and arrange personalized support; (2) Access to Records - support for people to access their care records through Delivery Partners; (3) Peer Support - a programme launched in June 2025 offering online and in-person sessions across Scotland; (4) Counselling and Therapeutic Support - access to psychological services including EMDR and trauma therapy; (5) Support While You Wait - dedicated support for people on waitlists; and (6) Voices for a Better Future - a lived experience group that shapes services and advocates for change. The service is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered through the In Care Survivors Alliance, working with a network of over 149 Delivery Partners since 2016.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Voices for a Better Future: A lived experience voice group that brings together people registered with Future Pathways to improve services, challenge stigma and raise awareness
- Peer Support
Products and services
- Support Coordination Personalised one-to-one support coordination where Support Coordinators work with adult survivors to set life goals, build trust-based relationships, and arrange access to person-centred support through Delivery Partners. Target users are adults who experienced abuse or neglect in the Scottish care system.
- Access to Records Support for survivors to identify, find and compile their care records from Scottish care institutions, with Delivery Partners (notably Birthlink and Wellbeing Scotland) guiding individuals through the records access process.
- Peer Support Peer support programme offering online and in-person sessions and workshops across Scotland, designed to help registered survivors create connection, meet new people, and build supportive relationships around themes such as healthy eating, first aid, and stress management.
- Counselling and Therapeutic Support Access to counselling and psychological trauma support through the Delivery Partner network, including CBT, mindfulness, compassion-focused therapy, EMDR, and psychology services. Key delivery partner is the Anchor (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde).
- Support While You Wait Dedicated support strand for people on the support waitlist, providing emotional support, counselling and group work via Wellbeing Scotland, record search support via Birthlink, and Brief Waitlist Sessions for time-limited help with urgent issues such as housing and education access.
- Voices for a Better Future Lived-experience voice group of registered survivors who contribute to shaping services, developing policy, participating in projects such as the VOICES film series and Access to Records guide, and advocating publicly for survivor interests.
Quantifiable outcome
- 259 people accessed support from Delivery Partners in a single quarter (Q4 2022/23)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Future Pathways
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Future Pathways technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Future Pathways partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal ServiceminorVoices for a Better Future group members worked with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to examine experiences of survivors navigating the justice system and improve support.
- In Care Survivors AlliancecoreFuture Pathways is delivered by the In Care Survivors Alliance, a coalition of four organisations: Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde), Health in Mind, Penumbra Mental Health, and the Scottish Government. The Alliance provides governance and strategic direction for the service.
- The Anchor (Glasgow Psychological Trauma Support Service)coreThe Anchor provides psychological trauma support including CBT, mindfulness, and compassion-focused therapy to Future Pathways clients. Part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, it is a key Delivery Partner for mental health support.
- Community Brokerage Network (CBN)coreCBN works alongside Future Pathways to support people to achieve their outcomes. They provide independent information and support to help people choose how to use resources. Established with support from the Scottish Government, SiRD Fund. They help identify support requirements, find options, and create plans.
- Wellbeing ScotlandcoreWellbeing Scotland (originally Open Secret) works closely with Future Pathways from the start, bringing significant experience in supporting people affected by childhood abuse. They provide emotional support, counselling and group work for people on the waitlist.
- BirthlinkcoreBirthlink provides record search support for Future Pathways clients, helping identify and compile records from care institutions. They support people throughout the record access process.
- Cellfield U.K.minorCellfield U.K. provides literacy support programmes for Future Pathways clients. Works with Delivery Partners to adapt sessions to individual needs, including arranging programmes in local communities rather than at their usual location.
- Who Cares? ScotlandcoreScotland's only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Partners with Future Pathways on projects including Accessing Records in Scotland report. Provides advocacy for care experienced people.
- ElectrifyminorStrategic creative communications agency that worked with Future Pathways and Voices for a Better Future to create an animation explaining the service. Also produced the VOICES film series.
- The Book WhisperersminorSupported Bradley in writing, editing and publishing his memoir Shadow in the Dark as part of Future Pathways storytelling initiatives.
- Matter of FocuscorePurpose-led evaluation company based in Edinburgh, working with Future Pathways since 2018. Provides ongoing support and supervision for Future Pathways' researcher, helped produce the 2020 Impact Evaluation, and worked on the Stepping Stones report. Offers expert guidance on evaluating complex relational services.
- Voices for a Better FuturecoreLived experience voice group established May 2022, bringing together people registered with Future Pathways to improve services, challenge stigma, and raise awareness. Group works on various projects including the VOICES film series, Access to Records guide, and Peer Support development. 21 members have participated since launch.
- IRISSminorCo-designed Peer Support programme with Future Pathways and Voices for a Better Future in 2023.
- Scottish Recovery NetworkminorPartnered with Future Pathways, Voices for a Better Future, and IRISS to co-design Peer Support in 2023.
- Aberdeen City CouncilminorCo-researched and wrote the Accessing Records in Scotland report with Future Pathways and other partners.
- The City of Edinburgh CouncilminorCo-researched and wrote the Accessing Records in Scotland report with Future Pathways and other partners.
- Social Work ScotlandminorCo-researched and wrote the Accessing Records in Scotland report with Future Pathways and other partners.
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)coreICO's Better Records Together campaign is supported by Future Pathways. The campaign calls for urgent improvements to help people access their care records. Future Pathways supported the campaign and its resources.
- Victim Support ScotlandminorCharity dedicated to supporting people affected by any type of crime throughout Scotland. A Future Pathways client now trains as a Victim Support Worker.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Future Pathways competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Penumbra Mental Health: Scottish mental health charity providing personalized support across Scotland. Comparable as a member of the In Care Survivors Alliance and Delivery Partner, delivering mental health and trauma services to Future Pathways clients.
- Birthlink: UK-wide charity helping people separated from their birth families to access care records and trace their histories. Comparable as a specialist provider of access-to-records support, and an active Delivery Partner of Future Pathways.
- Wellbeing Scotland (formerly Open Secret): Specialist Scottish charity supporting people affected by childhood abuse and trauma. Comparable as a peer organization delivering therapeutic and emotional support to survivors of childhood abuse, and notably an active Delivery Partner of Future Pathways.
- Who Cares? Scotland: Scotland's national independent membership organisation for care-experienced people. Comparable as a Scotland-focused advocacy and support body for individuals with care system backgrounds, with overlapping beneficiary populations.
- Victim Support Scotland: Scotland's leading victim support charity, providing emotional and practical help to people affected by crime. Directly comparable as a trauma-informed, government-funded survivor support service operating across Scotland, with overlapping survivor populations and referral pathways.
- NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): UK-wide charity providing support and resources for adult survivors of childhood abuse. Comparable as a national-level trauma-informed survivor support service with helpline access and recovery-focused programming.
Broad incumbents
- Childline (NSPCC service): UK-wide free, private helpline for children and young people. Comparable as a high-trauma survivor-facing support service with helpline delivery, though serving a younger cohort than Future Pathways.
- The Survivors Trust: UK-wide umbrella body for specialist sexual violence and abuse support services. Comparable as a broader network of survivor support organizations, providing standards, training and coordination across the sector in which Future Pathways operates.
- NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): UK-wide leading children's charity focused on child abuse prevention and recovery support. Comparable as a much larger incumbent addressing child welfare and abuse, with overlapping mission scope though primarily prevention-oriented.
- Mind (UK): UK-wide mental health charity providing advice, support and information. Comparable as a broader mental health provider in the UK ecosystem that intersects with trauma-related care, though operating across all mental health conditions rather than specifically survivor support.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Future Pathways social profiles
Digital presenceFuture Pathways financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Future Pathways leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Future Pathways funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Future Pathways 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 Future Pathways
What does Future Pathways do?
Future Pathways provides free, trauma-informed support coordination for adults who experienced abuse or neglect as children in the Scottish care system. Support Coordinators work one-to-one with registered survivors to arrange access to counselling, psychological trauma support, records access, peer support, education, employment, and community activities, delivered through a network of over 40 active Delivery Partners. The service is fully funded by the Scottish Government and provided at no cost to eligible individuals.
Is Future Pathways a public or private company?
Future Pathways is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Future Pathways founded?
Future Pathways was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Future Pathways based?
Future Pathways is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Future Pathways make money?
One revenue line is on record: scottish Government Funding.
Who are Future Pathways's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Penumbra Mental Health, Birthlink, Wellbeing Scotland (formerly Open Secret), Who Cares? Scotland, Victim Support Scotland and NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood). Broad incumbents are Childline (NSPCC service), The Survivors Trust, NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) and Mind (UK).
Does Future Pathways have an API?
No public API is recorded for Future Pathways.
What industry is Future Pathways in?
Future Pathways's product category is Survivor Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services, with a secondary code of HLAFACAN, Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8300.