Headway Worcestershire

What Headway Worcestershire does

Headway Worcestershire is an independent UK-registered charity (Charity Number 702490; Company Number 02443464) founded in 1989 and headquartered in Worcester, providing support services to adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI) across Worcestershire. Its core service portfolio comprises four interconnected programmes: (i) one-to-one community Outreach Support delivered in clients' homes, (ii) Wellbeing Centres operating from four county locations (Worcester, Bromsgrove, Evesham, Stourport-on-Severn), (iii) Counselling Services for survivors and families, and (iv) peer-led Support Groups. The organisation estimates it serves approximately 1,000 people per year and targets roughly £350,000 in annual fundraising to maintain, expand, and pilot services. Complementary social enterprises — the Worcester charity shop on St Swithin's Street and the Headway Repair Shop upcycling workshop — generate incremental income while providing therapeutic activity for clients.

The organisation is affiliated with Headway – the brain injury association (Registered Charity Number 1025852), from which it derives national brand credibility while retaining operational autonomy. It has created and trademarked the ABI Games™, a national sporting event for ABI survivors that has run for three consecutive editions (2022, 2023, 2025) at the University of Worcester Arena, drawing 250+ participants, and is now being extended into regional roadshow events. Headway Worcestershire holds an "Outstanding" rating from the Care Quality Commission (2019) — a rare regulatory endorsement among UK adult social care providers.

Headway Worcestershire is not a technology company and has no proprietary software, AI/ML, or platform product. Its revenue model is a multi-channel charitable mix: individual donations and community fundraising (90 Challenge, Paddle & Hike, Name a Neuron monthly giving), retail income from the charity shop, grants (notably a £50,000 National Lottery Community Fund award in March 2022), and Charity-of-the-Year corporate partnerships with local Worcestershire businesses (The Alma Tavern, Ombersley Golf Club, Anja Potze Fine Jewellery, WRXY Radio, Worcestershire Ambassadors). Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organisation is governed by a board of trustees chaired by Nick French and led by CEO Mandie Fitzgerald.

Name

Headway Worcestershire

Legal name

Headway Worcestershire

Website

https://headwayworcestershire.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Headway Worcestershire is an independent UK charity founded in 1989 that provides free acquired brain injury support — outreach, counselling, support groups, and four Wellbeing Centres — to approximately 1,000 adults and their families annually across Worcestershire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Headway Worcestershire raises approximately £350,000 each year through donations, fundraising activities, and community support to maintain services, expand existing provision, and pilot new initiatives. Fundraising channels include the 90 Challenge, Paddle & Hike, Name a Neuron campaign, charity shop sales, and general donations.
2. Charity Shop Revenue: The organization operates a charity shop in Worcester on St Swithin's Street, selling second-hand items and upcycled furniture. Donations of goods are also accepted at The Mill, Gregory's Mill Street, Worcester WR3 8BA.
3. National Lottery Community Fund: Funding received from the National Lottery Community Fund, supported by National Lottery players, to support frontline services for acquired brain injury survivors in Worcestershire.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Charity of the Year partnerships with local businesses including The Alma Tavern, Ombersley Golf Club, Anja Potze Fine Jewellery, WRXY Radio, Worcestershire Ambassadors, The Berkeley Arms, and GMS Group/Warrens Hall Riding School.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Headway Worcestershire is a registered charity that provides specialized support services to adults living with acquired brain injuries (ABI) across Worcestershire, UK. Its core offerings include one-to-one outreach support delivered in clients' homes, four Wellbeing Centres (Worcester, Bromsgrove, Evesham, Stourport) for daytime activities and social rehabilitation, confidential counselling, and peer-led support groups for survivors and their families.

Product overview

Headway Worcestershire operates as a unified service portfolio providing specialized support for adults with acquired brain injuries across Worcestershire. The core service offering comprises four interconnected programs: Outreach Support Services (one-to-one community-based care in clients' homes), Wellbeing Centres (day services in Worcester, Bromsgrove, Evesham, and Stourport), Counselling Services (confidential emotional support for survivors and families), and Support Groups (peer-based social support). These core services are complemented by social enterprises including the Headway Repair Shop and Charity Shop, which provide meaningful activities and fundraising. The organization also runs signature events including the annual ABI Games (national sporting event for ABI survivors), the Paddle & Hike Challenge, and The 90 Challenge fundraising campaign. The Name a Neuron Campaign provides a sustainable monthly giving initiative. Walking Tennis Sessions and ABI Games Roadshows extend programming throughout the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABI Games: National Acquired Brain Injury Games - a groundbreaking event celebrating adults with acquired brain injuries, held annually at the University of Worcester Arena
• Headway Repair Shop
• 90 Challenge
• Paddle & Hike
• Name a Neuron Campaign

Products and services

• Outreach Support Services One-to-one community-based support provided directly to clients in their own homes across Worcestershire, offering individually tailored care to enable adults with acquired brain injuries to live more independent lives.
• Wellbeing Centres Day centre services located in Worcester, Bromsgrove, Evesham, and Stourport offering a comfortable environment where individuals with acquired brain injuries can meet people, make friends, learn new skills, and gain confidence through structured activities.
• Counselling Services Confidential counselling service for brain injury survivors, their carers, and close family members providing emotional support and a safe space to discuss concerns and difficulties.
• Support Groups Peer support groups offering social support and the opportunity for individuals with acquired brain injuries, their families, and carers to understand their recovery by identifying commonalities with others.
• ABI Games National sporting event celebrating adults with acquired brain injuries, featuring walking sports including tennis, football, rugby, cricket, badminton, boccia, and archery, with roadshow events taking place around the UK.
• Headway Repair Shop Workshop at the Worcester Daycentre where clients repair and upcycle donated furniture, providing meaningful activities and skills development for adults with acquired brain injuries.
• Headway Charity Shop Charity retail shop located in Worcester on St Swithin's Street selling second-hand items to raise funds for frontline services.
• Walking Tennis Sessions Adapted tennis sessions in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, held at various locations including Gheluvelt Park and Cutnall Green Tennis Club, suitable for people with acquired brain injuries.

Quantifiable outcome

• ABI Games 2025 hosted over 250 participants from across the UK
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Your Adventure ChallengeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 July 2026Adventure challenge company that designs and leads the Paddle & Hike fundraising event for Headway Worcestershire, featuring canoeing on the River Wye and hiking to King Arthur's Cave.
• Ombersley Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Ombersley Golf Club selected Headway Worcestershire as their Charity of the Year for 2025, committed to hosting fundraising events to support people affected by brain injury.
• WRXY RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2024Worcestershire community radio station committed to supporting Headway Worcestershire by raising profile through their shows and website, serving local communities across the county.
• Headway UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadway Worcestershire is affiliated to Headway – the brain injury association (Registered Charity Number 1025852). This national partnership provides resources, support, and credibility while allowing local autonomy for the Worcestershire chapter.
• University of Worcester ArenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Worcester Arena to host the ABI Games national event, showcasing talents and abilities of adults with acquired brain injuries.
• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLTA partners with Headway Worcestershire for Walking Tennis events, with coaches like Neil Bates providing accessible tennis sessions at various locations.
• Worcester Warriors FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Worcester Warriors Foundation for Walking Rugby programme, providing gentle exercise and sports activities for ABI clients.
• The Alma TavernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal pub in Worcester that has supported Headway Worcestershire since April 2024 with weekly charity quiz nights and ongoing fundraising activities. Their team feels honored to support a cause meaningful to their staff due to a family member's stroke experience.
• Anja Potze Fine JewelleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFine jewellery boutique in Worcester that supports Headway Worcestershire, with staff feeling honored to be part of the mission to support those affected by brain injuries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stroke Association: UK-wide charity providing specialist support, research, and campaigning for stroke survivors — a major subset of the ABI population Headway Worcestershire serves. Comparable service mix (rehabilitation, counselling, peer support) and reliance on donations and grants.
• Leonard Cheshire: Large UK disability charity providing community-based support, rehabilitation, and advocacy across a wide range of disabilities including acquired neurological conditions. Overlapping service model (community outreach, day services, family support) and similar donor-dependent funding base.
• Headway UK: The national umbrella charity (Registered Charity 1025852) of which Headway Worcestershire is an affiliated local branch. Directly comparable mission (ABI support), overlapping beneficiary base, and shared branding, but operates at national rather than county level.

Regional players

• Synapse: Australian charity providing specialist ABI support services including counselling, rehabilitation, and community integration. Comparable mission and service portfolio but operates in a different geography (Australia) and is not a direct competitor.
• Brain Injury Matters: Northern Ireland-based charity offering community-based rehabilitation, advocacy, and family support for adults with ABI. Highly comparable service mix and operational footprint to Headway Worcestershire but serves a different UK region.

Direct peers

• Headway Cambridgeshire: Headway-affiliated local charity covering Cambridgeshire, providing rehabilitation, day services, and outreach for adults with ABI. Mirrors the Headway Worcestershire operating model virtually one-to-one.
• Different Strokes: UK charity providing recovery support, exercise classes, and information services specifically for working-age stroke survivors. Closely comparable target population (younger adults with ABI) and community-based service model including physical activity programmes similar to Headway's Walking Tennis and Walking Rugby.
• Nightingale Hammerson: UK charity providing residential and community-based care for older adults, including brain injury rehabilitation within its nursing care services. Comparable CQC-regulated care and rehabilitation offering for adults with neurological conditions.
• Child Brain Injury Trust: UK charity supporting children, young people, and families affected by acquired brain injury. Overlapping mission and rehabilitation/counselling/caregiver support model, with parallel reliance on donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.
• Headway East Midlands: A fellow Headway-affiliated regional branch providing ABI day services, outreach, and rehabilitation across the East Midlands. Identical service model (Wellbeing Centres, outreach, support groups) and funding structure, making it the most direct functional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/headwayworcs
• Facebookfacebook.com/HeadwayWorcestershire

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Headway Worcestershire