What Milestones Trust does

Milestones Trust is a UK charitable company limited by guarantee (registered charity no. 294377, incorporated 16 April 1986) that provides social care and support services to adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex behavioural needs. It is headquartered in Staple Hill, Bristol, and operates across the South West of England including South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. Its service portfolio comprises residential care homes, supported living, short breaks/respite, day opportunities (Stepping Forward, Expressions Arts Programme), specialist mental health recovery services (The Recovery Hub, Wyvern Lodge, The Move-On Project), assistive technology, and community projects such as Warmley Wheelers and the Music Train. All registered services are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

The Trust operates on a commissioned-care revenue model. Income is generated primarily through multi-year contracts with local authorities (commissioned per person per week) and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, supplemented by grants (e.g., South Gloucestershire Council's Learning Disability Development Fund), charitable donations and fundraising. The core technology platform is the Nourish Digital Support Planning system, implemented in partnership with Guided Innovation to provide real-time digital care records accessible to staff, families and service users. Internal infrastructure is led by a Director of Estates, Facilities and IT, and the organization has invested in assistive technology services to support independent living.

Milestones Trust was founded by Betty Pugh and Bill Healing from the former Frenchay Health Authority, with a mission to move people out of institutional care into community settings. It is led by CEO Hilary Crowhurst (joined March 2020) with an executive board including Directors of Operations, Business Development, and Estates/Facilities/IT. The Trust merged with White Horse Care Trust in 2024, expanding its Wiltshire and Swindon footprint, and received the EASPD Innovation Award in 2024 for its Move-On Project. Marketing and growth channels are relationship-driven: local authority commissioning, a dedicated Referrals Co-ordinator, an online 'Find a Service' tool, a website, Twitter, and fundraising platforms including JustGiving.

Name

Milestones Trust

Legal name

Milestones Trust

Website

https://milestonestrust.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Milestones Trust is a UK charitable social care provider (founded 1986) delivering residential care, supported living, mental health recovery services, day opportunities and community programmes for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and complex behavioural needs across the South West of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Needs

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Social care services
• Learning disability support
• Mental health services
• Supported living services
• Residential care homes

Headquarters

HQ city

Staple Hill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Commissioning: Core revenue comes from contracts with local authorities (South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol, North Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire) to provide care and support services for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex behavioural needs. Services are commissioned on a per-person, per-week basis.
2. NHS/Clinical Commissioning Group Contracts: Partnerships with NHS bodies including NHS Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) for specific health-focused initiatives such as the Healthy Me cookery course.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations and fundraising activities including the 40 for 40 challenge, JustGiving donations, and cycle challenges for Warmley Wheelers. Registered with Fundraising Regulator.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from grant-making bodies including South Gloucestershire Council's Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) for specific programmes like the Art Facilitator Pathway.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Milestones Trust is a non-profit social care provider delivering CQC-regulated residential care homes, supported living, mental health recovery, step-down nursing (Wyvern Lodge), day opportunities, short breaks, the Move-On transitional project, and assistive technology services for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, complex behavioural needs, and acquired brain injuries across more than 60 sites in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Income is generated primarily through commissioning contracts with local authorities and the NHS, supplemented by charitable donations, grants, and fundraising.

Product overview

Milestones Trust operates as a portfolio of integrated social care services supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex behavioural needs across South West England. The core offering comprises residential care homes and supported living services, supplemented by day opportunities programmes (Stepping Forward, Expressions Arts Programme), community projects (Warmley Wheelers cycling scheme, The Music Train), and specialist recovery services (The Recovery Hub, Wyvern Lodge, The Move-On Project). Assistive Technology services enhance independence. The Trust also provides short breaks/respite care. Services span Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, and Wiltshire, with all registered services rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Warmley Wheelers: Community cycling project providing accessible cycling opportunities for individuals with health conditions and supported needs
• Expressions
• Stepping Forward
• Music Train

Products and services

• Residential Care Homes CQC-registered residential care homes providing 24/7 person-centred support for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, complex behavioural needs, and acquired brain injuries in homely settings across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
• Supported Living Services Personalised support packages that enable adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or acquired brain injuries to live independently in their own homes, with tailored hours of staff support, tenancy sustainment, and community participation.
• The Recovery Hub Specialist mental health recovery service supporting adults with mental health needs to build independence, recovery skills, and well-being through structured support.
• Wyvern Lodge (Step-Down Nursing Home) Step-down nursing home providing specialist nursing care for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs transitioning from hospital or inpatient settings into community living.
• The Move-On Project Transitional support project helping individuals with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or complex needs move from hospital, assessment, or institutional settings into sustainable community placements.
• Day Opportunities Day services delivering meaningful activities, social engagement, skills development, and community participation for adults with learning disabilities or mental health needs.
• Stepping Forward South Glos Day opportunities service operating in South Gloucestershire to support adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs with inclusion, skills development, and community participation.
• Short Breaks (Respite) Respite and short-break service giving families and unpaid carers temporary relief while providing service users with new experiences, activities, and quality support in safe settings.
• Assistive Technology Solutions Technology-based solutions (including telecare and smart support tools) integrated into support packages to help individuals maintain independence, communicate, and manage daily living tasks.

Quantifiable outcome

• All registered services rated Good or Outstanding by CQC
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Paul's PlaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul's Place, a charity based in Yate, Bristol, has adopted the Music Train initiative from Milestones Trust. This ensures the continuation of the community music project that has hosted over 700 events and 7,737 attendees in 2024/25. Paul's Place shares Milestones' aims, values, and ambitions for the service.
• South Gloucestershire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Gloucestershire Council is a key commissioning partner for Milestones Trust services. The council partnered on the new supported living service in Bradley Stoke providing care for eleven adults with learning disabilities and provided funding through the Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) for the Art Facilitator Pathway pilot programme.
• LiveWestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveWest partnered with Milestones Trust and South Gloucestershire Council to develop and open a new supported living service in Bradley Stoke, providing purpose-built self-contained flats for adults with learning disabilities.
• NourishcoreTechnology or IntegrationNourish provides Milestones Trust's new Digital Support Planning system following a rigorous selection process involving staff, people supported, and families. The system enables real-time information sharing, quicker record-keeping, and easier access to records for people supported.
• Guided InnovationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGuided Innovation helps social care organizations find technological solutions. They provided invaluable support during Milestones Trust's search for a Digital Support Planning solution and continue to work in partnership during implementation.
• Square Food FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSquare Food Foundation partnered with Milestones Trust and Brandon Trust to deliver the 'Healthy Me' cookery course, an innovative food and cookery programme aiming to improve diet and health of people with disabilities through hands-on healthy eating education.
• Brandon TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrandon Trust partnered with Milestones Trust and Square Food Foundation on the 'Healthy Me' course, working together to address health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities through food and nutrition education.
• NHS Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBNSSG CCG provided funding and support for the 'Healthy Me' cookery course initiative, recognizing the link between diet and health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
• Selwood HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelwood Housing owns the Whistley Dene property which Milestones Trust leases to provide care services for five people with some having visual impairments.
• Lloyds BankingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLloyds Banking corporate volunteers provided IT training to Milestones Trust staff, with teams from Lloyds approaching the Trust for volunteer opportunities using their business skills.
• SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilestones Trust has partnered with SARI for four years to help deliver on its commitment to promoting equality and equity, combating racism, and supporting inclusion for all people.
• National Open College Network (NOCN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilestones Trust partnered with NOCN to co-produce and deliver the Art Facilitator Pathway certified training course for adults with learning disabilities, providing externally recognized qualifications.
• Keynsham and District Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKeynsham and District Lions Club, part of Lions Clubs International, donated the top prize of a 2kg chocolate Easter egg for the Warmley Wheelers Easter Egg raffle which raised £631.
• St. Peter's HospiceminorOthersSt. Peter's Hospice in Keynsham provided fantastic support to a former Milestones Trust employee during her final illness, prompting fundraising efforts from staff.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sense: National charity supporting people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities, with residential, supported living and community services. Comparable nonprofit delivery model with similar CQC-regulated services for adults with complex needs.
• Brandon Trust: Bristol and South West-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Directly co-partnered on the Healthy Me cookery course and operates overlapping residential, supported living and day services in the same geography as Milestones Trust.
• Turning Point: UK social enterprise providing learning disability, mental health and substance misuse services including supported living and recovery-focused community support. Highly comparable in mental health rehabilitation services (cf. Move-On Project, Recovery Hub).
• United Response: National charity providing person-centred support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, including supported living and residential services. Operates a comparable nonprofit care portfolio across many UK regions.
• Aspirations Care: Specialist provider of supported living, residential and outreach services for adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Competes with Milestones Trust for commissioned referrals across the UK.
• Creative Support: National provider of person-centred support for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health and dementia, including supported living services. Operates across many of the same English regions as Milestones Trust.
• FitzRoy: National charity providing supported living, residential and day services for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Operates a similar portfolio of person-centred community-based services to Milestones Trust.
• SeeAbility: National charity supporting people with learning disabilities and sight loss, including supported living and community services. Closely comparable specialised nonprofit provider for adults with complex disabilities.
• Hft (Home Farm Trust): National charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including supported living, residential care and day services. Closest direct competitor model to Milestones Trust's portfolio of supported living and residential homes for adults with learning disabilities.
• Choice Support: Charity providing supported living, registered care and community support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Closely comparable service mix and mission to Milestones Trust.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/milestonestrust

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Milestones Trust