What Real Life Options does

Real Life Options is a UK-wide social care charity established in 1992 that delivers person-centred support to people with learning disabilities, autism, and age-related needs across England and Scotland. The organization operates from a Knottingley head office and a Glasgow regional head office, with at least eight further service locations (Inverurie, Newcastle, Dunfermline, Sheffield, South Tyneside, Hartlepool, Hawick, Fraserburgh) and three wholly-owned home care subsidiaries (1st Home Care Ltd, Montana Home Care Ltd, Affinity Homecare Shrewsbury Ltd). Service lines include supported living, day services, community hubs, autism-specific support, complex-needs support, and respite, supplemented by an annual My Voice Conference, My Voice Survey programme, and Real Heroes Awards.

The technology stack is operational rather than productized: a bespoke learning management system called Real Learning, built in partnership with Cortexa on the Totara LMS platform and launched in July 2024, reached 1,900 registered users and 13,300 course completions within five months. The Texthelp Browsealoud accessibility feature is integrated into the public website. CCTV systems operate across premises under a documented 30-day retention policy. There is no proprietary AI, software product, or app; the organization's value delivery is fundamentally people-led, with technology supporting training, accessibility, and compliance.

Revenue is generated primarily through multi-year commissioning contracts with English and Scottish local authorities, with secondary income from private individual self-funders and a charitable donations and fundraising layer. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per service via commissioning processes. The organization carries the credentials expected of a sector-leading provider: CQC and Care Inspectorate registrations, six National Autistic Society Autism Accreditations, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, CHAS Advanced Accreditation, NCF membership, Disability Confident Employer status, and Restraint Reduction Network membership. Jean Trench was appointed CEO in May 2025 succeeding David Sargent.

Name

Real Life Options

Legal name

Real Life Options

Website

https://reallifeoptions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Real Life Options is a UK-wide social care charity (founded 1992) delivering person-centred supported living, day services, and community programs for people with learning disabilities, autism, and age-related needs across England and Scotland, funded primarily through local authority commissioning contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Home Health Care Services (6216)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Live-In Care (Single Caregiver, 24-Hour Presence) (HSABAHAB)

Keywords

• Supported living services
• Learning disability care
• Autism support services
• Community day services
• Home care provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Knottingley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Authority Commissioning: Primary revenue stream from contracts with local authorities and government bodies who commission social care services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and age-related needs. Services are funded either by local authorities or private individuals.
2. Private Pay/Individual Funding: Revenue from private individuals who fund their own care arrangements independently or partially, complementing local authority funded care.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations and fundraising activities from community members, supporters, and volunteers who contribute to the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Real Life Options delivers person-centred social care and support services for people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and age-related needs across England and Scotland. Core offerings include Supported Living in people's own homes, Day Services/community engagement programs, respite, autism-specific support, and family/carer training, delivered through commissioned local authority contracts, private individual arrangements, and via the Real Life Options Group's three wholly-owned home care subsidiaries (1st Home Care Ltd, Montana Home Care Ltd, Affinity Homecare Shrewsbury Ltd).

Product overview

Real Life Options is a UK-wide social care charity providing person-centred support services for people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and elderly individuals. The organization operates as the Real Life Options Group which includes subsidiaries 1st Home Care Ltd, Montana Home Care Ltd, and Affinity Homecare Shrewsbury Ltd. Core services include Supported Living Services, Day Services, and community-based support. The organization also offers Real Learning, a bespoke learning management platform developed in partnership with Cortexa (Totara LMS) for staff training and development. Key programs include the annual My Voice Conference and Real Heroes Awards, the My Voice Survey initiative for gathering feedback, and various community hubs including the Inverurie Hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Real Learning: A bespoke learning management platform developed in collaboration with Cortexa for employee training and development.

Products and services

• Supported Living Services Person-centred supported living services enabling people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, and age-related needs to live independently in their own homes with tailored daily support, delivered under contract with local authorities and via private individual arrangements across England and Scotland.
• Day Services Day centre and community day programmes offering structured activities including swimming, cycling, walking, cinema trips, reading, cooking, crafts, and sensory room access for people with learning disabilities, autism, and age-related needs.
• Inverurie Community Hub Community hub at the Inverurie service providing space for social connection, creativity, and wellbeing, with facilities designed around individual sensory and communication needs, including a stairlift installation delivered in May 2026 to improve accessibility.
• Newcastle Community Hub Physical community hub in Newcastle offering social space and activities including baking, music, arts and crafts for people supported, supported through fundraising such as a sponsored walk.
• Dunfermline Community Hub Community hub in Dunfermline, with the service recognised as an Autism Accredited service by the National Autistic Society, providing specialist autism-specific support.
• 1st Home Care Ltd Wholly-owned home care subsidiary delivering regulated home care services as part of the Real Life Options Group.
• Montana Home Care Ltd Wholly-owned home care subsidiary delivering regulated home care services as part of the Real Life Options Group.
• Affinity Homecare Shrewsbury Ltd Wholly-owned home care subsidiary delivering regulated home care services as part of the Real Life Options Group.
• Real Learning Platform Bespoke learning management platform developed in partnership with Cortexa using Totara LMS, providing mandatory online learning, additional resources, staff collaboration workspaces, and real-time tracking of course completion for Real Life Options employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of people supported say they always get the support they need to stay healthy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City of Glasgow CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026ASN Connect 2026 pilot event collaboration at City of Glasgow College, joining organizations from across Scotland to support young people with additional support needs.
• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Co-hosted Learning Disability Week events with Sheffield City Council Commissioning Team and ArtWorks. Real Life Options Champion Marie Knott spoke at Town Hall event on 'Do you see me?' theme.
• ArtWorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Creative arts organization in Sheffield collaborated on Learning Disability Week events including sunflower-making workshop symbolizing non-visible disabilities.
• York City FC FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsorship of Sam Carr, a footballer with Cerebral Palsy on York City FC Foundation's CP team. Partnership aligns with mission of breaking down barriers and supporting inclusion.
• ITELminorOthers · 1 August 2024Procurement partner that donated bottles of water for the sponsored walk to raise funds for Newcastle Community Hub.
• Future Heat LTDminorOthers · 1 August 2024Local company that donated £200 towards the Newcastle Community Hub sponsored walk fundraising effort.
• Cortexa (Totara LMS)coreTechnology or Integration · 11 July 2024Partnership with Cortexa to develop Real Learning, a bespoke learning management platform using Totara LMS. The platform enables management of training, compliance tracking, and staff development with real-time reporting and 1,900 registered users within five months of launch.
• Deaf Empowering NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Delivered 20-week Level 1 British Sign Language course to 10 Hartlepool staff members, achieving 100% pass rate to better support people with hearing difficulties.
• FareShareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnjum volunteers with FareShare, redistributing surplus food to community groups. Partnership enables people supported to contribute to community while building confidence and routine.
• Dimensions HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngela represents tenants as part of Dimensions Housing, advocating for people supported in housing matters and ensuring voices are heard.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SeeAbility: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss, including supported living and day services. Comparable niche focus and commissioner-funded model.
• Hft: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including supported living, day services and personalisation. Closely comparable to Real Life Options in mission, customer base and commissioned-revenue model.
• Leonard Cheshire: Major UK disability charity providing supported living, residential care and community services for people with physical and learning disabilities. Broadly comparable scale and operating geography.
• Voyage Care: One of the largest UK providers of supported living and residential care for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. Direct competitor for local authority contracts in England, Scotland and Wales.
• Mencap: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, including supported living, housing, and advocacy. Highly comparable beneficiary base and commissioned service model.
• United Response: National UK charity providing supported living, residential care and community services for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. Directly comparable in service mix and customer segments.
• MacIntyre: UK charity providing learning disability and autism services, including supported living, residential care and education. Directly comparable operating model and customer segments.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including learning disabilities, autism and sensory impairments, with similar supported living, day services and community engagement offerings.
• Turning Point: UK social enterprise providing learning disability, autism and mental health services including supported living and community support. Comparable in scale and contract-based commissioning model.

Emerging players

• National Autistic Society: UK charity providing autism-specific services, education, and accreditation. Overlaps with Real Life Options' autism-accredited services and is a sector reference point, though more focused on advocacy and accreditation than direct care delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Real Life Options