James' Place
James' Place is a UK registered charity providing free, structured face-to-face therapy to men in suicidal crisis through four regional centres and pilot satellite services, using a proprietary intervention model and a unique card-based therapeutic tool.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What James' Place does
James' Place is a UK registered charity (charity number 1121891) founded in 2006 by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley following the death of their son James to suicide, with the first therapeutic centre opening in Liverpool in June 2018. It delivers free, structured face-to-face therapy of approximately six to eight sessions to men experiencing suicidal crisis, using a proprietary intervention model independently evaluated by Liverpool John Moores University and supported by a unique card-based therapeutic tool called 'Lay Your Cards on the Table'. The service is non-clinical in feel, offers rapid access typically within two working days of referral, and reports clinically and statistically significant reductions in suicidality, plans, intention to act, and entrapment among men completing the intervention.
The charity operates four physical centres in Liverpool (the original, 2018), London (2022), Newcastle (2024), and Birmingham (May 2026), plus two pilot satellite services in Darlington (active from November 2025) and St Helens (in planning), with a fifth centre actively being fundraised for. All therapy is delivered free of charge to clients; the operating model is funded entirely through donations from individuals, trusts, family foundations, corporate pro bono partners, NHS ICB matched funding for satellites, and a founding partnership with The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales through the National Suicide Prevention Network. Go-to-market relies on multiple referral pathways (self-referral, NHS and GP referrals, community organisations such as Andy's Man Club and SWIM Enterprises, family/friends) and on awareness built through royal patronage (the Prince of Wales has opened every centre), celebrity supporters, university student outreach, and earned media including BBC Radio 1.
By the end of 2025 the charity had supported 1,496 men in that year alone, delivering 6,913 therapy sessions, and over 4,300 men cumulatively since founding, supported by an 11-50 headcount and a recently expanded executive leadership team and trustee board. Headcount includes specialist suicide prevention therapists organised under Heads of Centre at each location, with clinical leadership, a Director of Clinical Services (appointed October 2025), and a Director of Finance and Resources.
James' Place firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- James' Place
- Legal name
- James' Place Charity
- Website
- https://jamesplace.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- James' Place is a UK registered charity providing free, structured face-to-face therapy to men in suicidal crisis through four regional centres and pilot satellite services, using a proprietary intervention model and a unique card-based therapeutic tool.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
James' Place industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD)
Keywords
Where James' Place is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
James' Place business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: James' Place operates entirely on charitable donations from individuals, trusts, and corporate partners. All therapy services are provided free to clients. The charity conducts regular fundraising campaigns including the Big Give Christmas Challenge and receives support from major donors and family foundations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free service | Free therapy service for all clients |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
James' Place product offering
Product offeringCore offering
James' Place provides free, face-to-face therapy to men experiencing suicidal crisis, delivered through four centres (Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Birmingham) and pilot satellite services (Darlington, St Helens). Each man typically receives 6-8 sessions with a specially trained suicide prevention therapist in a non-clinical, welcoming environment, using a proprietary therapeutic model and a unique card-based tool called 'Lay Your Cards on the Table' to help men articulate thoughts and emotions. All services are provided at no cost to the client and funded entirely through donations, grants and philanthropic partnerships.
Product overview
James' Place is a suicide prevention charity offering a single unified therapeutic service focused on men in suicidal crisis. The core offering is free, structured face-to-face therapy sessions using a unique intervention model, complemented by 'Lay Your Cards on the Table' therapeutic cards. The charity operates four main centres (Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Birmingham) and two satellite services (Darlington, St Helens in pilot). Services include individual therapy, student outreach, and academic evaluation research. All centres provide a non-clinical, welcoming environment with trained suicide prevention therapists delivering six to eight sessions per client.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Max Windle Project at James' Place: A named project within James' Place focusing on suicide prevention
Products and services
- Free Life-Saving Therapy Sessions Free, structured face-to-face therapy delivered by trained suicide prevention therapists to men in suicidal crisis. Each client typically receives six to eight sessions in a safe, friendly, non-clinical environment, designed to help men understand how they reached crisis and develop new coping strategies.
- Lay Your Cards on the Table A set of therapeutic cards used during sessions to help men articulate what they are feeling and experiencing. Cards feature different thoughts, emotions, feelings and scenarios that men can select from, enabling them to express what is going on without necessarily explaining it in words. Designed to reach the core of the suicidal crisis quickly and compassionately.
- James' Place Liverpool Centre The first James' Place centre in the UK, opened June 2018 at 50 Catharine St, Liverpool L8 7NG. The flagship centre delivering therapeutic interventions to men in suicidal crisis.
- James' Place London Centre London centre at 20 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8LP, opened May 2022 by HRH The Prince of Wales. Treated 245 men in its first year and provides up to 450 men annually with access to free therapy.
- James' Place Newcastle Centre Newcastle centre at 1 Summerhill Street, Newcastle, NE4 6EJ. Part of the charity's expanding national network serving men in suicidal crisis in the North East of England.
- James' Place Birmingham Centre Fourth centre, located near Five Ways in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham (34 Harborne Rd, B15 3AA), easily accessible by public transport. Aiming to help 450-500 men in crisis in its first year.
- Darlington Satellite Service Pilot satellite service operating from Citizen's Advice Darlington at The CORE, Church Row, Darlington, DL1 5QD. Delivers therapy two days a week, linked to the Newcastle centre, initially accepting referrals from Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust Crisis teams.
- Student Outreach Programme Programme partnered with London universities including Queen Mary, London Metropolitan and University of Arts to reach male students in suicidal crisis. Includes collaboration with student unions, residential services, and attendance at freshers fairs.
- Annual Evaluation Reports Independent academic evaluations of the James' Place therapeutic model conducted by Dr Pooja Saini at Liverpool John Moores University. Year One (2020), Year Two (2021), Year Three (2023), London Six Month (2022) and Five Year (2025) evaluation reports are publicly available.
Quantifiable outcome
- Significant reductions in suicidality and psychological distress for men completing the intervention, as measured by CORE-OM scores.
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use James' Place
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
James' Place technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
James' Place partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of WalesflagshipJames' Place is one of five founding partners of the new National Suicide Prevention Network established by The Royal Foundation. Funds support pilot satellite services in North East and North West. HRH The Prince of Wales has opened all four James' Place centres, demonstrating ongoing royal support for the charity.
- Liverpool John Moores UniversitycoreAcademic evaluation partner conducting research on James' Place therapeutic model. Dr Pooja Saini leads evaluations published annually since 2018, demonstrating effectiveness of the intervention in reducing suicidality and psychological distress in men.
- NHS MerseycarecoreNHS trust partnership supporting the Liverpool centre and related mental health services.
- Anomaly ArchitectsminorPro bono partner providing architectural services for Birmingham centre opening.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)minorPro bono partner providing expertise for Birmingham centre opening.
- SavillsminorPro bono partner providing services for Birmingham centre opening.
- Slaughter and MayminorPro bono legal partner supporting Birmingham centre opening. Slaughter and May partner Richard Swallow also serves as trustee.
- NewmarkminorPro bono partner providing services for Birmingham centre opening.
- Citizens Advice DarlingtoncoreCommunity host for Darlington satellite service pilot, allowing James' Place therapy sessions two days per week from their premises.
- National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA)coreJames' Place CEO Ellen O'Donoghue serves as co-chair of NSPA, which brings organizations together to prevent suicide.
- West Ham United FCminorMental health awareness partnership for World Mental Health Day, including campaign remembering supporter Gary Billings who died by suicide.
- Lowther Castle & GardensminorLong-term support partnership following personal tragedy. Hosts fundraising events, invites visitors to donate, and provides event income proportion to James' Place.
- BBC Radio 1minorFeatured on BBC Radio 1 Life Hacks for special conversation about men's mental health and suicide, hosted by Greg James with HRH The Prince of Wales.
- Andy Man ClubminorMen's suicide prevention peer support group that refers men to James' Place. Example: client David heard about service through local Andy Man Club.
- SWIM EnterprisesminorHackney community organization specializing in local community outreach. Refers men to James' Place London and provides additional support for clients.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
James' Place competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mind: Largest UK mental health charity providing information, support, and local services across all conditions. Broad incumbent — operates in the same donor pool and policy ecosystem as James' Place but covers all mental health conditions and demographics.
- Samaritans: UK-wide 24/7 crisis helpline charity for anyone in distress; CEO co-chair of NSPA alongside James' Place CEO. Broad incumbent covering all demographics and crisis types; overlaps with James' Place on crisis referral pathways.
- NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT): Public-sector provider of cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling for anxiety and depression in England. Sets the 4–12 month waiting-time benchmark that James' Place is explicitly differentiated against.
Emerging players
- Zero Suicide Alliance: UK suicide prevention awareness and training coalition referenced directly on James' Place's website. Overlaps on awareness and prevention training but does not deliver clinical therapy services.
- Shout (Mental Health Innovations): UK24/7 text-based crisis support service, promoted on James' Place's homepage as an alternative channel. Overlaps on crisis intervention for suicidal individuals but delivers via text rather than face-to-face therapy.
- Maytree Suicide Respite Centre: UK charity offering short-stay residential respite for people in suicidal crisis. Peer in the same mission (suicide prevention, free service, UK-focused) but uses residential rather than outpatient therapy delivery.
- PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide: UK charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide, with a helpline (HOPELINEUK) and training. Adjacent peer — overlaps on mission (suicide prevention) and referral ecosystem but focuses on under-35s rather than adult men.
- Grassroots Suicide Prevention: UK suicide prevention charity focused on community-level intervention and training. Operating in adjacent prevention space with overlapping referral networks in some regions.
Direct peers
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): UK charity specifically focused on preventing male suicide through a helpline, webchat, and campaigns. Direct peer — competes for the same donor and awareness pool as James' Place, and addresses the same male demographic in suicidal crisis.
- Andy's Man Club: UK male suicide prevention charity running peer-to-peer support groups; refers men into James' Place for higher-acuity therapy. Closest direct peer — same demographic, same cause, complementary delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
James' Place social profiles
Digital presenceJames' Place financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
James' Place leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
James' Place funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
James' Place 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 James' Place
What does James' Place do?
James' Place provides free, face-to-face therapy to men experiencing suicidal crisis, delivered through four centres (Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Birmingham) and pilot satellite services (Darlington, St Helens). Each man typically receives 6-8 sessions with a specially trained suicide prevention therapist in a non-clinical, welcoming environment, using a proprietary therapeutic model and a unique card-based tool called 'Lay Your Cards on the Table' to help men articulate thoughts and emotions. All services are provided at no cost to the client and funded entirely through donations, grants and philanthropic partnerships.
Is James' Place a public or private company?
James' Place is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was James' Place founded?
James' Place was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is James' Place based?
James' Place is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does James' Place make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Philanthropy.
Who are James' Place's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mind, Samaritans and NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT). Emerging players are Zero Suicide Alliance, Shout (Mental Health Innovations), Maytree Suicide Respite Centre, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide and Grassroots Suicide Prevention. Direct peers are Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and Andy's Man Club.
Does James' Place have an API?
No public API is recorded for James' Place.
What industry is James' Place in?
James' Place's product category is Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAH, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services, with a secondary code of EDALAFAD, Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8300.