Abilities Development
Abilities Development is a Wembley, UK adult social care provider founded in 2011 by Dr. Karen May, delivering day services, supported living, and respite care to young adults with moderate to profound learning disabilities, funded through local authority direct payments and Social Services referrals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersWembley, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Abilities Development does
Abilities Development Ltd. is a Wembley, UK-based adult social care provider founded in 2011 by Dr. Karen May that delivers services to young people and young adults (18+) with moderate, severe, and profound learning disabilities, as well as those with complex needs. The organisation operates from a registered headquarters at 340 Preston Road, Wembley (HA3 0QH) and runs four integrated programmes: an Adult Day Centre, Learning and Outreach Programmes, "My Home Living with Support" supported living across three Wembley homes (East Lane, Kingway, Priory Gardens), and "Abilities Short Breaks" respite care accommodating up to three overnight clients. Supporting modules include life-skills training, vocational preparation, therapeutic activities (sensory integration, occupational therapy, speech therapy), and an entrepreneurship/business enterprise stream. The supported living housing is delivered under a core operational partnership with Parasol Homes Ltd, which handles all housing-associated activities while Abilities Development provides the care and support staff.
The company holds Care Quality Commission (CQC) accreditation with a GOOD rating for short breaks and domiciliary care, alongside public liability, employers, and professional indemnity insurance coverage. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is relationship-based and location-based, supported by a six-channel social presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest) and a content-marketing blog. Acquisition is sales-led and runs primarily through Social Services referrals coordinated with families, supplemented by direct family/caregiver inquiries.
Revenue is generated entirely through professional services delivered under UK local authority commissioning: local authority direct payments, government funding schemes, and Social Services-arranged care packages, with billing tied to the level of support required and the specific programme selected. No external equity, debt, or grant funding rounds are disclosed; the company remains founder-owned and operates at a small scale, with headcount reported in the 1–10 range.
Abilities Development firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Abilities Development
- Legal name
- Abilities Development Ltd.
- Website
- https://abilitiesdevelopment.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Abilities Development is a Wembley, UK adult social care provider founded in 2011 by Dr. Karen May, delivering day services, supported living, and respite care to young adults with moderate to profound learning disabilities, funded through local authority direct payments and Social Services referrals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Abilities Development industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Learning Disability Care Services
- NAICS
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- 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
- Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where Abilities Development is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wembley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Abilities Development business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Care Services: Services are primarily funded through local authority direct payments and government funding schemes arranged via Social Services. Payment for care services is managed through Social Services and government funding channels rather than direct private payment.
- Respite Care Services: Short breaks and overnight respite stays provided to young adults, with capacity for up to three clients at a time in the dedicated respite home.
- Supported Living Services: Care and support services for young adults living in their own tenanted homes, managed in partnership with Parasol Homes Ltd who handles housing-associated activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Individualised care packages based on support needs and programme type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Abilities Development product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Abilities Development Ltd. operates a CQC-accredited Adult Day Centre in Wembley (London Borough of Brent) and delivers three complementary support services for young adults aged 18+ with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities: Learning and Outreach Programmes, Supported Living under the "My Home Living with Support" brand, and Respite Care under the "Abilities Short Breaks" brand. The company packages centre-based daytime support with in-community outreach and in-home living support so that a cared-for individual and their family can move between day, outreach, supported-living and short-break services without changing provider.
Product overview
Abilities Development operates as a multi-service care organisation offering four core integrated programmes: an Adult Day Centre providing daytime support, Learning and Outreach Programmes for community-based skills development, My Home Living with Support (Supported Living) offering residential accommodation across three homes in Wembley, and Abilities Short Breaks – RESPITE providing overnight respite care. Supporting these core services are specialised modules including Life Skills Development, Vocational Training, Therapeutic Activities (sensory integration, occupational therapy, speech therapy), and Entrepreneurship and Business Enterprise programmes. The organisation serves young adults aged 18+ with moderate, severe, and profound learning disabilities and complex needs, working in partnership with families, social services, and healthcare providers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Abilities Short Breaks: Respite care service providing overnight stays and short breaks for young adults with disabilities in a warm, inviting environment at 340 Preston Road, Wembley.
- My Home Living with Support
Products and services
- Adult Day Centre CQC-accredited centre-based daytime support for young adults aged 18+ with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities, delivered at the company's Wembley site.
- Learning and Outreach Programmes Structured learning and skill-building activities delivered in the community for young adults (18+) with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities, complementing centre-based day care.
- My Home Living with Support Supported-living package in which adults (18+) with learning disabilities receive tailored in-home support to live as independently as possible, funded typically via local-authority direct payments.
- Abilities Short Breaks Respite / short-break care giving primary caregivers of young adults (18+) with learning disabilities a planned break, delivered through the same Wembley-based team that runs the day, outreach and supported-living services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Parent testimonials report increased independence and activity levels in participants since joining the programme
Companies that use Abilities Development
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Abilities Development technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Abilities Development partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Parasol Homes LtdcoreParasol Homes Ltd manages the housing aspects of supported living services for Abilities Development, arranging all housing-associated activities while Abilities Development provides the care and support services. This partnership enables young adults to live in their own tenanted homes with appropriate support from qualified staff. The arrangement covers three homes in the Wembley area.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Abilities Development competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lifeways: Lifeways provides supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs across the UK, operating a directly comparable specialist care model.
- Voyage Care: Voyage Care operates supported living, residential care, and day services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs, with similar local-authority commissioning dynamics to Abilities Development.
- Hft: Hft is a UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, offering supported living, respite, and day services — closely matching Abilities Development's integrated service stack for the same target population.
- SeeAbility: SeeAbility provides specialist supported living and day services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs, including sensory impairment — directly comparable to Abilities Development's special-needs adult focus.
- Dimensions UK: Dimensions UK provides specialist support for people with learning disabilities and autism, including supported living and day opportunities, with a similar family/person-centred ethos to Abilities Development.
- Certitude: Certitude supports people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs across London through supported living, day services, and respite — directly comparable on geography and service mix.
- United Response: United Response provides supported living, residential, and day services for people with learning disabilities and autism across England and Wales, operating a comparable multi-service care model to Abilities Development.
- MacIntyre: MacIntyre is a UK charity providing supported living, respite, and lifelong learning services for people with learning disabilities, serving a near-identical service population to Abilities Development.
- Avenues London: Avenues London operates supported living and outreach services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs, including in West London boroughs adjacent to Abilities Development's footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Mencap: Mencap is the UK's largest learning disability charity, offering supported living, residential, and day services nationally — a broader incumbent in the same specialist care category as Abilities Development.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Abilities Development social profiles
Digital presenceAbilities Development compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Abilities Development financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Abilities Development leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Abilities Development funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Abilities Development 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 Abilities Development
What does Abilities Development do?
Abilities Development Ltd. operates a CQC-accredited Adult Day Centre in Wembley (London Borough of Brent) and delivers three complementary support services for young adults aged 18+ with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities: Learning and Outreach Programmes, Supported Living under the "My Home Living with Support" brand, and Respite Care under the "Abilities Short Breaks" brand. The company packages centre-based daytime support with in-community outreach and in-home living support so that a cared-for individual and their family can move between day, outreach, supported-living and short-break services without changing provider.
Is Abilities Development a public or private company?
Abilities Development is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Abilities Development founded?
Abilities Development was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Abilities Development based?
Abilities Development is headquartered in Wembley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Abilities Development make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Care Services are the primary driver. The others are respite Care Services and supported Living Services.
Who are Abilities Development's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lifeways, Voyage Care, Hft, SeeAbility, Dimensions UK, Certitude, United Response, MacIntyre and Avenues London. Mencap is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Abilities Development have an API?
No public API is recorded for Abilities Development.
What industry is Abilities Development in?
Abilities Development's product category is Learning Disability Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADABAJ, Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult), with a secondary code of HLADAIAI, Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors). Its NAICS code is 62321 and its SIC code is 8050.