Changes Bristol

What Changes Bristol does

Changes Bristol is a UK-registered mental health charity founded in 2003 and headquartered at Barton Hill Settlement in Bristol. It provides free, confidential peer support to adults aged 18 and over experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health distress, with no referral or diagnosis required. Its core offering consists of 13 in-person peer support groups across Bristol neighborhoods and 9 online groups delivered over Zoom, supplemented by a telephone befriending service (3,322 hours delivered to 164 individuals), Walk and Talk outdoor sessions, a six-week Nature Connection course, and structured programmes (Keep Going Keep Growing, Modules, Steps to Recovery). Specialized groups serve the LGBTQIA+, Women's, Men's, Men of Colour, and Women of Colour communities.

The underlying technology is operationally lightweight: a peer support facilitation model layered on commodity video conferencing (Zoom) and telephony, with no proprietary software product or disclosed platform architecture. Group discovery and member onboarding occur via the charity's website and direct contact channels.

Changes Bristol is a donation-dependent non-profit with no commercial pricing. Revenue is sourced from individual single and monthly donations, corporate partnerships providing financial and match support, fundraising events (quizzes, music events, clothes swaps), and Big Give match-funding campaigns (e.g., a £5,000 Christmas Challenge target). The go-to-market is community-led: awareness is driven by word-of-mouth, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), a monthly email newsletter, and a network of minor strategic partnerships with cultural and clinical organisations (Bristol Family Therapy Collective, St Mary Redcliffe, Riff Raff Choir, Flight Club Bristol). The charity is led by a Service Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, governed by a Chair of Trustees, and supported by volunteer facilitators and befrienders.

Name

Changes Bristol

Legal name

Changes Bristol

Website

https://changesbristol.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Changes Bristol is a Bristol-based mental health charity offering free, confidential peer support groups (13 in-person, 9 online via Zoom) for adults aged 18+ experiencing mental health challenges, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Peer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Mental health charity
• Peer support groups
• Telephone befriending service
• Community wellbeing support
• Mental health awareness training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Single and monthly donations from individuals supporting mental health services
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners providing financial and strategic support to the charity
3. Fundraising Events: Events including quizzes, music events, clothes swaps, and charity challenges that raise funds
4. Match Funding Campaigns: Big Give campaigns where donations are matched by sponsors, doubling impact

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Changes Bristol runs free, confidential peer support groups for adults aged 18+ experiencing mental health challenges, delivered both in-person across Bristol (13 groups) and online via Zoom (9 groups). The organization also offers a telephone befriending service, nature-based wellbeing programs, structured recovery pathways, and workplace mental health training, all provided without referral or diagnosis requirements.

Product overview

Changes Bristol is a mental health charity providing peer support services through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offering consists of peer support groups (13 in-person groups across Bristol plus 9 online groups via Zoom), supplemented by a telephone befriending service, nature-based activities (Walk and Talk and The Nature Connection), and structured programs (Keep Going Keep Growing, Modules, Steps to Recovery). Specialized groups serve specific communities including LGBTQIA+, Women's, Men's, and Women of Colour. Training and workshops are offered through the Sunrise Student Engagement project. All services are free, require no diagnosis or referral, and are designed to provide accessible mental health support across the Bristol community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peer Support Groups Weekly peer support groups in Bristol and online for anyone aged 18 or over, offering a safe and friendly space for people to share worries. Groups are free, confidential, require no referral and no diagnosis.
• Telephone Befriending Service Free one-to-one telephone befriending service for people in Bristol experiencing isolation or mental health distress, providing empathetic support through regular phone calls with trained volunteer befrienders.
• Walk and Talk Weekly guided walks around Bristol's green spaces providing nature-based social connection. Walks held Wednesdays at multiple locations including St George Park, Brandon Hill Park, Snuff Mills and The Downs.
• The Nature Connection A six-week course combining nature connection and outdoor activities, designed for people in work or looking to return to work, promoting mental wellbeing through environmental engagement.
• Keep Going Keep Growing Structured support program designed to help individuals maintain progress in their mental health journey and develop sustainable coping strategies.
• Modules Structured online educational resources covering various mental health topics, providing self-guided learning opportunities for members.
• Steps to Recovery A structured pathway supporting individuals through their mental health recovery journey with guided steps and resources.
• LGBTQIA+ Support Group Peer support group specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals, available both online and in-person, providing a safe space for community connection and mental health support.
• Women's Group Peer support group for women, offering a safe environment to share experiences and support each other's mental health wellbeing.
• Men's Group Peer support group for men, providing a confidential space to discuss mental health and wellbeing with others who may share similar experiences.
• Women of Colour Group Dedicated peer support group for women of colour, offering culturally appropriate support and a safe space for shared experiences.
• Sunrise Project – Student Engagement Student mental health initiative that trains student ambassadors to represent Changes at educational institutions and promote mental health awareness among peers.
• Training and Workshops Workplace training in mental health awareness, providing organizations with education on supporting employee mental health.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of members felt less socially isolated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bristol Family Therapy CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026New collaboration to offer Families in the Wild - an 8-week eco-therapeutic multi-family therapy group combining nature connection with family therapy.
• Word by Word CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Partnered to deliver a free creative writing workshop supporting LGBTQI+ History Month creative writing project, helping inspire participants for their creative writing pieces.
• St Mary RedcliffeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Changes Bristol was the chosen partner charity for Treefest 2021, an annual Christmas celebration at St Mary Redcliffe church featuring decorated Christmas trees. Donations during the festival were split between Changes Bristol and St Mary Redcliffe Community Projects.
• Ali and Joes Christmas TreesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2021Donated a Christmas tree for Changes Bristol to decorate at Treefest event, supporting the charity's visibility and fundraising efforts.
• Bristol Textile QuarterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Partnered to deliver Meet Make Mend Slow Stitch workshops - creative sewing and mending sessions for Changes members to support mental wellbeing through craft.
• UTC Artist ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Partnered to deliver Stand Up For Mental Health comedy event with professional comedians performing to raise funds for support services.
• Story SlamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborated for Time to Talk Day Jamboree featuring live storytelling, poetry and spoken word performances to celebrate mental health services.
• Riff Raff ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Collaborated for Sing for Wellbeing virtual choir event to raise funds for mental health support services, combining music therapy with charity fundraising.
• Big GivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual participation in Big Give Christmas Challenge and other match funding campaigns where donations are doubled by sponsors, enabling £6,000 to be raised from £3,000 in pledges.
• Flight Club BristolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted charity darts tournament venue for Changes Bristol fundraising events, providing space for community fundraising activities.
• Run for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership offering running events (marathons, sprints) for volunteers and members to raise funds through physical challenges.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Together for Mental Wellbeing: UK charity providing peer support, recovery-focused groups, and community mental health services nationally. Comparable as a peer-led mental health nonprofit with an outcomes-driven service model.
• Bristol Mind: A Bristol-specific affiliate of national Mind delivering counseling, peer support groups, and wellbeing services in the same city as Changes. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, target population, and peer-support delivery model.
• SANE: UK mental health charity offering emotional support, helpline services, and community programs for people affected by mental illness. Comparable as a support-service nonprofit addressing crisis and ongoing mental health needs.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health Foundation: UK charity focused on mental health research, prevention, and community programs. Comparable as a mental health nonprofit, though more research/advocacy oriented than direct peer-support delivery.
• Mind (National Association for Mental Health): The UK's largest mental health charity, providing peer support groups, information, and advocacy across England and Wales. Directly comparable as a peer-support-oriented mental health nonprofit, but operating nationally with far greater scale and funding.
• Rethink Mental Illness: National UK mental health charity running peer support groups, helplines, and community services. Comparable peer-support nonprofit with greater national reach and institutional funding.

Emerging players

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): UK charity specializing in male mental health through helpline and peer/community support. Comparable as a peer-support and community-mental-health nonprofit targeting a defined demographic (men), overlapping with Changes' Men's Group work.

Regional players

• Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH): Scotland's national mental health charity providing peer support, community programs, and information services. Comparable as a regional mental health peer-support nonprofit, differentiated only by geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChangesBristol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9HV82v43WdVfDUeiFVahmQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/changesbristolcharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/changes-bristol-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/changesbristol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Changes Bristol