BACKUP North West
BACKUP North West is a UK registered charity providing Ofsted-registered supported accommodation and wraparound services — including emergency housing, short-stay assessment, and independent-living preparation — to homeless and at-risk young people aged 16-25 in Bolton and the wider North West of England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersBolton, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What BACKUP North West does
BACKUP North West (Charity No. 1064698, Company No. 03399617) is a UK-registered charity providing Ofsted-registered supported accommodation and wraparound support services to homeless and at-risk young people aged 16-25 across Bolton and the North West of England. The organisation was founded in 1992 as the Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme in partnership with Irwell Valley Homes and rebranded to BACKUP North West in 2022 alongside its 30th anniversary. It operates a portfolio of five distinct service sites spanning emergency housing, short-stay assessment, and independent-living preparation: Redds Place (12 studio bedsits, opened July 2021), Loft House (10 self-contained flats, opened December 2021), Lucas Project, Project Front Door, and Chances Project, all with 24/7 on-site staffing. Approximately 100 young people are housed at any one time, with 170-194 accommodated annually and 80-85% successfully transitioned to independent accommodation.
The operational model combines housing provision with non-accommodation-based support covering mental health, employment, life skills, and reconnection with education. The technology stack is deliberately non-proprietary — standard housing management systems, secure intercom access, and CCTV in communal/external areas — with no bespoke digital platform or AI component. Distribution is achieved through a referral network coordinated centrally from the Bolton head office (Bridgeman House, 77 Bridgeman Street), routing referrals from Bolton MBC, Leaving Care teams, social workers, and multi-agency partners.
Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of institutional grants (DWP, Henry Smith, Big Lottery, BBC Children in Need, St James Place, Warburtons), the Guardian Scheme (32 recurring members at £500–1,000/year), fundraising events (Gala Ball, Ladies Lunch, Golf Day, Sky Dive), the Van mobile coffee social enterprise, and the Fundy Charity Quiz. Direct service pricing is not applicable — services are free to end users. Key strategic partners include Bolton at Home (property leaseholder and refurbisher), Irwell Valley Housing Association (founding partner), University of Bolton, and high-profile patrons Sophie Willan and Lisa George. The organisation holds Investors in People Gold accreditation and an Ofsted registration (2788114), and operates with a Board of Trustees chaired by Gail Hounslea, with Dawn Yates-Obé as CEO and Paulette Campbell as COO.
BACKUP North West firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BACKUP North West
- Legal name
- Backup North West
- Website
- https://backup-charity.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- BACKUP North West is a UK registered charity providing Ofsted-registered supported accommodation and wraparound services — including emergency housing, short-stay assessment, and independent-living preparation — to homeless and at-risk young people aged 16-25 in Bolton and the wider North West of England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BACKUP North West industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Supported Housing Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
Keywords
Where BACKUP North West is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bolton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
BACKUP North West business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The charity raises funds through individual donations, corporate donations, and fundraising events including Gala Balls, Golf Days, Ladies Lunches, skydives, abseils, and charity quizzes. They also receive support through the Guardian Scheme where individuals and businesses contribute £500-1000 annually.
- Guardian Scheme: Annual guardian memberships at £1000/year or £83.33/month providing direct funding for young people in crisis for items like food, clothing, ID, and educational equipment.
- The Van Social Enterprise: Mobile coffee van generating revenue through event bookings and public trading, with profits reinvested into the charity's homelessness services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
BACKUP North West product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BACKUP North West is a registered charity providing Ofsted-registered supported accommodation and non-accommodation-based support services for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Bolton and the North West of England. The charity operates a portfolio of housing projects spanning emergency short-stay assessment, transitional supported housing, and self-contained flats preparing young people for independent living, supplemented by mental health, employment, and life-skills support.
Product overview
BACKUP North West operates as a multi-service supported accommodation charity offering a portfolio of housing and support services for young homeless people aged 16-25 in Bolton. Core services include Ofsted-registered accommodation projects (Redds Place, Loft House, Project Front Door, Lucas Project) providing emergency and transitional housing with 24/7 staffing. The organization supplements its housing mission with social enterprises including The Van mobile coffee service and the Fundy Charity Quiz, plus a Guardian Scheme for direct funding to residents. Annual campaigns like Christmas Mission HO HO HOPE and events (Gala Ball, Ladies Lunch, Golf Day, Sky Dive, Abseil) drive fundraising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Van: Mobile coffee and cake service social enterprise that trades selling coffee, tea, hot and cold drinks and homemade cakes, with profits supporting the charity
- Guardian Scheme
- Fundy 500 Quiz
Products and services
- Supported Accommodation Services Ofsted-registered supported accommodation for 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness, including emergency housing, temporary accommodation, short and medium stay supported housing, and assessment centres across Bolton. Services are delivered free to young people via referrals from social services, Leaving Care teams, and self-referrals.
- Redds Place Short stay and assessment centre providing 12 studio bedsits with 24/7 on-site staffing, communal rooms for dining, counselling, support and educational activities for young people aged 16-25 at risk of homelessness, exploitation and harm.
- Loft House Ten self-contained flats for young people supported to live safely and learn life skills required for living alone, with on-site support aimed at preparing them for independent living.
- Project Front Door (PFD) Supported housing project providing accommodation and mental health support for homeless young people transitioning from other services, with focus on developing independence.
- Lucas Project Supported housing service for young people overcoming personal challenges including mental health issues, with focus on developing independence and life skills.
- The Van (Mobile Coffee Service) Mobile coffee and cake service operated as a social enterprise with profits supporting the charity, while offering volunteering opportunities to young people in Backup services to develop employment skills.
- Fundy Charity Quiz Weekly online charity quiz with cash prizes and prize draws, raising funds for Backup North West through player donations.
- Guardian Scheme Annual sponsorship program at £1,000/year (or £83.33/month) where individuals and businesses contribute funding for young people in crisis to cover items like food, clothing, ID, and educational equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of young people successfully moved to their own accommodation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BACKUP North West
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BACKUP North West technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BACKUP North West partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bolton at HomecoreMajor strategic partner and property leaseholder. Bolton at Home leases properties to BACKUP including Redds Place and Loft House, which they have also refurbished. CEO Jon Lord OBE has been recognized as an Outstanding Contribution Corporate winner at BACKUP's AGM. They are also a headline sponsor for events like the Peaky Blinder Ball.
- Irwell Valley Housing AssociationcoreOriginal partnership from 1992 when the service began as Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme. Irwell Valley Homes (now Irwell Valley Housing Association) partnered with the charity at its founding and continues as a Guardian supporter.
- University of BoltonminorPartner institution attending BACKUP events and supporting the charity. Venue for AGM events at Bolton Whites, UoB Stadium.
- Rijo42minorCoffee and equipment supplier for The Van mobile coffee enterprise, providing products and additional support to help the social enterprise succeed.
- Sophie Willan (BAFTA-winning actress)coreBAFTA-winning actress and ex-service user (supported when she was homeless in 2003) now serving as BACKUP's Patron. Works in partnership with the charity on projects supporting young homeless people and care leavers.
- Lisa George (Coronation Street actress)minorCoronation Street actress who became BACKUP's first ever Patron in 2019, supporting future events and raising awareness.
- Boo Coaching and Consulting LtdminorGuardian member and regular event sponsor for Ladies Lunch events, providing ongoing support to BACKUP's fundraising activities.
- Bolton Wanderers Community TrustminorCommunity partner supporting events including official launches and abseil events at Bolton Wanderers Football Club stadium.
- VoiceAbilityminorChildren's Rights and Advocacy Service partner providing independent advocacy services for young people aged 16-25 leaving care, as referenced in the complaints procedure.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BACKUP North West competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Crisis UK: National homelessness charity offering accommodation, education and employment programmes alongside campaigning. Comparable mission around ending homelessness, with broader national footprint and policy remit.
- Depaul UK: Charity providing accommodation and support services to young people who are homeless or at risk, including Nightstop and mediation programmes. Comparable mission, beneficiary age range and supported-housing delivery in the North.
- Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity, providing supported accommodation and services to 16-25 year-olds. Directly comparable operating model, age cohort and Ofsted-style regulated housing across multiple UK regions.
- The Foyer Federation: Network of Foyers providing integrated housing, learning and employment support for 16-25 year-olds. Closely comparable supported-accommodation-plus-skills model for the same youth cohort.
- St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity running supported housing, outreach and recovery services. Comparable supported-accommodation operating model and referral-based access, though serving a broader age range.
Others
- Centre for Homelessness Impact: UK charity focused on evidence, research and what works in homelessness policy. Not a direct service competitor but a sector ecosystem player shaping commissioning frameworks that affect supported accommodation providers.
Emerging players
- JustLife Foundation: Smaller charity focused on young people in unsupported temporary accommodation. Overlaps in advocacy and support for the same age cohort, though narrower in direct housing provision.
Regional players
- Newground Together (formerly Bolton at Home Community Investment): Bolton-based community investment vehicle linked to Bolton at Home, BACKUP's core property leaseholder partner. Comparable North West geography and overlapping tenant-support focus, though not exclusively a homelessness charity.
- The Rock Trust: Scotland-based youth homelessness charity delivering supported accommodation and prevention services. Comparable supported-housing operating model for 16-25 year-olds, but in a different UK jurisdiction.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA England & Wales: Large national federation delivering supported housing (including for young people) alongside health, education and training. Overlapping supported-housing activity but a much broader portfolio and federated structure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BACKUP North West social profiles
Digital presenceBACKUP North West compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
BACKUP North West financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BACKUP North West leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
BACKUP North West subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
BACKUP North West funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BACKUP North West 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 BACKUP North West
What does BACKUP North West do?
BACKUP North West is a registered charity providing Ofsted-registered supported accommodation and non-accommodation-based support services for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Bolton and the North West of England. The charity operates a portfolio of housing projects spanning emergency short-stay assessment, transitional supported housing, and self-contained flats preparing young people for independent living, supplemented by mental health, employment, and life-skills support.
Is BACKUP North West a public or private company?
BACKUP North West is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BACKUP North West founded?
BACKUP North West was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is BACKUP North West based?
BACKUP North West is headquartered in Bolton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does BACKUP North West make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are guardian Scheme and the Van Social Enterprise.
Who are BACKUP North West's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Crisis UK, Depaul UK, Centrepoint, The Foyer Federation and St Mungo's. Centre for Homelessness Impact is listed as an others. JustLife Foundation is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Newground Together (formerly Bolton at Home Community Investment) and The Rock Trust. YMCA England & Wales is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does BACKUP North West have an API?
No public API is recorded for BACKUP North West.
What industry is BACKUP North West in?
BACKUP North West's product category is Supported Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.