HCPT

What HCPT does

HCPT (Hosanna House and Children's Pilgrimage Trust) is a UK-registered charity founded in 1956 by Dr. Michael Strode that organizes supported pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes, France, for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults. The charity operates two annual programmes: an Easter Pilgrimage hosting over 1,000 disabled children across 31 hotels in Lourdes with one-to-one volunteer helper support, and a Summer Pilgrimage at its purpose-built Hosanna House facility in Bartrès near Lourdes, hosting over 1,500 people annually, predominantly disabled adults. Each Easter pilgrimage is organized through 67+ UK volunteer-run groups within a broader network of over 230 such branches across the UK and 12+ international sister organizations (HCPT Polska, HCPT Italia, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, DUH Croatia, etc.). Easter 2026's 70th-anniversary celebration brought nearly 3,500 pilgrims from the UK and abroad, the charity's largest gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The charity's infrastructure consists of a Rugby, Warwickshire headquarters (Oakfield Park, 32 Bilton Road); the Hosanna House accessible facility in France with ensuite rooms, chapel, and Pyrenees views; and digital systems that are non-proprietary and operational rather than product-focused — a content-managed website, SagePay payment processing, Google Analytics, YouTube integration, and an online group-finder tool covering the 230+ branches. Governance sits with a Board of Trustees led by Chief Executive Tricia Macfarlane and President Archbishop Leo Cushley, with Director of Fundraising and Communications Claire Quigley overseeing legacy and donor relations, supported by Trust Chaplain Fr Damian Cassidy. Operations combine paid staff (51-100 employees) with a large trained volunteer workforce including nurses, chaplains, and helpers, supplemented by the Youth Development Programme for ages 18-25.

HCPT's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than commercial. Revenue is generated across five primary streams: individual donations and corporate/institutional sponsorships, charitable trust and foundation grants (e.g., Lady Ryder of Warsaw Memorial Trust), legacy bequests via the Bernadette Club legacy pledger group, the weekly Bernadette Club lottery and annual Superdraw raffle (cash prizes up to £4,000), merchandise sales (Christmas cards via shop.hcpt.org.uk), and B&B accommodation at Hosanna House from £36 per person per night. Pilgrimage participation is largely funded through charitable contributions and group fundraising rather than direct participant fees. The charity pursues growth through new revenue streams (B&B launch in 2024), international expansion via sister organizations, and active fundraising and trustee recruitment during its 2026 anniversary cycle.

Name

HCPT

Legal name

HCPT (Hosanna House and Children's Pilgrimage Trust)

Website

https://hcpt.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HCPT is a UK charity founded in 1956 that organizes supported pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes, France, for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults, delivered through 230+ volunteer-run groups across the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Pilgrimage & Charity Travel Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilgrimage Packages (Air-Inclusive) Tour Operators (THAKAHAK)

Keywords

• Accessible pilgrimage holidays
• Disability pilgrimage charity
• Charitable travel services
• Respite pilgrimage programs
• Volunteer-supported pilgrimages

Headquarters

HQ city

Rugby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: HCPT relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and trusts to fund pilgrimages for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults. Donors can make one-time or recurring donations, sponsor specific children, or contribute to general funds. The organization also receives corporate sponsorships and institutional grants.
2. Legacies and Bequests: HCPT actively encourages supporters to leave legacy gifts in their Wills, promoting this as a way to ensure the charity's work continues for future generations. The organization maintains a Bernadette Club for legacy pledgers.
3. Bernadette Club Lottery and Superdraw: HCPT operates a weekly lottery (Bernadette Club) and annual Superdraw/Grand Draw raffle. Prizes include cash amounts up to £4,000. Tickets can be purchased online through raffleplayer.com. The Superdraw is a significant annual fundraising event.
4. Merchandise Sales: HCPT generates revenue through the sale of Christmas cards and potentially other merchandise through its online shop (shop.hcpt.org.uk) and the Charity Card Shop.
5. B&B and Accommodation Services: Hosanna House offers bed and breakfast accommodation to visitors year-round, with rooms available from £36 per person per night. This provides a supplementary revenue stream during non-pilgrimage periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HCPT organizes fully supported pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes, France, for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults. Each Easter over 1,000 children stay in Lourdes hotels with trained volunteer helpers; each Summer over 1,500 people (many disabled adults) stay at HCPT's purpose-built Hosanna House in Bartrès near Lourdes. The charity coordinates all logistics (chartered flights, accommodation, meals, activities, spiritual program) and provides one-to-one volunteer helper support per pilgrim, with services funded through donations, sponsorships, grants, and fundraising activities.

Product overview

HCPT (Hosanna House and Children's Pilgrimage Trust) operates as a pilgrimage holiday charity offering two primary pilgrimage programmes: the Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes for disabled and disadvantaged children, and the Summer Pilgrimage at Hosanna House in Bartres near Lourdes. The charity coordinates over 230 volunteer-run groups across the UK and internationally, providing comprehensive pilgrimage experiences including accommodation, volunteer helpers, spiritual activities, and accessible facilities. Supplementary services include an online shop, secure payment/donation portal, group locator tool, B&B accommodation at Hosanna House, and a Youth Development Programme for volunteer leadership development. The organization is supported by fundraising initiatives including the Bernadette Club lottery, Superdraw raffle, and legacy giving programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Development Programme (YDP): A programme for young people aged 18-25 to develop leadership skills within HCPT
• Bernadette Club
• Hosanna House
• Superdraw/Grand Draw

Products and services

• Easter Pilgrimage
• Summer Pilgrimage
• Hosanna House Accommodation (including B&B service)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000 disabled children and young people participated in HCPT's biggest Easter pilgrimage since COVID-19 pandemic (Easter 2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sister HCPT Organizations (International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCPT works with international partner organizations including DUH (Croatia), Irish Pilgrimage Trust, HCPT Italia, HCPT Polska, and others who organize pilgrimages aligned with HCPT's mission and values. These organizations participate in joint pilgrimages to Lourdes and share best practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Across (formerly HCPT Croatia / DUH): Croatian sister organization of HCPT listed in international partners, organizing Lourdes pilgrimages for disabled Croatian children. Direct peer in mission, beneficiary profile, and pilgrimage model.
• Irish Pilgrimage Trust: Ireland's sister pilgrimage charity for disabled children to Lourdes, explicitly mentioned as a HCPT partner organization. Operates an identical mission model: faith-based, volunteer-supported, air-inclusive pilgrimages to Lourdes for disabled children and adults.
• HCPT Italia: Italian sister organization of HCPT, explicitly listed as a partner that organizes Lourdes pilgrimages under the HCPT ethos. Direct peer in geography of delivery (Italy-based beneficiaries travelling to Lourdes) and mission alignment.
• HCPT Polska (Polish HCPT): Polish sister organization explicitly listed as an HCPT international partner. Conducts pilgrimages to Lourdes for disabled children and adults under the shared HCPT ethos, making it a directly comparable peer in terms of mission, beneficiary profile, and operational model.

Emerging players

• Jubilee Sailing Trust: UK charity providing tall-ship sailing adventures for disabled and non-disabled people together. Highly comparable beneficiary focus (disabled people accessing life-changing travel experiences) and volunteer-supported delivery model, though activity category (sailing vs. pilgrimage) differs.
• Revitalise (formerly Vitalise): UK charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers. Highly comparable to HCPT in combining accessible travel/hospitality with volunteer-supported care for disabled beneficiaries, though operating within the UK rather than at Lourdes.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: One of the largest UK charities supporting people with learning disabilities. Shares HCPT's core beneficiary population but operates a fundamentally different service model (advocacy, housing, employment) rather than pilgrimage travel.
• Sense: Large UK disability charity supporting people with complex disabilities (including those HCPT serves, such as autism and learning disabilities) through social, communication, and community inclusion services. Comparable beneficiary base but service delivery model differs from pilgrimage travel.
• Caritas UK (Catholic Social Action Network): Faith-based social services charity network operating across England and Wales, sharing HCPT's Catholic heritage and reliance on volunteers and donations. Both address social inclusion and support for vulnerable populations through organized charitable structures.
• Sue Ryder: A major UK charity providing healthcare, hospice, and community services for people with disabilities and life-limiting conditions. Comparable in serving disabled populations through volunteer-supported care; broader in scope (hospices, neurological care) and overlapping with HCPT via the Lady Ryder Trust partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hcpt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PilgrimageTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/HCPTpage
• Instagraminstagram.com/h.c.p.t
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hcpt-afr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HCPT