Connection Support
Connection Support is a UK charity, founded in 1995 in Oxfordshire, delivering person-centred homelessness prevention, housing, mental health, immigration-status (NRPF), and Direct Payment support services across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Connection Support does
Connection Support is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1049740, Company No. 3072719) founded in 1995 in Oxfordshire by individuals with lived experience of homelessness and hostel workers. The organization delivers a portfolio of person-centred, trauma-informed services across four counties — Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire — including Homeless Prevention, Family Homeless Prevention, No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) support, Housing First, Rough Sleeper Outreach, Mental Health Support, Adult Homeless Pathway, Young People's Supported Accommodation, Step Down Housing, Homes for Ukraine, the Tenancy Ready course, supported accommodation sites (Fishermead in Milton Keynes; Oasis House in Northampton), and Direct Payment Support Services for Personal Assistant recruitment and payroll. Its service technology stack is intentionally minimal: a WordPress website with MailPoet, Wistia, ConvertBox and Google Analytics — no proprietary platform, API, or AI product. The PA Register, a basic job-matching site for Personal Assistants and care employers, is the closest thing to a digital product.
Operationally, Connection Support reaches clients via drop-in centers, embedded Community Development Workers in trusted community spaces (foodbanks, churches, community centers), partner agency referrals, and self-referral. It is led by CEO Chris Keating, who succeeded founder Mark Thompson in 2021, and was ranked 7th best charity to work for in the UK by Best Companies in 2024. In 2024-2025 it supported 5,400+ people, answered 14,000+ advice calls, and partnered with 30+ organizations.
Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) government and local authority grants/contracts from Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Buckinghamshire Council, Milton Keynes City Council, West Northamptonshire Council, and NHS trusts; (2) donations and fundraising, including the matched-funded Winter Appeal via the Big Give Christmas Challenge; and (3) fee-based Direct Payment Support Services for PA recruitment (one-off £384.33–£821.68), payroll subscription (£344.57/yr for up to 2 PAs), and DP holding account administration (£350/yr plus £3/transaction). The Direct Payment Helpline (£65.20 DBS checks, etc.) is the only user-paid offering; all homelessness and support services are free to beneficiaries.
Connection Support firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connection Support
- Legal name
- Connection Support
- Website
- https://connectionsupport.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Connection Support is a UK charity, founded in 1995 in Oxfordshire, delivering person-centred homelessness prevention, housing, mental health, immigration-status (NRPF), and Direct Payment support services across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connection Support industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homelessness Support Services
- NAICS
- Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where Connection Support is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Connection Support business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The charity raises funds through individual donations, corporate giving programs, and seasonal appeals such as the Winter Appeal. During Big Give Christmas Challenge Week, donations are matched pound-for-pound to double impact.
- Government and Local Authority Grants: Core services are funded by government bodies including Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Buckinghamshire Council, Milton Keynes City Council, West Northamptonshire Council, and various NHS trusts.
- Direct Payment Support Services (Paid Services): Connection Support offers paid support services for people using Direct Payments, including recruitment support for Personal Assistants, payroll services, and holding account administration. These are charged services purchased using social or health care budgets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Recruitment Support - one-time PA recruitment assistance |
| Subscription | Annual | Payroll Service - annual charge for PAYE administration |
| Subscription | Annual | DP Holding Account Service - financial administration |
| Other | One-time | Winter Appeal Donations (matched funding) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Connection Support product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connection Support is a UK registered charity delivering homelessness prevention, supported accommodation, mental health, and immigration-related housing services across the Thames Valley region (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire). It also runs Direct Payment Support Services that help individuals employ personal assistants and operates the PA Register, a platform connecting personal assistant employers with potential employees in the care sector.
Product overview
Connection Support is a regional charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of homelessness, housing, and mental health support services across the Thames Valley and surrounding areas (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire). Their service portfolio includes: core support services (Homeless Prevention Service, Family Homeless Prevention Service, No Recourse to Public Funds Service, Housing First, Rough Sleeper Outreach, Mental Health Support, Adult Homeless Pathway); accommodation services (Fishermead in Milton Keynes, Oasis House in Northampton, Step Down Housing, Young People's Supported Accommodation); tenancy support (Tenancy Ready course, Direct Payment Support Services); and the PA Register platform for personal assistant recruitment. Services are delivered through partnerships with local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations, and charitable organizations. The organization served over 5,400 people in 2024-2025, answered 14,000+ advice calls, and partnered with 30+ organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Service: A service helping people experiencing homelessness in Oxfordshire who have lost or don't have access to state-funded benefits and housing.
- Homeless Prevention Service
- Tenancy Ready
- Direct Payment Support Services
- Family Homeless Prevention Service
- Housing First MK
- Fishermead
- PA Register
- Brighter Futures
Products and services
- Homeless Prevention Service Service helping people at risk of homelessness to sustain their current housing and avoid crisis, delivered across Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.
- No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Service Specialist housing and immigration-related support for individuals subject to immigration control who cannot access mainstream public funds.
- Family Homeless Prevention Service Targeted homelessness prevention support for families at risk of losing their home.
- Housing First Direct-access permanent housing model offering intensive, person-centred support for individuals with histories of repeated homelessness.
- Rough Sleeper Outreach Oxfordshire Street outreach service engaging people sleeping rough in Oxfordshire and helping them access accommodation and support.
- Mental Health Support Service Oxfordshire Mental health support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Oxfordshire.
- Adult Homeless Pathway Supported accommodation pathway for single adults experiencing homelessness in the Thames Valley region.
- Young People's Supported Accommodation Supported housing and tailored support for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
- Tenancy Ready Preparation and training programme that equips individuals with the skills to set up and sustain a tenancy.
- Direct Payment Support Services Paid service helping individuals receiving Direct Payments to recruit, employ, and manage personal assistants for their care needs.
- Step Down Housing Intermediate housing provision that supports individuals transitioning from higher-support settings toward independent living.
- Homes for Ukraine Support service for Ukrainian guests and sponsor families participating in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
- Oxfordshire Health & Homelessness Inclusion Service (OHHI) Health-focused inclusion service addressing the health inequalities of people experiencing homelessness in Oxfordshire.
- Banbury Beacon Local homelessness and support service operating in the Banbury area of Oxfordshire.
- Fishermead Supported accommodation and resettlement service operating from a specific site in the Thames Valley.
- Oasis House Support Services Site-based supported housing and personal development service.
- PA Register Online platform that advertises personal assistant opportunities and lists personal assistant roles in care, connecting PA employers with potential employees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,400 people supported across services in 2024-2025
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Connection Support
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Connection Support technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Connection Support partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- West Northamptonshire CouncilcorePartner in providing support at Oasis House in Northampton. Council selected Connection Support as new provider of support services for 58 units of supported accommodation for individuals with complex needs.
- Asylum WelcomecorePartnership to help people move on from the trauma of homelessness. Asylum Welcome identifies individuals for the No Recourse to Public Funds service and supports asylum claims for those outside the EEA. Connection Support provides frontline support including accommodation finding and immigration status resolution.
- SohacoreSoha housing association provides accommodation to NRPF clients while they receive help and advice to resolve legal matters. Critical accommodation partner enabling the NRPF service to operate.
- Homeless OxfordshirecorePartnership for joint policy advocacy and response to government budgets. Connection Support and Homeless Oxfordshire issue combined statements on issues affecting people experiencing homelessness, such as Autumn Budget responses.
- Milton Keynes City CouncilcorePartnership to end rough sleeping in Milton Keynes. Council commissioned Fishermead service (20 rooms, 24/7 support) combining previous emergency shelter elements into dignified accommodation. Council's wider commitment to ending rough sleeping.
- Northamptonshire Partnership HomescoreHousing partner working with West Northamptonshire Council to deliver Oasis House supported accommodation service. Ensures smooth transition from previous provider Midland Heart.
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustcoreNHS partner providing Direct Payment Support Services. Connection Support offers services to people who receive health or social care budgets to purchase their own care.
- Single Homeless Team at Cherwell District CouncilsupportingLocal authority partnership supporting rough sleeper outreach and housing access. Connection Support volunteer Darren works with Single Homeless Team to help clients access services.
- Turning PointsupportingDrug and alcohol recovery organization. Joint working relationship through drop-in services; Connection Support teams work alongside Turning Point staff supporting similar client groups.
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)supportingGovernment department for employment and benefits. Connection Support helps clients access benefits they're entitled to, supporting financial stability and housing sustainability.
- Charities Together ConsortiumcoreCollaborative project with Age UK Buckinghamshire, Carers Bucks, Community Impact Bucks, Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire, and Youth Concern. Community Development Workers embedded in foodbanks, churches, and community centers to provide wraparound support. Project ran April 2023 to March 2025.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Connection Support competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Centrepoint: UK charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness with accommodation, life skills training, and education — directly comparable to Connection Support's Young People's Supported Accommodation service.
- Emmaus UK: UK federation supporting people out of homelessness through residential communities, training, and employment — overlaps with Connection Support's supported accommodation and independent living skills services.
- Depaul UK: National youth homelessness charity providing accommodation, training, and family mediation — overlaps with Connection Support's young people's services and NRPF/asylum support provision.
- Thames Reach: London-based charity supporting people out of homelessness through outreach, accommodation, and employment programmes — comparable service model including Housing First, rough sleeper outreach, and supported housing.
- Homeless Oxfordshire: Regional homelessness charity operating in the same Oxfordshire geography; Connection Support's joint policy advocacy partner on Autumn Budget responses and serves an overlapping client base in housing and homelessness support.
Broad incumbents
- Shelter: National housing and homelessness charity offering advice, advocacy, and supported services across England — directly comparable in mission (housing stability) and overlapping in frontline homelessness prevention services.
- St Mungo's: One of the UK's largest homelessness charities providing rough sleeper outreach, supported housing, and recovery services across multiple regions — overlapping substantially with Connection Support's portfolio but at far greater national scale.
- Crisis UK: National charity focused on ending homelessness through housing, education, and employment programmes — comparable in person-centred, prevention-focused service design and tenancy/employment outcome focus.
Emerging players
- Pathway (Healthcare for the Homeless): UK charity improving healthcare access for homeless populations, including hospital discharge services — directly comparable to Connection Support's Out of Hospital / OHHI service.
Regional players
- Single Homeless Project: London-focused homelessness charity providing supported housing, advice, and education to single homeless people — comparable service model in a different UK geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connection Support social profiles
Digital presenceConnection Support financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connection Support leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Connection Support funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connection Support 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 Connection Support
What does Connection Support do?
Connection Support is a UK registered charity delivering homelessness prevention, supported accommodation, mental health, and immigration-related housing services across the Thames Valley region (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire). It also runs Direct Payment Support Services that help individuals employ personal assistants and operates the PA Register, a platform connecting personal assistant employers with potential employees in the care sector.
Is Connection Support a public or private company?
Connection Support is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connection Support founded?
Connection Support was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Connection Support based?
Connection Support is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Connection Support make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are government and Local Authority Grants and direct Payment Support Services (Paid Services).
Who are Connection Support's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Centrepoint, Emmaus UK, Depaul UK, Thames Reach and Homeless Oxfordshire. Broad incumbents are Shelter, St Mungo's and Crisis UK. Pathway (Healthcare for the Homeless) is listed as an emerging player. Single Homeless Project is listed as a regional player.
Does Connection Support have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connection Support.
What industry is Connection Support in?
Connection Support's product category is Homelessness Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAK, Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 624229 and its SIC code is 8300.