Parents In Need
UK registered charity that funds professional SEN assessment reports for low-income families of children with special educational needs, enabling tribunal-grade evidence for school placement appeals. Volunteer-run and event-funded since 2014.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWimbledon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Parents In Need does
Parents In Need (PIN) is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity No. 1169363) founded in 2014 by Catherine Bailey, a Television and Film Producer who established the organisation following her personal experience as a parent of a child with autism. The charity funds professional assessment reports — specifically Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy assessments — for families of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) who cannot independently afford the £700–£1,500 cost per report. These reports serve as tribunal-grade evidence in Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications and in appeals against Local Authority decisions on school placements. The organisation states that families who appeal and take councils to tribunal win 89% of the time when supported by proper professional evidence. Since 2017, PIN has helped over 120 families.
Parents In Need firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Parents In Need
- Legal name
- Parents In Need
- Website
- https://parentsinneed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- UK registered charity that funds professional SEN assessment reports for low-income families of children with special educational needs, enabling tribunal-grade evidence for school placement appeals. Volunteer-run and event-funded since 2014.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Parents In Need industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Educational Needs Charity Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Parenting Education for Special Needs & Developmental Differences (EDACALAK)
Keywords
Where Parents In Need is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wimbledon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Parents In Need business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including one-time and regular monthly donations. Gift Aid scheme allows reclaiming 25p per £1 from UK taxpayers.
- Fundraising Events: Annual quiz nights, Christmas appeals, marathon sponsorships, art fairs, and other community events. Quiz nights alone have raised £10,000-£15,000.
- Charity Shop: Retail sales from charity shop at 581 London Road, North Cheam, Surrey SM3 9AE selling pre-loved items including clothing, toys, and household goods.
- Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable trusts including Ronnie and Sally Wood (£25,000), Brenley Trust, Swire Charitable Trust, St James's Place, Beacon Lodge, Albert Hunt, and Baily Thomas.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Parents In Need product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Parents In Need is a UK registered charity (No. 1169363) that funds professional assessment reports for families of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The charity pays Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists directly to produce tribunal-grade evidence that supports families' Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications and appeals against Local Authority decisions regarding school placements. Funds are raised through individual donations, charitable trust grants, fundraising events, and a retail charity shop.
Product overview
Parents In Need is a single-service charity focused on funding professional assessment reports for families of children with Special Educational Needs. The core offering is funding Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy reports that families need for tribunal appeals. Additional offerings include a newly opened charity shop in North Cheam, Surrey, annual fundraising events (primarily the Quiz Night), and informational resources about the SEND system. The organization does not operate a technology product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Professional Reports Funding Service Direct payment to professional practitioners for tribunal-grade assessment reports (Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy) on behalf of families of children with SEN. Funds are paid by the charity directly to the professionals, not to families. Average report costs range from £700-£1,000 for Speech and Language assessments, £900-£1,200 for Occupational Therapy, £900-£1,500 for Educational Psychology, and £1,000-£1,500 for Physiotherapy. The service is provided at no cost to eligible families.
- Charity Shop Physical retail charity shop selling pre-loved items including clothing, toys, and household goods to raise funds for the charity's mission of supporting families of children with SEN. Managed by Debbie Wilson and her team.
- Annual Quiz Night Ticketed annual fundraising event combining entertainment (food, drinks, quizzes, prizes) with awareness-raising and donor cultivation. Held with celebrity hosts from the charity's network of patrons and supporters.
Quantifiable outcome
- 89% tribunal win rate for families who appeal with proper evidence
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Parents In Need
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Parents In Need technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Parents In Need partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SOS!SENcoreSister charity relationship. SOS!SEN offers free telephone helpline for parents seeking SEN advice. Refers families to Parents In Need for funding support. Marion Strudwick from SOS!SEN sends families to PIN. Collaborative relationship in supporting families through tribunal process.
- Special Needs JungleminorParent-led information site about SEN. Allowed PIN to reproduce their flowcharts about the SEND system on PIN's SEN System page. Provides educational resources to help parents understand the process.
- IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice)minorFree legally-based information and advice service. Listed on PIN's Useful Links page for parents seeking additional support with EHCP assessments and appeals.
- National Autistic SocietyminorMajor autism charity providing helpline and support. Listed on Useful Links page. PIN refers families for additional autism-specific guidance and support.
- Caudwell ChildrenminorCharity providing support for disabled children. PIN recommends families contact Caudwell Children for diagnosis support when NHS waiting lists are long. Located at Caudwell International Children's Centre, Keele.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Parents In Need competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Scope: National disability charity campaigning for equality and providing information and support. Operates a helpline and provides EHCP-related guidance that overlaps with PIN's informational resources.
- Mencap: The UK's largest charity for people with learning disabilities, providing services, advocacy, and information. Although much larger and broader, Mencap addresses overlapping needs around education rights and family support for children with disabilities.
- National Autistic Society: The UK's largest autism charity offering a helpline, education services, and advocacy. Serves a significant portion of PIN's beneficiary families and is listed on PIN's Useful Links page, representing a broader incumbent in the same support ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Caudwell Children: UK charity providing diagnosis, treatment, and equipment support for disabled children. PIN refers families to Caudwell for diagnosis support when NHS waitlists are long, making it a directly adjacent nonprofit serving the same beneficiary group.
- Contact (for families with disabled children): UK charity supporting families of disabled children with advice, information, and peer support. Operates a helpline and family services analogous to what PIN delivers around EHCP/tribunal journeys.
- IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice): Provides free legally-based advice and information on SEN law, EHCPs, and tribunal appeals. Operates in the same EHCP/tribunal support space as PIN and is listed on PIN's Useful Links page, indicating direct service overlap.
- Family Fund: UK's largest charity providing grants to low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children. Compares to PIN as a grantmaking nonprofit focused on removing financial barriers for SEN families.
- SOS!SEN: UK charity offering a free telephone helpline and advice line for parents navigating the SEN system. SOS!SEN is PIN's sister charity and directly refers families to PIN for report funding, making it the closest comparable in mission and target audience.
- Special Needs Jungle: Parent-led information site providing resources on the SEND system, EHCPs, and tribunals. Partners with PIN by sharing flowcharts and educational content, and serves the same audience of SEN parents seeking guidance.
- Ambitious about Autism: National charity for autistic children and young people, running schools and educational advocacy. Shares PIN's focus on securing appropriate educational placements for autistic children through the EHCP process.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Parents In Need social profiles
Digital presenceParents In Need financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Parents In Need leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Parents In Need funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Parents In Need 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 Parents In Need
What does Parents In Need do?
Parents In Need is a UK registered charity (No. 1169363) that funds professional assessment reports for families of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The charity pays Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists directly to produce tribunal-grade evidence that supports families' Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications and appeals against Local Authority decisions regarding school placements. Funds are raised through individual donations, charitable trust grants, fundraising events, and a retail charity shop.
Is Parents In Need a public or private company?
Parents In Need is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Parents In Need founded?
Parents In Need was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Parents In Need based?
Parents In Need is headquartered in Wimbledon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Parents In Need make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are fundraising Events, charity Shop and trust and Foundation Grants.
Who are Parents In Need's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Scope, Mencap and National Autistic Society. Direct peers are Caudwell Children, Contact (for families with disabled children), IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice), Family Fund, SOS!SEN, Special Needs Jungle and Ambitious about Autism.
Does Parents In Need have an API?
No public API is recorded for Parents In Need.
What industry is Parents In Need in?
Parents In Need's product category is Special Educational Needs Charity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services, with a secondary code of EDAJALAK, Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.