Changing Lives

What Changing Lives does

Changing Lives (legally The Cyrenians Ltd, Charity No. 500640) is a UK national charity founded in 1970 and headquartered in Gateshead, delivering direct frontline support to people facing homelessness, addiction, domestic abuse, criminal justice involvement, unemployment, and sexual exploitation. The organisation operates more than 120 projects across England with over 700 staff and a registered housing subsidiary, Changing Lives Homes. In 2025 it supported 14,572 people to take steps towards stability and independence.

Its service portfolio spans six core verticals — Housing and Accommodation, Criminal Justice, Domestic Abuse, Employment, Recovery and Wellbeing, and Women and Children's Services — delivered through named facilities and programmes such as The Fells, Newcastle Sanctum, NTaR (a partnership with NHS CNTW and Humankind), Red Umbrella, IRIS, Saltbrook Place, Westminster Next Steps (58 bedspaces), and HMP Peterborough Wellbeing & Recovery. The underlying operating methodology is the proprietary Being, Becoming, Belonging & Beyond (BBBB) theory-of-change framework, a four-stage trauma-informed model covering safety, trauma recovery, social belonging, and systems change.

Revenue is generated principally through statutory commissioned services (local authorities, NHS, probation, central government grants), supplemented by donations and fundraising (including the Changing Lives Lottery), corporate partnerships, and rental income from Changing Lives Homes. The go-to-market is referral- and contract-led — referrals from local authorities, probation, NHS, and self-referrals feed into publicly commissioned delivery contracts — with no direct pricing to individual service users. Marketing and fundraising utilise a multi-channel mix including the website, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, email newsletter, press office, policy research output, corporate partnerships, and events.

Name

Changing Lives

Legal name

The Cyrenians Ltd

Website

https://changing-lives.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Changing Lives is a UK national charity founded in 1970, delivering trauma-informed frontline support across housing, recovery, domestic abuse, criminal justice, employment, and women's services through 120+ projects in England, serving over 14,500 people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Care Transitions Management (Hospital/SNF-to-Home) (HSABAIAC), Senior & Transitional Monthly Housing (THAMAFAJ)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Domestic abuse services
• Addiction recovery support
• Supported accommodation
• Criminal justice support

Headquarters

HQ city

Gateshead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, regular giving programmes, legacy giving, community fundraising, and participation in the Changing Lives Lottery (weekly chance to win £25,000 for £1 per week).
2. Corporate Support: Partnerships with corporate organisations including donations, sponsorships, and workplace giving programmes.
3. Commissioned Services: Delivering statutory commissioned services funded by government bodies, local authorities, and public sector agencies for housing support, criminal justice services, recovery services, and other support programmes.
4. Rental Income: Changing Lives Homes subsidiary provides affordable rental homes at below market rent, generating income while supporting people in housing need.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Changing Lives is a UK registered charity (legal name: The Cyrenians Ltd) that delivers direct, front-line social support services to vulnerable people across England. Its portfolio spans housing and accommodation, criminal justice, domestic abuse, employment, recovery and wellbeing, and women and children's services, delivered through over 120 projects and more than 700 staff. All services are organised around the proprietary Being, Becoming, Belonging & Beyond (BBBB) trauma-informed theory of change framework.

Product overview

Changing Lives is a national UK charity (registered name: The Cyrenians) providing social support services through a portfolio of specialized programs organized under five core service pillars: Housing and Accommodation, Criminal Justice, Domestic Abuse, Employment, and Recovery and Wellbeing Services, plus dedicated Women and Children's Services. The organization operates over 120 projects nationally with more than 700 staff members. Services are delivered through named facilities and programs including The Fells, Newcastle Sanctum, St Peters Court, Ridley Villas, NTaR (Newcastle Treatment and Recovery), and various criminal justice and domestic abuse services. The organization's methodology is anchored in the 'Being, Becoming, Belonging & Beyond' (BBBB) framework. Changing Lives also operates a subsidiary housing company, Changing Lives Homes, providing affordable rented accommodation. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but rather delivers direct frontline support services to vulnerable populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing and Accommodation Services Specialized accommodation and housing support including dispersed accommodation, young persons accommodation, Housing First, hospital discharge accommodation, and floating support services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
• Criminal Justice Services Holistic, trauma-informed support for women and men in custody or under probation supervision through dedicated centres, community outreach, and gender-nuanced services underpinned by the BBBB Theory of Change framework.
• Domestic Abuse Services Support services for women and men experiencing domestic abuse, providing safe environments, practical support, and specialist interventions to reduce long-term risk of violence and abuse.
• Employment Services Employability support helping unemployed people overcome barriers to work, become employment-ready, and secure sustainable jobs through upskilling, job search support, and dedicated teams.
• Recovery and Wellbeing Services Specialist holistic services for people in recovery from drug or alcohol dependency, including a 12-week rehabilitation programme, recovery centres, residential support, clinical services, harm minimisation, and young people-specific support.
• Women and Children's Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 14,572 people in 2025 to take positive steps towards stability and independence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Avison YoungminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Avison Young provided support to help with vital North East projects, contributing expertise and resources to specific initiatives.
• Phishing TackleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2025Partnership announced to support cybersecurity awareness within the organisation, helping protect sensitive data and systems.
• Newcastle Building SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate supporter partnership where Newcastle Building Society branches were used to collect essential items for people in need during the festive period.
• Northumbria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research collaboration partner in the Craft Matters project with researcher Faye Green, exploring craft-based trauma support.
• ASE Partnership (formerly STAGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational collaboration of eight charities providing trauma-informed support for women groomed for sexual exploitation. Members include: Changing Lives, A Way Out, GROW, Together Women, Basis, WomenCentre, Ashiana, and the Angelou Centre. Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.
• Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS trust partner in the Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR) service, providing drug and alcohol treatment alongside Humankind and Changing Lives.
• HumankindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner in the Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR) service alongside CNTW and Changing Lives.
• A Way OutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with A Way Out to support women within the Criminal Justice System in Cleveland, providing holistic support and therapeutic interventions.
• Dudley CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authority partner for Saltbrook Place supported accommodation service, with all referrals coming through the council's Homeless Prevention Team.
• Merseyside PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique partnership where Merseyside is the only police force in the world to treat violence against sex workers as a hate crime. Red Umbrella project works with a dedicated full-time police detective.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crisis UK: Crisis is a national UK charity focused on ending homelessness through housing, education, training, and campaigning. It competes for similar statutory contracts, donor funding, and policy influence as Changing Lives, with comparable trauma-informed and employment support programmes.
• Catch22: Catch22 is a UK social business delivering services in education, justice, and employment, with significant overlap to Changing Lives' criminal justice, women's services, and employability programmes. Both organisations compete for similar public sector contracts in England.
• Emmaus UK: Emmaus UK is a homelessness charity running companion-supported accommodation communities, training, and social enterprise. It directly parallels Changing Lives' residential recovery and supported accommodation model, particularly around recovery from addiction and reintegration.
• Centrepoint: Centrepoint is a UK charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness through accommodation, employment, and wellbeing services. It directly overlaps with Changing Lives' young persons accommodation and youth-focused programmes, and competes for similar local authority commissioning.
• St Mungo's: St Mungo's is a major UK charity providing accommodation, support, and recovery services to people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping across London and southern England. It directly overlaps with Changing Lives' core housing, recovery, and criminal justice services for similar client segments.
• Shelter: Shelter is a leading UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, support, and campaigning on housing issues. It overlaps with Changing Lives in housing-related service delivery and policy advocacy around homelessness and domestic abuse, particularly through frontline advice and supported accommodation.
• The Passage: The Passage is a London-based homelessness charity providing accommodation, day services, and resettlement support. It shares Changing Lives' focus on frontline homeless service delivery, supported accommodation, and rough sleeping support, particularly comparable to the Westminster Next Steps programme.
• Humankind: Humankind is a UK charity delivering health, wellbeing, and recovery services including drug and alcohol treatment. It is a direct delivery partner with Changing Lives within the Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR) service, making it a closely comparable peer in addiction, housing, and integrated recovery services.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: Together for Mental Wellbeing is a UK charity supporting people with mental health needs through housing, recovery, and community-based services. It overlaps with Changing Lives' floating support, trauma-informed practice, and supported accommodation offerings.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA England & Wales: YMCA England & Wales is one of the largest UK charities providing supported accommodation, health and wellbeing, training, and youth programmes. Its much larger scale and broader portfolio overlap with Changing Lives' housing, employment, and young persons services, positioning it as a broad incumbent rather than a direct specialist competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCunNO1s09d4mcb6lsjcI68Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChangingLivesCharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/changing-lives
• Instagraminstagram.com/changinglives_uk
• Xx.com/ChangingLives__

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Changing Lives