Access Social Care
Access Social Care is a London-based charity providing free specialist legal advice, training, and advocacy on adult social care rights in England, serving disabled and older people, family carers, and 28 sector member organisations via casework, a 24/7 AI chatbot (AccessAva), and community hubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Access Social Care does
Access Social Care (legally 'Access Your Right to Care', charity registration 1186714) is a London-based specialist legal charity that provides free advice, training, and advocacy on adult social care law in England. It was incubated within Mencap from 2017, piloted in 2018 with Mencap, Dimensions and Choice Support, and spun out as an independent national charity on 1 April 2020 with founding grant funding from the Oak Foundation. The organisation primarily serves disabled people, older people, family carers, and the social-care provider organisations that support them, with casework typically focused on challenging unlawful local-authority decisions, securing entitled care packages, and challenging charging decisions.
The organisation's core product is AccessAva, a 24/7 free online chatbot developed in partnership with Springbok AI and authored by specialist lawyers that delivers personalised, jargon-free guidance on social care rights. This sits alongside a free telephone advice line, formal casework and strategic litigation (98% case success rate), paid training programmes for sector staff, and a network of community hubs in Gloucestershire and Croydon supported by peer navigators. A separate Data Portal combines datasets from multiple social care helplines with AI-generated narrative analysis of each local authority, feeding an annual State of the Nation report. The technology stack is text-based conversational AI for AccessAva plus a data integration layer for the portal; there is no public API or SDK offering.
The business model is a blended charity funding structure rather than commercial revenue: (i) recurring membership fees from 28 social-care provider organisations, (ii) grants from a diversified roster of UK foundations and trusts (Oak, Baring, Dulverton, Rayne, Pears, Julia Rausing, LEF, JRF, Nesta, Law Society, CareTech and others), and (iii) public donations supplemented by a recurring monthly giving programme. Service capacity is extended by pro bono legal support from City law firms (Fieldfisher, 39 Essex, Orrick, Slaughter & May, Baker McKenzie, Garden Court Chambers) and the University of York law clinic. All end-user services are free at the point of use.
Access Social Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access Social Care
- Legal name
- Access Your Right to Care
- Website
- https://accesscharity.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Access Social Care is a London-based charity providing free specialist legal advice, training, and advocacy on adult social care rights in England, serving disabled and older people, family carers, and 28 sector member organisations via casework, a 24/7 AI chatbot (AccessAva), and community hubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Access Social Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Care Legal Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technology Assistance & Digital Support for Seniors (HSABAAAH), Family/Caregiver Engagement & Proxy Access Management (HLACAEAL)
Keywords
Where Access Social Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Access Social Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Social care providing organisations become members to access legal advice, training, and casework support. Organisations like Dimensions, Choice Support, Mencap invest in and co-fund the shared legal service.
- Donations and grants: Charity relies on donations from public and grants from foundations and trusts to sustain legal efforts. Monthly donation programme encourages recurring contributions.
- Pro bono legal support: Network of city law firms (Field Fisher, 39 Essex, Orrick, Slaughter & May, Baker McKenzie) and University of York students provide free legal support, extending service capacity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free service for all - no pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Access Social Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access Social Care is a specialist community care legal charity that provides free legal advice, casework, and training to help disabled and older people enforce their rights under the Care Act 2014. The charity operates a 24/7 AI-powered chatbot called AccessAva that delivers personalised social care guidance, alongside telephone-based legal advice, member-organisation referrals, community hubs in Gloucestershire and Croydon, and structured training for social-care provider staff. It is funded by an annual membership model paid by social-care provider organisations, supplemented by grants and donations.
Product overview
Access Social Care operates as a multi-product legal charity providing specialist legal advice and training for social care in the UK. The core offering consists of AccessAva (an AI-powered 24/7 chatbot providing free social care rights guidance) combined with direct casework and telephone-based legal advice services. Supporting services include Legal Rights Training programmes, Community Hubs in Gloucestershire and Croydon, the annual State of the Nation data report, the State of our Nation podcast, the Government Transparency Campaign (FOI legal challenges), and the Community Care Lawyers Group (professional community of practice). The products work together to provide legal education, enforce rights through casework, and drive systemic change through data and strategic approaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AccessAva: A 24/7, free online service providing clear, personalised guidance about social care rights, developed by specialist lawyers. Listens to users and provides practical next steps.
Products and services
- AccessAva 24/7 free online chatbot that provides clear, personalised guidance about social care rights without jargon; developed by specialist lawyers and designed for disabled people, older people and family carers.
- Legal Rights Training Specialist legal training programmes for organisations providing direct support to people who access social care, empowering staff to understand and enforce legal rights under the Care Act 2014 and related legislation.
- Casework and Telephone-based Legal Advice Free, confidential, impartial legal advice delivered via telephone and direct casework to disabled and older people referred by member organisations and community partners.
- Community Hubs (Gloucestershire and Croydon) Community-led legal rights hubs in Gloucestershire and Croydon that bring together people, organisations and grassroots initiatives to raise awareness, provide advice and empower residents to access care and support they are entitled to, supported by peer navigators.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% case success rate with legal cases
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Access Social Care
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Access Social Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
Access Social Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Garden Court ChamberscoreHosting Community Care Lawyers Group pop-up events and contributing speakers on community care law topics and MoJ fee consultation responses.
- Irwin MitchellminorProviding venues for regional hub events in Manchester and Bristol for Community Care Lawyers Group activities.
- Springbok AIcoreTechnology partner for award-winning AccessAva chatbot development. Victoria Albrecht (Founder and CEO) discussed technology behind chatbot and journey of digital innovation.
- Croydon MencapcoreCommunity hub partner hosting Casey Commission session; referring clients and collaborating on local social care issues.
- Gloucestershire County CouncilcorePathfinder council partner for data insight project combining digital products with legal outreach. Council taking evidence-based approach to transformation with culture of openness.
- University of YorkcoreLaw students support Access Social Care clients through Letter Writing Clinic, providing advice and assistance with writing to local authorities about social care issues.
- Field FishercoreCity law firm providing pro bono legal support to help manage caseload and extend legal advice capacity for community care cases.
- 39 Essex ChamberscoreBarristers' chambers providing specialist expertise on community care and mental capacity cases through pro bono support.
- OrrickcoreInternational law firm providing pro bono legal support for social care cases.
- Slaughter & MaycoreCity law firm providing pro bono legal support and expertise on community care matters.
- Baker McKenziecoreGlobal law firm with volunteers working on community care cases including charging issues like the Southend Council minimum income guarantee case.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Access Social Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Mind: UK mental health charity providing information, advice and advocacy that intersects with social care rights (Care Act section 117 aftercare, mental capacity). Comparable as an advice-providing charity with overlapping beneficiary population, but with mental health rather than social care as its primary lens.
- Alzheimer's Society: UK dementia charity providing advice on social care rights, NHS continuing healthcare and welfare benefits to people affected by dementia. Comparable beneficiary population (elderly and disabled adults needing social care) and similar non-medical advice and advocacy services, though focused on a specific condition group.
Direct peers
- Independent Age: UK charity offering free advice and information to older people on social care, benefits, and later-life planning — a very close direct peer to Access Social Care with overlapping elderly social care advice and a comparable free-to-user non-profit model. (Independent Age is also an Access Social Care member organisation.)
- Disability Rights UK: National disability charity led by and for disabled people, providing advice on social care rights, benefits and independent living. Directly comparable as a non-profit advocating on Care Act and social care entitlements for disabled adults — Access Social Care's primary beneficiary group.
- Carers UK: National charity supporting unpaid family carers with information, advice and advocacy on social care and carers' rights. Comparable as it serves Access Social Care's "family carers" segment with similar non-medical, rights-based advice across Care Act and welfare issues.
Broad incumbents
- Law Centres Network: UK federation of not-for-profit law centres providing free legal advice and representation in social welfare law to disadvantaged communities. Closely comparable operating model — charity-funded, specialist legal advice for people denied rights — though broader in scope across housing, immigration, welfare and employment.
- Age UK: Major UK charity providing advice, information and advocacy for older people on social care, benefits, and rights — overlapping directly with Access Social Care's elderly-focused segment and Care Act expertise, though delivered as part of a wider portfolio including local services and campaigns.
- Citizens Advice: UK's largest independent advice charity providing free, confidential advice across social welfare law including social care, benefits, housing and debt. Highly comparable as a non-profit advice provider with a similar free-to-user model, though far broader in scope than Access Social Care's specialist social care focus.
Others
- Mencap: Major UK learning disability charity where Access Social Care was incubated and from which its founding legal team TUPE-transferred. Comparable as a learning disability advocacy organisation serving overlapping beneficiaries, though Mencap is also a member/partner rather than a direct service competitor.
- Shelter: UK housing and homelessness charity providing free specialist legal advice on welfare rights and statutory entitlements. Comparable as a non-profit advice charity that uses casework, campaigning and FOI/data-driven advocacy to drive systemic change for vulnerable people.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Access Social Care social profiles
Digital presenceAccess Social Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access Social Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Access Social Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access Social Care 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 Access Social Care
What does Access Social Care do?
Access Social Care is a specialist community care legal charity that provides free legal advice, casework, and training to help disabled and older people enforce their rights under the Care Act 2014. The charity operates a 24/7 AI-powered chatbot called AccessAva that delivers personalised social care guidance, alongside telephone-based legal advice, member-organisation referrals, community hubs in Gloucestershire and Croydon, and structured training for social-care provider staff. It is funded by an annual membership model paid by social-care provider organisations, supplemented by grants and donations.
Is Access Social Care a public or private company?
Access Social Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Access Social Care founded?
Access Social Care was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Access Social Care based?
Access Social Care is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Access Social Care make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and grants and pro bono legal support.
Who are Access Social Care's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Mind and Alzheimer's Society. Direct peers are Independent Age, Disability Rights UK and Carers UK. Broad incumbents are Law Centres Network, Age UK and Citizens Advice. Others are Mencap and Shelter.
Does Access Social Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access Social Care.
What industry is Access Social Care in?
Access Social Care's product category is Social Care Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADALAK, Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination, with a secondary code of HSABAAAH, Technology Assistance & Digital Support for Seniors. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.