akt
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is the only national UK charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness or hostile living environments, delivering caseworker-led crisis support, housing referrals, and youth engagement through four offices and a digital hub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLondon, London, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What akt does
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is a UK-registered charity founded in 1989 in Manchester by Cath Hall, and the only national charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 who are facing or at risk of homelessness. The organisation operates four offices (London, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle), employs 86 staff, and is supported by 140+ volunteers. Its service model combines 1-1 caseworker support, crisis intervention, emergency accommodation referrals (via Nightstop/Depaul), Rainbow Starter Packs for new tenancies, an Independent Living Fund, a dedicated mentoring programme, and specialised trans/non-binary support through the Trans Pathway project. Distribution is hybrid: regional offices for in-person engagement, plus a national digital channel comprising a live chat (Intercom-powered, Monday–Friday 10am–5pm), online self- and agency-referral forms, and an online resource hub covering mental health, housing, finance, health, and energy.
The underlying technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS: Intercom for live chat, Stripe, PayPal, GoCardless, JustGiving, CAF Donate, and Benevity for donations, and Microsoft Clarity for analytics. There is no proprietary technology platform under active development; the digital estate is used as a service delivery and fundraising layer rather than a productised asset. Differentiated capability sits in human expertise, peer-led research, and accumulated content (e.g., the 2025 'There's No Place Like Home' national study with Universities of Kent, Bristol, and Southampton, and the Trans Pathway Peer Research report).
Business model is donation-funded with five revenue streams: individual donations (monthly and one-off, tiers starting at £8), corporate partnerships (giving levels £500–£4,000), challenge events (marathons, skydives), legacy giving, and merchandise. Acquired supporters through Pride events, digital content, and a multi-platform social presence (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, TikTok). Strategic positioning is shifting from direct service delivery toward sector thought leadership via research and policy advocacy, including campaigns such as #whyweexist and briefings targeting local and national government.
akt firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- akt
- Legal name
- The Albert Kennedy Trust
- Website
- https://akt.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is the only national UK charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness or hostile living environments, delivering caseworker-led crisis support, housing referrals, and youth engagement through four offices and a digital hub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
akt industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Homelessness Charity Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
Keywords
Where akt is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London, London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
akt business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, with various giving tiers starting at £8 and monthly giving options
- Corporate Partnerships & Fundraising: Direct partnerships with companies, employee-led fundraising, LGBTQ+ network fundraising, and percentage of sales donations from partner businesses
- Challenge Events: Revenue from participants in sporting events who fundraise for akt, including London Landmarks Half Marathon, Manchester Marathon, and skydives
- Legacy Giving: Gifts left to akt in supporters' wills
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of akt merchandise with proceeds supporting the charity
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Pride campaign donation tiers |
| Other | Monthly | Corporate donation tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
akt product offering
Product offeringCore offering
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is a UK national charity that provides crisis support, housing assistance, caseworker-led 1-1 support, and community programs for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments. Services are delivered through four physical offices (London, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle), a live chat platform, online referrals, and an online support hub of digital resources.
Product overview
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is the only national charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness or hostile living environments. The organization operates a comprehensive service model combining crisis support through caseworkers with four offices (London, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle), an online support hub with digital resources, and youth engagement programs including in-person and online youth groups, mentoring, and community building. Core services include emergency housing support, financial assistance through Rainbow Starter Packs and Independent Living Funds, mental health and identity support, and specialized Trans Pathway programming. akt also conducts research and policy advocacy to address systemic issues, runs corporate partnership and volunteer programs, and organizes challenge events for fundraising. The organization was founded in 1989 and supports approximately 800 young people annually with over 10,000 housing-related actions per year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crisis Support Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 24% of homeless young people identify as LGBTQ+
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use akt
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
akt technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
akt partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Universities of Kent, Bristol, and SouthamptoncoreGroundbreaking national research collaboration producing the most comprehensive study of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in the UK, published in 2025. The report revealed that LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness.
- CadentcorePartnership with Cadent, the UK's largest gas distribution network, to support young people with energy safety, efficiency, and billing support. Includes resources on carbon monoxide safety, priority services register, and income maximisation.
- National Retail Federation (NRF)coreNRF partnered with akt for Pride Month 2023 fundraising campaign. Akt team members attended NRF's London office for Pride celebrations and fundraising activities. Also provides pro bono legal support.
- Mini FigsminorSheffield-based company creating custom LGBTQ+ history minifigs (Alan Turing, Marsha P Johnson, Anne Lister, Audre Lorde). Donates 20% of sales of these minifigs and LGBTQ+ themed accessories to akt since 2021.
- GalopcoreLGBTQ+ domestic abuse service that akt refers young people to for specialist support with abusive situations and relationships.
- Depaul/NightstopcoreReferral partnership for emergency accommodation. Nightstop matches young people with trained volunteer hosts for overnight stays, while Depaul operates the programme.
- SheltercoreUK-wide homelessness charity providing legal advice and advocacy. Referrals for young people needing shelter or housing advice when akt cannot assist immediately.
- Homeless LinkcoreCollaboration on guidance for homeless services on how to support trans young people inclusively, published 2021. Akt contributed expertise to improve sector-wide practice.
- LGBT FoundationminorReferral partner offering free talking therapies online and via telephone for LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy and counselling.
- StonewallminorLGBTQ+ rights organisation. Akt was recognised with Stonewall Equality Award in 1996. Reference partner for research and policy work.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
akt competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Trevor Project: US-based LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention charity providing 24/7 chat, text, and phone support plus research and advocacy. Closest international peer: same LGBTQ+ youth mandate, similar live-chat/digital service delivery, comparable research-publishing role; serves the US rather than the UK.
- The Proud Trust: UK LGBTQ+ youth charity operating youth groups, mentoring, and the Proud Connections housing support service. Overlaps with akt on LGBTQ+ youth engagement, youth groups, and housing navigation, though its housing service is more regional (Greater Manchester) than national.
- Centrepoint: Major UK charity supporting young people aged 16-25 experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable on target beneficiary age band, caseworker-led support model, and focus on housing outcomes; differs in that akt adds the LGBTQ+-specialist lens.
- Depaul UK: UK youth homelessness charity operating Nightstop emergency accommodation programme. Active referral partner to akt; directly comparable on youth homelessness focus and emergency accommodation model.
- Stonewall Housing: UK charity providing housing advice, support, and advocacy specifically for LGBTQ+ people. The closest direct peer to akt: overlapping beneficiary population (LGBTQ+ people at risk of homelessness) and overlapping service model (casework, advocacy, referrals), though akt is youth-focused (16-25) while Stonewall Housing serves all ages.
- Switchboard LGBT+: UK LGBTQ+ helpline providing listening, information, and support services. Listed as an out-of-hours referral partner to akt; directly comparable on LGBTQ+ information, advice, and emotional support delivery model.
- Crisis UK: Major UK national homelessness charity serving single homeless people across all ages. Comparable on homelessness service delivery, research/policy advocacy, and national footprint; broader beneficiary scope than akt but overlapping referral and policy ecosystem.
- Galop: UK LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity providing domestic abuse support and hate-crime advocacy. Strategic referral partner to akt; comparable on LGBTQ+ beneficiary focus and specialist support service model, narrower focus on abuse rather than housing.
- Shelter: UK-wide housing and homelessness charity providing legal advice, helpline support, and advocacy. Listed as a referral partner to akt; comparable on national housing-advice service, research output, and policy influence, though broader in scope.
Others
- Homeless Link: UK membership body for homelessness organisations. Partner to akt on sector-wide guidance; comparable as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct service competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
akt social profiles
Digital presenceakt financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
akt leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
akt funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
akt 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 akt
What does akt do?
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust) is a UK national charity that provides crisis support, housing assistance, caseworker-led 1-1 support, and community programs for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments. Services are delivered through four physical offices (London, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle), a live chat platform, online referrals, and an online support hub of digital resources.
Is akt a public or private company?
akt is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was akt founded?
akt was founded in 1989. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is akt based?
akt is headquartered in London, London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does akt make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships & Fundraising, challenge Events, legacy Giving and merchandise Sales.
Who are akt's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Trevor Project, The Proud Trust, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, Stonewall Housing, Switchboard LGBT+, Crisis UK, Galop and Shelter. Homeless Link is listed as an others.
Does akt have an API?
No public API is recorded for akt.
What industry is akt in?
akt's product category is Youth Homelessness Charity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services, with a secondary code of BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.