Birchwood

Name

Birchwood

Legal name

West Lancs Crisis and Information Centre (The Birchwood Centre)

Website

https://birchwoodcentre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness and Housing Support Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), 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

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Supported housing
• Counselling services
• Mental health support
• Community wellbeing activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Skelmersdale, West Lancashire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate donations, fundraising events, and campaign contributions. Includes 'Break the Cycle' campaign raising £100,000 target with matching £250,000 unlock.
2. Commissioned Services: Contracts with local authorities, NHS, health partners, organisations, grant makers and trusts for homelessness provision, social inclusion, and mental health support services.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship packages, room sponsorship programmes, and 'Skem Spirit' founding partner programme (£10,000 per business).
4. Easyfundraising: Partnership with easyfundraising allowing donations from online shopping with major retailers at no cost to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Birchwood is a charity delivering interconnected support across four areas: homelessness and housing support (The Foyer, 50+ supported housing units, Heversham), mental health support, professional counselling services (CBT, person-centred, integrative, bereavement, group therapy), and community wellbeing activities (café, free shop, yoga, meditation). Services are provided free to beneficiaries and funded through donations, commissioned contracts, and corporate partnerships. The model links stable housing with mental health, counselling, and community engagement to help vulnerable individuals move from crisis to independence.

Product overview

Birchwood is a charity offering interconnected support services through four core areas: homelessness and housing support (The Foyer, supported housing, Heversham), mental health support, counselling services (including multiple therapy types and training courses), and wellbeing activities (café, free shop, community groups). Their services operate as an integrated ecosystem where stable housing provides the foundation for mental health support, counselling, and community engagement. Key programmes include the Skem Spirit initiative, Break the Cycle campaign, and the NHS-partnered Retreat programme for mental health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Foyer A 24-bed short-stay supported housing facility for young people and adults aged 16-24 with complex needs who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Staffed 24/7 with professional keyworker support to develop independent living skills.
• Birchwood Supported Housing Over 50 supported housing units in West Lancashire offering shared tenancies of 3-5 people or self-contained apartments, with support for tenancy management, life skills development, and access to wellbeing activities for people at risk of homelessness.
• Heversham Supported Living Twelve energy-efficient supported homes in Skelmersdale for adults at risk of homelessness, providing stability and wraparound support as part of the Integrated Move-On programme with on-site staff.
• Counselling Services One-to-one and group counselling for young people and adults covering anxiety, depression, bereavement, addiction, stress, trauma, relationships, and LGBTQ issues. Includes person-centred therapy, CBT, integrative therapy, creative therapy, bereavement counselling, and PsyTap.
• Mental Health Support Mental health support services for general mental health issues and low mood/wellbeing, including help with developing support plans and accessing appropriate services.
• Wellbeing Activities Community wellbeing activities including Tea & Me, meditation, yoga, arts & crafts, knit & knatter, and bereavement support groups held at various community venues in Skelmersdale.
• Counselling Training Courses ABC accredited counselling training courses including Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills, and Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, offered in partnership with West Lancashire College.
• Community Free Shop Free community shop providing essential items and toiletries to those in need, operating alongside the Social Inclusion Café.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of clients report improvement in mental health & wellbeing after counselling and intervention services
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Birchwood: Retreat programme developed in conjunction with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS. Shortlisted for HSJ Partnership Award 'Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS'. Programme puts patients at centre of care reducing pressure on NHS.
• West Lancashire Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular case discussions, joint visits, and multi-agency meetings. Partnership essential for achieving positive outcomes for vulnerable community members. Commissioning partner for supported housing including Heversham.
• Local NHS/ICBscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with NHS and local ICBs for commissioning supported housing and mental health services. Data-driven approach for informed commissioning decisions.
• LSCFT - MindsmattercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary service provider for mental health support services. Delivering privately and through the NHS.
• West Lancashire CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partnership for counselling courses. Students attend classes at West Lancashire College and Birchwood's Ennerdale venue.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cancer support services in West Lancashire community.
• Lancashire County Council - Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary provider for social services including homelessness provision, social inclusion, and mental health support.
• LCFT - Mental Health TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary provider for mental health team services.
• Changing Futures ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded programme supporting disadvantaged people. Birchwood has been providing support for years with link to Changing Futures programme.
• easyfundraisingsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership allowing donations to Birchwood when supporters shop online with 6,000+ retailers including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Depaul UK: Charity supporting young people facing homelessness and disadvantage across the UK, delivering supported accommodation, life-skills training, and mental health support — closely aligned with Birchwood's 16-24 focus and wraparound service design.
• Centrepoint: UK charity providing supported housing and holistic services for young people aged 16-24 experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable in target demographic, integrated housing-plus-wellbeing model, and local-authority commissioning relationships.
• St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity providing supported housing, recovery services, and complex-needs support including mental health. Comparable in integrated model spanning housing, mental health, and move-on services for vulnerable adults.
• Foyer Federation: Network organisation advancing the 'Foyer' model of supported housing for young people aged 16-25. Birchwood's The Foyer (24-bed, 24/7 staffed) operates directly on this model; Foyer Federation provides training, accreditation, and benchmarking.

Broad incumbents

• Crisis: National UK homelessness charity delivering housing, advice, education, and wellbeing programmes. Overlaps with Birchwood's mission and service mix at greater scale, working through regional centres and commissioned partnerships.
• Mind: UK mental health charity delivering counselling, peer support, and wellbeing programmes with local branches — directly comparable to Birchwood's Ennerdale Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub and IAPT-aligned counselling services.

Regional players

• The Wallich: Wales-based homelessness charity operating supported accommodation, mental health, and substance-use support. Comparable integrated service model, though Wales-focused rather than England-focused.
• Plus Dane Housing: North West England housing association providing supported living and community-based housing for vulnerable adults. Comparable operating geography (parts of Lancashire/Cheshire) and supported-living service line including Heversham-style housing.
• YMCA Lancashire: Regional North West YMCA delivering supported housing, youth services, and wellbeing programmes with similar referral-and-contracting operating model across overlapping Lancashire geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birchwoodcharity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Birchwood