Bradbury Fields

What Bradbury Fields does

Bradbury Fields is a UK-registered charity (no. 222798), founded in 1857 in Liverpool by Mary Wainwright, that delivers services for blind and partially sighted residents of Liverpool and Knowsley. Its service portfolio comprises rehabilitation and mobility training, transcription across Braille, audio, and large print formats, low-vision support, employment assistance, an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) service embedded in NHS ophthalmology pathways, Active Vision Clubs, and health and wellbeing activities. The organization reports serving more than 40,000 people with sight loss across the Merseyside catchment and operates with a staff of approximately 12 employees.

The business model is a hybrid public-sector grant plus charitable fundraising model. Approximately 60% of income is sourced from statutory contracts and grants from Liverpool City Council and Knowsley Council for sensory impairment services, while the remaining ~40% is generated through individual donations, National Lottery grants, corporate sponsorships (including Charity of the Year partnerships), legacy gifts, and event-based fundraising such as Dine in the Dark, Bradfest, and the Fire Walk. Distribution is delivered through a combination of center-based activities, NHS clinic-based ECLO posts, community engagement events, and outreach into local businesses via VIAT (Visual Impairment Awareness Training).

Operationally, the organization is governed by a small executive team led by Chief Executive Philip Longworth (in post since 2013) and Chair Frank McFarlane (since 2012), and rebranded to the unified Bradbury Fields identity in 2007. It underwent a service-delivery restructure during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and holds Freedom of the City status in Liverpool. There are no disclosed technology platforms, proprietary digital products, or AI/ML capabilities; service delivery is human-mediated, with standard SaaS tooling (e.g., Brevo for newsletters) supporting back-office functions.

Name

Bradbury Fields

Legal name

Bradbury Fields Services for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Website

https://bradburyfields.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1857

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bradbury Fields is a UK-registered charity (est. 1857) that delivers rehabilitation, transcription, ECLO, and social support services for blind and partially sighted people across Liverpool and Knowsley. Approximately 60% of funding comes from Liverpool City Council and Knowsley Council contracts, with the remainder from donations, grants, and event-based fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD), Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Visual impairment services
• Blind rehabilitation support
• Braille transcription services
• Accessibility awareness training
• Sight loss charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core services funded by government contracts with Liverpool City Council and Knowsley Council. Approximately 60% of funding comes from government sources.
2. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting sight loss services. Multiple channels including text-to-donate, online donations, and collection boxes.
3. Lottery: Bradbury Fields Lottery operated through All Weathers Lottery platform. Players pay £1 per week for chance to win up to £25,000. A percentage of ticket costs goes to Bradbury Fields.
4. Friends Membership: Annual subscription program at £25 per year supporting essential services.
5. Training Services: Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT) provided to businesses and organizations. Corporate training at £300 per session (up to 20 participants) or £30 per individual.
6. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partnerships and sponsorship of events, activities, and campaigns. Includes Charity of the Year partnerships and item sponsorship.
7. Travel Partnership Commission: Partnership with Not Just Travel where Bradbury Fields receives 10% commission on holidays booked through their dedicated link.
8. Legacies and Bequests: Gifts left in Wills by supporters to secure future funding for sight loss services.
9. Recycling and Declutter Schemes: Accepts donations of CDs, DVDs, books, games, clothing, shoes, accessories for recycling. Proceeds support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bradbury Fields provides a comprehensive portfolio of rehabilitation, social, and accessibility services for blind and partially sighted people across Liverpool and Knowsley. Its core offerings include rehabilitation and mobility training (long cane training, daily living skills), transcription services converting printed materials into Braille, audio, large print and screen-reader-compatible formats, Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT) for businesses, low vision assessments, eye clinic liaison at St Paul's Eye Unit, employment support, and community engagement through Active Vision Clubs, health and wellbeing activities, and social groups.

Product overview

Bradbury Fields is a charity organization (established 1857, rebranded 2007) providing a comprehensive suite of support services for blind and partially sighted people across Liverpool and Knowsley. The organization operates as a unified service portfolio centered on rehabilitation, accessibility, and social inclusion. Core services include rehabilitation and mobility training, transcription (Braille, audio, large print), Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT), low vision support, employment assistance, and health and wellbeing activities through Active Vision Clubs. The organization also operates the Garden Suite hospitality venue for Dine in the Dark experiences, runs community programs including the Liverpool Inspirational Voices choir and Brad's Besties online community, and manages fundraising initiatives including the Bradbury Fields Lottery and Friends membership program. Services are delivered primarily through The Bradbury Centre and the Knowsley Visual Impairment Service, with support from trained volunteers and visually impaired staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rehabilitation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,700 people rediscovered confidence and independence
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Liverpool City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for provision of visual impairment services. LVSB, Liverpool CC and Knowsley BC signed agreements in 1994 enabling LVSB (now Bradbury Fields) to provide assessments at point of registration and home-based training for people with visual impairment.
• Knowsley CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for provision of visual impairment services in Knowsley. Knowsley Visual Impairment Service operated in partnership with council.
• Not Just TravelsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Karl and Rachel from Not Just Travel. Supporters can book holidays through dedicated link and Bradbury Fields receives 10% commission. Partnership supports accessible travel planning for service users while generating fundraising revenue.
• Claire HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Fire Walk 2026 event, combining efforts to raise funds and awareness for both organizations.
• RNIBsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal National Institute of Blind People partnership. RNIB withdrew direct funding in 2003 but relationship continues as organizational partner.
• VisionarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership organization supporting UK sight loss organizations. Bradbury Fields holds current membership 2026-2027.
• Guide DogssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Guide Dogs charity for the visually impaired community.
• SAVI NorthwestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SAVI Northwest organization.
• Liverpool University Foundation Hospital TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local NHS trust for healthcare integration.
• All Weathers LotterysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLottery platform administered by Prize Provision Services Ltd. Bradbury Fields Lottery operated through this platform, raising funds for services.
• National Free Wills NetworksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing supporters to write or update a simple Will for free through qualified local solicitors. No obligation to leave gift to Bradbury Fields.
• 800 GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 800 Group organization.
• St Paul's Eye UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye clinic liaison service established in 1998. ECLO appointed at St Paul's Eye Unit to bridge gap between health and social services for visually impaired patients.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness, offering specialist services and housing. Directly comparable to Bradbury Fields' dual sensory impairment and rehabilitation work, with overlapping service categories in assistive technology and supported living.
• Guide Dogs: National charity providing mobility services for blind and partially sighted people, including guide dog training, rehabilitation, and advocacy. Listed as a Bradbury Fields partner; competing for the same donor and volunteer pools in the same beneficiary demographic.
• Henshaws: Northwest England-based charity supporting people with sight loss and other disabilities through rehabilitation, housing, and community services. Operates across the same regional geography as Bradbury Fields and offers a directly comparable portfolio of sight loss services including transcription and employment support.
• SeeAbility: UK charity supporting people with sight loss and multiple disabilities, particularly learning disabilities. Comparable to Bradbury Fields' rehabilitation and disability services portfolio, with overlapping employer training, transcription, and supported living offerings.
• Look UK: National sight loss charity providing employment, education, and youth services for visually impaired people in the UK. Direct peer on employment-focused support (Bradbury Fields' Bridge the Gap initiative), advice/advocacy, and assistive technology — competing for sight-loss-specific funding and partnerships.
• Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC): National charity supporting blind and partially sighted children, young people, and families. Comparable to Bradbury Fields on sight loss advocacy, family support, and assistive technology services, with overlapping educational and transition services for visually impaired beneficiaries.

Broad incumbents

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): National UK sight loss charity offering information, advice, products, and community services across the country. Direct overlap with Bradbury Fields' mission (RNIB is explicitly listed as a partner), but operates at national scale and is a much larger incumbent in the same service categories.
• Action for Blind People (RNIB Group): Former independent charity now part of RNIB Group providing practical support and products for blind people. Comparable to Bradbury Fields' equipment provision, transcription, and daily living services, but operates nationally and as part of a larger portfolio.
• Thomas Pocklington Trust: National sight loss charity focused on housing, employment, and research for blind and partially sighted people. Comparable to Bradbury Fields' employment and independent living services, but operates at national policy and grant-making scale rather than direct service delivery.

Regional players

• Vista: Regional sight loss charity operating primarily in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Offers a directly comparable suite of rehabilitation, transcription, and community services to Bradbury Fields, but serves a different geography — useful benchmark for organizational scale and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bradburyf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXWDiViZXv3F8FA71oqxe1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/bradburyfields
• Instagraminstagram.com/bradburyfields
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bradbury-fields-services-for-blind-and-partially-sighted-people

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 Bradbury Fields