What Bristol After Stroke does

Bristol After Stroke is an independent registered charity (Charity Number 1182124; Company Number 11814993) headquartered at The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol. Founded in 1975 by Professor Richard Langton-Hewer, a Consultant Neurologist at Frenchay Hospital, and registered as a charity in 1983 (renamed from Bristol Area Stroke Foundation in 2018), the organization delivers post-stroke rehabilitation and recovery support to stroke survivors, their carers, and families across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It supports approximately 850 to 1,500 stroke-affected people annually through a portfolio of free services including peer-led Stroke Support Groups and Stroke Cafes, specialist one-to-one Counselling (up to six weekly sessions via telephone, video, or home visit), short courses such as Next Steps and ACTion After Stroke (Mindfulness/Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), aphasia-specific support, named Stroke Support Coordinator assessments, and adapted physical activities including Walking Netball, Walking Football, and an annual Sports Day. Service delivery combines hospital in-reach at NHS Trusts (Southmead, North Bristol, UHBW), self-referral, professional referral, and monthly online information sessions with health partners including Stroke HIT.

The organization runs a lean operating model with a small staff team of Key Workers, Counsellors, and Group Leaders, supported by nearly 70 volunteers, many of whom are stroke survivors providing lived-experience peer mentoring. Bristol After Stroke has no proprietary technology platform; service infrastructure consists of a website, social media channels, Zoom-based information sessions, and YouTube videos. The technology field explicitly notes "No proprietary technology platforms identified." Communications Access UK accreditation is held, certifying staff training in supporting people with communication difficulties such as aphasia.

The revenue model is multi-stream and donation-led. Services are provided free to beneficiaries with optional donations encouraged (e.g., £10 enables a week of support group attendance, £40 funds a counselling session, £125 supports a short course). Income derives from one-off and regular individual donations, a Friends of Bristol After Stroke recurring giving programme, legacies and bequests (supported by a discounted will-writing partnership with Lyons Bowe Solicitors), corporate sponsorship (Cabot Circus, Evelyn Partners, Wuppies Raw), fundraising events including an annual Charity Walk, London Marathon, and Half Marathon participation, partial statutory funding from local authorities and the NHS, and grant awards (e.g., £20,000 from the National Lottery to extend the Peer Mentoring Scheme; £10,000 annual match funding from the John James Bristol Foundation). Pricing is structured as a freemium model with suggested donation amounts. Total annual revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Bristol After Stroke

Legal name

Bristol After Stroke

Website

https://bristolafterstroke.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bristol After Stroke is a Bristol-based registered charity providing free post-stroke rehabilitation, counselling, peer support, and aphasia services to 850–1,500 stroke survivors, carers, and families annually across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, funded primarily by donations and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stroke Rehabilitation and Community Support Services

NAICS

Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurologic Rehabilitation (Stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s, MS) (HSADAIAC)

Keywords

• Stroke support services
• Community rehabilitation
• Aphasia support
• Peer mentoring
• Carer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations both one-off and regular contributions, fundraising events, challenge events (marathons, walks), and general fundraising activities. The organization is heavily reliant on donations to supplement statutory funding.
2. Statutory Funding: Some funding received from local authorities and NHS to deliver services. This provides partial but not complete funding for operations.
3. Regular Giving Program: Monthly donations from supporters (Friends of Bristol After Stroke) providing predictable income stream for planning and service delivery.
4. Legacies and Bequests: Legacies left in wills provide long-term sustainable funding. Partnership with Lyons Bowe Solicitors offering discounted will-writing services for those leaving gifts.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship from companies like Cabot Circus, Evelyn Partners, Wuppies Raw for events and activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bristol After Stroke is an independent UK charity that delivers free post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation services to stroke survivors and their carers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Its core offerings combine one-to-one Stroke Support Coordinator casework, peer support groups and stroke cafés, specialist counselling, short courses such as Next Steps and ACTion After Stroke, aphasia-friendly communication support, adapted activity programmes (walking netball, walking football, sports day), and an annual Charity Walk fundraising event.

Product overview

Bristol After Stroke operates as a single integrated service portfolio offering personalized support for stroke survivors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The organization provides a coordinated system of care through named Stroke Support Coordinators who assess individual needs and connect clients with appropriate services. Core offerings include peer support groups, stroke cafes, specialist short courses (Next Steps, ACTion After Stroke), one-to-one counselling, aphasia support, information videos, and activity programs including walking netball, walking football, and annual sports days. The services are designed to address the physical, emotional, and social impacts of stroke, supporting not only survivors but also their carers and families throughout the recovery journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stroke Support Groups Peer support groups providing mutual support, understanding and encouragement for stroke survivors, based on research that people with long-term conditions recover better with mutual support from others in similar situations.
• Stroke Cafés Informal drop-in cafés providing information, advice and support for people affected by stroke, offering opportunities to meet others in similar situations.
• Counselling and Emotional Support Confidential one-to-one counselling delivered by specialist stroke counsellors to help people adjust to emotional pain and distress following stroke, available by telephone, video call or home visit for up to six weekly sessions.
• Next Steps Course Specialist short course combining physiotherapy and support to aid stroke recovery, designed to help with specific physical and functional impacts of stroke.
• ACTion After Stroke and Mindfulness Course Short course based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help stroke survivors get on with their lives, address painful thoughts, and learn relaxation techniques.
• Support for Carers Comprehensive support for family members and carers of stroke survivors, including access to stroke cafés, courses, counselling and signposting to other support services.
• Assessment and Review Initial needs assessment and ongoing review service delivered by a named Stroke Support Coordinator, including hospital in-reach and structured six-month progress reviews.
• Stroke Support Coordinator Service One-to-one personalised support from a named coordinator who assesses needs, provides information, identifies support services, and helps survivors navigate health, social care and benefits systems.
• Aphasia Support Specialised support for people with aphasia, a communication disability affecting roughly one-third of stroke survivors, including communication groups, communication tips and emotional support delivered by staff trained through Communication Access UK.
• Information Sessions and Videos Monthly online information sessions on Zoom covering topics such as neuroplasticity, shoulder recovery, cognitive communication changes, cholesterol management, heart health, fatigue and exercise, delivered with health professionals and made available as recordings on YouTube.
• Peer Mentoring Scheme Trained volunteer peer mentors who have personally experienced strokes provide one-to-one lived-experience support and encouragement to people whose strokes occurred more recently.
• Walking Netball Award-winning adapted netball activity for stroke survivors to improve mobility, mental wellbeing and social confidence, suitable for various ability levels.
• Walking Football Adapted football activity for stroke survivors to improve physical mobility and social engagement.
• Sports Day Annual sports event offering stroke-affected people with all levels of mobility the chance to try activities including quoits, Connect 4, walking football, netball and walking rugby.
• Annual Charity Walk Annual fundraising event offering 1, 3 or 6-mile walks to raise vital funds, with the 1-mile route wheelchair accessible.

Quantifiable outcome

• 850+ stroke-affected people supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lyons Bowe SolicitorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering 50% off will-writing fees for those who include a gift to Bristol After Stroke. Supports legacy giving program and long-term sustainability planning.
• Communication Access UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization displays the Communication Access UK Symbol, indicating staff are trained to deal with people with communication difficulties and meets set standards for accessibility.
• Stroke HIT (Health Integration Team)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly information sessions delivered in partnership with Stroke HIT, a health integration team including Bristol Health Partners. Sessions cover various stroke-related topics with expert presenters.
• Severnside Community Rail PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized 'Days Out By Train' initiative for community groups whose members would benefit from accompanied trips. Helps stroke-affected people access rail travel and build confidence.
• Bristol Bears FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Officer from Bristol Bears Foundation ran tag rugby sessions at Bristol After Stroke Sports Day, demonstrating inclusive sporting opportunities for stroke-affected people.
• St Monica TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides venue (Oatley Hall) for annual Wellbeing Day events, supporting community gatherings for stroke-affected people.
• Stroke AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity providing resources, publications, and information on stroke. Bristol After Stroke works closely with them and refers people to their services.
• Different StrokesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer support and exercise groups for younger stroke-affected people, working complementarily with Bristol After Stroke services.
• UWE BristolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including ReVoice Choir for people with aphasia. Associate Professor Dr Praveen Kumar supports physiotherapy-led exercise courses. Students and researchers contribute to program delivery.
• NHS Trusts (Southmead, North Bristol, UHBW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnerships with hospital stroke services, including Early Supported Discharge teams, Stroke Psychology Service, and neuropsychology teams for coordinated patient care.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Carers Support Centre Bristol: Bristol-based charity supporting unpaid carers. Already partners with Bristol After Stroke; both serve overlapping carer populations and compete for the same local carer-focused funding.
• Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke: Northern Ireland's equivalent regional stroke charity offering rehabilitation and support services. Same operating model, different territory — useful peer for benchmarking scope and scale.
• Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland: Scotland's regional stroke charity delivering rehabilitation, peer support, and information services. Operates a similar model in a different geography, making it a useful regional comparability benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Headway — the brain injury association: National UK charity supporting people with acquired brain injury including stroke. Broader scope than Bristol After Stroke but overlaps on stroke survivors, carers, and rehabilitation services.

Direct peers

• Connect (UK aphasia charity): UK charity dedicated to improving life for people with aphasia through communication groups, training, and resources. Direct overlap with Bristol After Stroke's aphasia specialism.
• Stroke Association: The UK's main national stroke charity, providing information, peer support, and rehabilitation resources. It directly competes for donations, NHS partnerships, and referrals across the same stroke-survivor population.
• Different Strokes: UK charity focused on peer support and exercise groups for younger stroke survivors. Bristol After Stroke already partners with them; both target overlapping stroke-survivor segments and complementary services.
• Aphasia Re-Connect: UK charity providing specialist aphasia services including conversation groups and therapy. Highly comparable to Bristol After Stroke's aphasia support offering and a likely collaborator or competitor for the same niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bristolstroke
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOxWENWuXLdNHOfWEW8b7HQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/734759416580814
• Instagraminstagram.com/bristol_after_stroke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bristol-after-stroke

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Bristol After Stroke