Caritas Care
Caritas Care is a Preston-based UK charity providing adoption, fostering, learning disability day services, supported living, homelessness accommodation, and community programmes across North West England, serving families, children, and vulnerable adults since 1934.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersPreston, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Caritas Care does
Caritas Care is a UK-registered charity (Charity No: 326021) and private company limited by guarantee, founded in 1934 as the Lancaster Diocesan Protection and Rescue Society and rebranded to its current name in 2009 when it became fully independent from the Diocese of Lancaster. Headquartered in Preston with service locations across Preston, Blackpool, and Manchester, the organisation employs 58 staff and delivers a portfolio of social care services across the North West of England, including adoption (Ofsted Outstanding since 2015), independent fostering, two learning disability day services (VIP and FX), supported living, homelessness accommodation through Vincent House (17 beds), and community programmes via Plungington Community Centre.
Its service mix spans regulated children's services (where it operates as a Voluntary Adoption Agency and Independent Fostering Provider) and adult social care (regulated by CQC). Revenue mechanics are hybrid: statutory fees from local authorities for adoption placements, fostering allowances, and adult social care commissioning form the core income base, supplemented by charitable donations via JustGiving, eBay for Charity, and easyfundraising, a subscription-style 200 Club lottery, legacy gifts, and corporate fundraising partnerships. The go-to-market is community- and event-led, relying on online information events, local authority referral relationships, partnerships with New Family Social and Coram BAAF, and physical presence through its community centre.
The technology footprint is minimal and undifferentiated: a WordPress-based website with CookieYes consent management, Google Analytics, Facebook pixel, YouTube embeds, and OpenStreetMap for location services. There is no proprietary platform, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no mobile application. Distribution is direct-to-service-user via phone, email, website enquiry forms, and physical service locations, with no reseller or channel partner structure typical of commercial SaaS or services businesses.
Caritas Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caritas Care
- Legal name
- Caritas Care Ltd
- Website
- https://caritascare.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Caritas Care is a Preston-based UK charity providing adoption, fostering, learning disability day services, supported living, homelessness accommodation, and community programmes across North West England, serving families, children, and vulnerable adults since 1934.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caritas Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Social Care Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
Keywords
Where Caritas Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Caritas Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: Caritas Care accepts donations through JustGiving platform, eBay for Charity, and easyfundraising. One-time and regular donations are accepted.
- Lottery (200 Club): A local lottery scheme where members join for the chance to win prizes, with higher odds of winning than national lotteries.
- Legacy Gifts: The organization accepts legacy donations from individuals who choose to leave money to the charity in their wills.
- Statutory/Government Funding: As a social care charity providing adoption, fostering, learning disability services, and homelessness support, Caritas Care receives funding from local authorities and government bodies for service delivery.
- Corporate Sponsorship and Fundraising: Partnerships with businesses for charity of the year relationships, corporate fundraising events, dress-down days, bake sales, and sponsored activities.
- Community Centre Services: Plungington Community Centre offers room hire, community cafe operations, and various community programs.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Caritas Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caritas Care is a multi-service social care charity delivering adoption services (traditional adoption, early permanence, concurrent planning), fostering services (independent fostering provider across the North West), learning disability day services (Vision in People/VIP and FX/Futures Express), supported living services, homelessness accommodation (Vincent House, Blackpool), a Therapeutic Intervention Service, and community programmes through Plungington Community Centre. All services are rooted in Catholic Social Teaching values of dignity, respect, and compassion, and operate across the North West of England for children, families, adults with learning disabilities, and homeless individuals.
Product overview
Caritas Care operates as a multi-service social care charity offering adoption, fostering, learning disability services, homelessness support, and community programs. The organization functions as a portfolio of distinct services unified by its Catholic Social Teaching ethos. Core services include Adoption Services (traditional adoption, early permanence, concurrent planning) and Fostering Services, supplemented by Learning Disability Services including Vision in People (VIP) day service, FX (Futures Express) day service, and Supported Living. The charity also operates Plungington Community Centre with its community cafe and room hire, provides homelessness services through Vincent House, and offers a Therapeutic Intervention Service. All services are inspired by Catholic Social Teaching values of dignity, respect, and compassion, serving children, families, adults with learning disabilities, and homeless individuals across the North West of England.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vision in People (VIP): Day service for people with learning disabilities offering activities, social interaction, and skill development.
- FX (Futures Express)
- Plungington Community Centre
- Vincent House
Products and services
- Adoption Services
- Fostering Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 Concurrent Planning placements achieved
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Caritas Care
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Caritas Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Caritas Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Recycling LivesminorThe successful ACE (Assisted Community Engagement) ex-offender project, supported by National Lottery and other funding for over 14 years, was transferred to the Preston charity Recycling Lives. This move ensured the continuation of support for ex-offenders in securing housing and long-term friendship.
- North West Concurrent Planning PartnershipcoreRegional partnership with Anglican Diocese of Blackburn and other agencies launched in 2013 to provide Concurrent Planning Service, allowing approved adopters to care for babies from earliest stages while decisions are made. Celebrated 100th placement around 2019.
- New Family SocialcoreNew Family Social leads the annual LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week campaign. Caritas Care participates as a member agency, sharing information, resources, and support to help LGBTQ+ people understand adoption and fostering options. The partnership helps address the need for more foster carers and adoptive parents across the UK.
- Proud2beParentsminorCaritas Care is a member of Proud2beParents, providing additional support resources for LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers.
- Coram BAAFminorCaritas Care holds membership with Coram BAAF, accessing training resources, research, and professional development support in adoption and fostering.
- JustGivingcoreJustGiving platform is used for online donations to Caritas Care, enabling one-time and regular donations from supporters.
- eBay for CharityminorCaritas Care is registered with eBay for Charity, allowing shoppers to choose the charity to receive donations from their purchases at no additional cost.
- easyfundraisingminorRegistered with easyfundraising, enabling supporters to generate donations when shopping online with participating retailers.
- Local Authority Children's ServicescoreCaritas Care works with local authority children's services departments across the North West for referrals and placement of children in adoption and fostering services.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Caritas Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Together Trust: Together Trust is a North West-based charity providing learning disability services, residential care, and specialist education. It is a direct peer in the learning disability day services and supported living space, operating in overlapping Lancashire and Greater Manchester geographies.
- Coram: Coram is a long-established voluntary adoption agency and children's charity providing adoption, fostering, and post-adoption support services. Caritas Care holds Coram BAAF membership and Coram operates Overcoming Barriers as a national adoption support service, making it a direct VAA peer.
Broad incumbents
- The Children's Society: The Children's Society is a national charity supporting vulnerable children, including those in care and at risk. It overlaps with Caritas Care around children's services and disadvantaged youth, though it operates broader mission and geography.
- Action for Children: Action for Children is a major UK national charity delivering fostering, adoption, and disability services. It serves a similar beneficiary population and competes for local authority contracts, but at a much larger scale across the UK.
- Barnardo's: Barnardo's is the UK's largest children's charity, providing adoption, fostering, and learning disability services across the country. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping service lines and a comparable regulatory profile, but operates nationally rather than regionally.
Others
- Adoption UK: Adoption UK is the national charity supporting adopted people and their families, providing peer support, training, and advocacy. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant influencing adopter behavior and post-adoption support markets where Caritas Care operates.
Emerging players
- New Family Social: New Family Social is a UK charity supporting LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers, running national campaigns that Caritas Care participates in. While it is more of a campaign/community organization than a direct service provider, it directly shapes the adopter pipeline Caritas Care relies on.
Regional players
- Nugent: Nugent is a Liverpool-based charity providing adoption, fostering, learning disability, and family support services across the North West. It is a regional peer directly competing with Caritas Care for local authority contracts in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Caritas Care social profiles
Digital presenceCaritas Care compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Caritas Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caritas Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Caritas Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caritas 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 Caritas Care
What does Caritas Care do?
Caritas Care is a multi-service social care charity delivering adoption services (traditional adoption, early permanence, concurrent planning), fostering services (independent fostering provider across the North West), learning disability day services (Vision in People/VIP and FX/Futures Express), supported living services, homelessness accommodation (Vincent House, Blackpool), a Therapeutic Intervention Service, and community programmes through Plungington Community Centre. All services are rooted in Catholic Social Teaching values of dignity, respect, and compassion, and operate across the North West of England for children, families, adults with learning disabilities, and homeless individuals.
Is Caritas Care a public or private company?
Caritas Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Caritas Care founded?
Caritas Care was founded in 1934. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Caritas Care based?
Caritas Care is headquartered in Preston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Caritas Care make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are lottery (200 Club), legacy Gifts, statutory/Government Funding, corporate Sponsorship and Fundraising and community Centre Services.
Who are Caritas Care's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Together Trust and Coram. Broad incumbents are The Children's Society, Action for Children and Barnardo's. Adoption UK is listed as an others. New Family Social is listed as an emerging player. Nugent is listed as a regional player.
Does Caritas Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caritas Care.
What industry is Caritas Care in?
Caritas Care's product category is Charitable Social Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAE, Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.