What CHAP does

CHAP (Community Housing Advocacy Project) is an independent Scottish charity founded in 2000 and headquartered in Ardrossan, operating across all three Ayrshire council areas (North, East, South). It delivers free, specialist advice and advocacy services in three interconnected domains: housing (homelessness prevention, eviction support, rent and mortgage arrears, tenancy rights); welfare rights (benefit applications, appeals, tribunal representation, income maximisation); and money/debt advice (creditor negotiation, Debt Arrangement Scheme support, bankruptcy advice, council tax arrears — delivered under FCA authorisation, firm reference 689255). CHAP is the only organisation in Ayrshire accredited to deliver Scottish National Standards Type III advice across all three service lines.

The charity supplements its core advice work with a classroom-based Education Service (operating since 2005) that delivered financial literacy and housing awareness workshops to 5,617 secondary school pupils in 2025 across North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, and Dumfries & Galloway. It also operates the AHAP service — a partnership with Govan Law Centre funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board — providing free mortgage-repossession prevention advice and legal representation for homeowners across Ayrshire. Distribution is multi-channel: a main office in Ardrossan, ~12 outreach locations across libraries and community hubs, a freephone helpline, scheduled webchat, and structured self- and third-party referral pathways through North Ayrshire Council, housing associations (Cunninghame, Irvine, ANCHO), and foodbanks.

As a registered charity (Scottish Charity Number SC028100), CHAP operates on a grant-funded model and provides all services free of charge to clients. Key funders include North Ayrshire Council, the Scottish Government (including via the Self Management Fund administered by the ALLIANCE), the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and the Health and Social Care Alliance. In 2025, CHAP secured over £4.27 million in financial gains for clients (a £1M year-on-year increase), supported 2,055 referred individuals, and reported a 99% client satisfaction rating. The organisation employs ~14 staff led by CEO Debbie Alexander, is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Ray Chaney, and holds Living Wage and Living Hours accreditations.

Name

CHAP

Legal name

Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP)

Website

https://chap.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CHAP (Community Housing Advocacy Project) is a Scottish charity founded in 2000 that delivers free, FCA-regulated housing, welfare rights, and debt advice to individuals and families across all three Ayrshire council areas, complemented by school-based financial education and partnership services such as AHAP with Govan Law Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Advice and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Collection Agencies (561440)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH)

Keywords

• Housing advice services
• Welfare rights advice
• Debt counseling
• Community charity advice
• Financial education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Ardrossan

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. Charitable Funding and Grants: CHAP operates as a registered charity funded primarily through grants and funding agreements with government bodies and foundations. Services are provided free of charge to clients. Key funders include North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Government, Scottish Legal Aid Board, and the Health and Social Care Alliance (the ALLIANCE).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CHAP is an independent charity that provides free, confidential, and independent advice and advocacy on housing, welfare rights, and debt for individuals across Ayrshire. Its core service portfolio comprises specialist Housing Advice (eviction prevention, homelessness appeals, rent/mortgage arrears), Welfare Advice (benefit applications, appeals, tribunal representation, income maximisation), and Money Advice (creditor negotiation, debt arrangement schemes, bankruptcy advice, court proceedings assistance). Complementary offerings include a school-based Education Service delivering financial literacy workshops and the AHAP mortgage-arrears service delivered in partnership with Govan Law Centre.

Product overview

CHAP offers a portfolio of advice and advocacy services structured around three core pillars: Housing Advice, Welfare Advice, and Money Advice. These are complemented by an Education Service (Life Skills) for schools and a specialist AHAP (Ayrshire Homelessness And Prevention) service delivered in partnership with Govan Law Centre. Services are delivered through a combination of main-office appointments, outreach locations across Ayrshire, referral pathways, and webchat. CHAP is accredited to deliver Scottish National Standards Type III advice across housing, welfare, and debt, and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference 689255). In 2025, CHAP secured over £4.2 million in financial gains for clients. The organisation also operates a Money Max family-centred partnership project alongside four partner organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Advice Free, confidential housing advice and advocacy for people in North and East Ayrshire struggling with housing issues or homelessness. Covers housing options, rent arrears, mortgage arrears, homelessness appeals, eviction, repairs, anti-social behaviour, and tenancy rights.
• Welfare Advice Free welfare rights advice helping people across Ayrshire maximise their income by ensuring access to full benefit entitlements. Includes benefit applications, appeals, tribunal representation, and backdated payments.
• Money Advice Free specialist debt advice helping people across Ayrshire deal with debt problems. Services include negotiating repayments with creditors, debt arrangement schemes, bankruptcy advice, court proceedings assistance, and council tax arrears support. CHAP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
• Education Service (Life Skills) Classroom-based financial literacy, housing awareness, and independent living skills education delivered to secondary school pupils across North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, and Dumfries & Galloway. Includes homelessness prevention workshops, budgeting, tenancy awareness, student accommodation, and student finance guidance. Reached 5,617 young people in 2025.
• Ayrshire Homelessness And Prevention (AHAP) Free mortgage advice and legal support service for homeowners in Ayrshire experiencing financial difficulties and unable to maintain mortgage payments. A partnership between CHAP and Govan Law Centre, fully funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Covers repossession prevention, mortgage arrears, court proceedings, and creditor negotiation.
• Outreach Services Community-based appointment service at locations across North, East, and South Ayrshire including libraries and community hubs, enabling access to CHAP advice services closer to where clients live.
• Referral Services Self-referral and third-party referral pathways enabling individuals and organisations (including North Ayrshire Council staff) to refer people to CHAP services via online forms.

Quantifiable outcome

• £4.27 million in financial gains for clients in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KA LeisureminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2026Partner for the Killie 2 Coast fundraising walk event. Provided facilities at The Portal in Irvine as a key stop on the route and supplied the Activator Bus to motivate walkers.
• Morgan Sindall ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2026Corporate sponsor and participant team for Killie 2 Coast 2026 fundraising walk. Part of workplace fundraising teams.
• We Work For FamiliesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2026Corporate participant team for Killie 2 Coast 2026 fundraising walk, supporting CHAP's frontline services.
• Govan Law CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHAP (Ayrshire Homelessness & Prevention) is a partnership between CHAP and Govan Law Centre. The service covers all of Ayrshire and is available free to homeowners facing mortgage repossession. CHAP provides money advice while Govan Law Centre provides legal representation. Funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
• Money Max Partnership (TACT, Beith CDT, 1st Alliance Community Bank, Right Options)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoney Max is a family-centred partnership project supporting North Ayrshire residents with financial, housing, and wellbeing issues. CHAP provides housing, welfare rights, debt and financial wellbeing advice as part of the partnership. Led by The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT).
• Citrus EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral partner that refers clients to CHAP for help with energy-related debt issues.
• CentreStageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach hub location in Kilmarnock for the Killie 2 Coast walk starting point and for CHAP advisory appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• The Trussell Trust (North Ayrshire Foodbank)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for directing clients without food to emergency food support. Refer clients to CHAP for financial advice once immediate needs are met.
• North Ayrshire Housing Register PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCunninghame Housing Association, Irvine Housing Association, and ANCHO are part of the shared housing register with North Ayrshire Council, working with CHAP on housing applications and homelessness prevention.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StepChange Debt Charity: UK charity providing free, regulated debt advice and Debt Management Plans, FCA-authorised. Direct peer to CHAP's Money Advice service line, with similar regulatory standing and client base, though operating nationally and primarily online/by phone.
• Turn2us: UK charity helping people access welfare benefits, grants, and financial support through online tools and advice. Direct peer to CHAP's Welfare Advice service, with overlapping focus on benefit entitlement and income maximisation.
• Citizens Advice: The UK's largest independent advice charity, providing free, confidential advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt, and consumer issues. Highly comparable to CHAP in service scope, free delivery model, and FCA/government-funded operating base, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP): UK charity providing free debt counselling, money management coaching, and life skills education through a network of local church-based centres. Comparable to CHAP in free debt advice delivery, FCA-authorisation, and combination of advice with education services.
• National Debtline: Free, confidential debt advice service funded by the Money and Pensions Service. Direct peer to CHAP's money advice service, offering telephone and webchat debt counselling with a similar regulatory posture.
• Govan Law Centre: Specialist Scottish law and advice centre providing free legal representation in housing, debt, and welfare matters. CHAP's formal partner in the AHAP service, making it a uniquely close peer given jointly funded service delivery and shared client referrals.

Broad incumbents

• Crisis: National UK charity dedicated to ending homelessness, providing advice, housing, and skills services. Comparable to CHAP's homelessness prevention and housing advice work, with a national scale and broader service portfolio.
• Shelter: National UK charity focused on housing and homelessness advice, advocacy, and legal support. Highly comparable to CHAP's Housing Advice service, with a wider remit including policy campaigning and a national footprint.
• Money Advice Trust: UK charity that operates National Debtline and Business Debtline and provides training/standards for the money advice sector. Comparable to CHAP as a debt advice specialist and standards body, with a broader sector-development mandate.
• AdviceUK: UK membership body for independent advice charities providing free social welfare, debt, and housing advice. Highly comparable operating model to CHAP as a member of the wider free-advice sector network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chap.advice
• Instagraminstagram.com/chap_advice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chapadvice

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 CHAP