Dudley Voices for Choice

What Dudley Voices for Choice does

Dudley Voices for Choice is a user-led registered charity incorporated in January 2014 and headquartered on Martin Hill Street in Dudley, West Midlands (UK). It supports adults with learning disabilities and autism to advocate for themselves and to influence public services, and it employs people with lived experience ("Experts by Experience") as paid trainers and project staff. The organisation's stated headcount is 5+ paid staff supplemented by trustees (Steve, Sally-Anne Richardson as Treasurer, Emma), a Chief Officer (Sarah), community workers, a research worker, a Shout Out Academy manager (Sean Ledington, a former Learning Disability Nurse and university Senior Lecturer), and named trainers and consultants.

Its service portfolio comprises Self Advocacy, Easy Read information production, Employment of Experts by Experience, a Safe Places scheme, and the Shout Out Academy training sub-brand. Shout Out Academy delivers a 3-hour learning disability awareness programme and is an accredited provider of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism, which is a statutory training requirement for English health and social care staff. Additional offerings include the Voices From The Neuroverse podcast (produced with the Good Life Project) and co-produced tools such as the Clive Treacey Epilepsy Checklist, developed with NHS West Midlands guidance.

The organisation does not operate proprietary technology platforms. Its revenue model is charitable: a mix of grants (including a 2019 National Lottery Community Fund award that financed the West Midlands Self Advocacy Network) and fee-based training delivered to NHS trusts, hospitals such as Russell's Hall Hospital, and social care providers. Pricing for training is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on enquiry. Go-to-market is community-led and regional: services are delivered directly across the West Midlands through the Dudley office, partner healthcare sites, and community venues, supported by social media (Facebook, Twitter), blogs, events, and the podcast.

Name

Dudley Voices for Choice

Legal name

Dudley Voices for Choice

Website

https://dudleyvoicesforchoice.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dudley Voices for Choice is a user-led UK charity based in Dudley, West Midlands, that supports adults with learning disabilities and autism to self-advocate and delivers the statutory Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training to NHS and social care providers through its Shout Out Academy sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Lived-Experience Training Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)

Keywords

• User-led advocacy services
• Learning disability training
• Autism awareness training
• Accessible easy read information
• Self-advocacy support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dudley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Funding and Grants: Receives funding from charitable sources including National Lottery Community Fund for specific projects like West Midlands Self Advocacy Network

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dudley Voices for Choice is a user-led charitable organization that supports people with learning disabilities and autism through self-advocacy, accessible Easy Read information, Safe Places, employment of Experts by Experience, and training delivered through its Shout Out Academy brand. The organization delivers the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism to NHS trusts, hospitals, and social care workers in the West Midlands. All services are designed, developed, and delivered by people with lived experience of learning disability and autism.

Product overview

Dudley Voices for Choice is a user-led charitable organisation offering a portfolio of advocacy and support services for people with learning disabilities and autism. The core offerings include Self Advocacy support, Easy Read information services, Employment Services (using Experts by Experience trainers), and Training programmes. The organisation operates Shout Out Academy as its training sub-brand, which delivers the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism. Additional services include the Voices From The Neuroverse podcast and Safe Places scheme. All services are designed to amplify the voices of people with lived experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shout Out Academy: The training branch of Dudley Voices for Choice that delivers learning disability awareness training, including the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism. Training is designed, developed, and delivered by experts by experience.

Products and services

• Self Advocacy
• Easy Read Information Services
• Safe Places
• Employment Services (Experts by Experience)
• Shout Out Academy (Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training)
• Voices From The Neuroverse Podcast

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• My Life My ChoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting 'We Can't Wait' health campaign advocating for timely healthcare for people with learning disabilities
• Access in DudleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnered with to support inclusive activities and community engagement
• Lunch on the RunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing support network for families and individuals with learning disabilities and autism
• NHS West MidlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in health campaigns and Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training delivery; Clive Treacey Epilepsy Checklist developed with NHS West Midlands guidance
• Transforming Care Partnership West MidlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive in Service Users, Families and Carers Forum, contributing to care and treatment review processes
• Your UK ParliamentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParliament engagement program providing workshops on democracy and voting rights for people with learning disabilities
• Good Life ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Voices from the Neuroverse podcast featuring discussions on human rights topics including Right to Private and Family Life

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Learning Disability England: National membership body for people with learning disabilities, families and organisations. Comparable as a regional/national umbrella for self-advocacy groups and policy engagement on NHS training requirements.
• Mencap: Large UK learning disability charity offering training, advocacy and service user engagement. Overlaps with DVC on learning disability awareness training for healthcare staff and self-advocacy, but with a national footprint.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide charity providing autism awareness training, advocacy and support services. Comparable because both deliver autism and learning disability training to NHS and social care organisations, but NAS operates at a much larger national scale.
• Dimensions UK: Large national provider of support services for people with learning disabilities and autism, including training and workforce development for social care. Comparable training and support services, but with significantly larger operational scale.

Direct peers

• My Life My Choice: Oxford-based user-led charity run by and for people with learning disabilities, delivering self-advocacy and 'We Can't Wait' health campaigns. Direct peer because of the shared user-led advocacy model and NHS-facing health campaigns; DVC is already a partner.
• CHANGE: UK charity led by and for people with learning disabilities, producing Easy Read information and delivering participation work. Direct peer to DVC's Easy Read service and user-led self-advocacy offering.
• Speak Up Self Advocacy: User-led self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, with similar training and 'experts by experience' delivery models. Direct peer in mission and operating approach, though based in a different UK region.

Emerging players

• Respond: UK charity providing advocacy and training for people with learning disabilities and autism, particularly around trauma-informed care. Comparable training and advocacy scope, though with a more clinical/niche focus.

Regional players

• People First Keighley & Craven: User-led self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities in Yorkshire. Comparable as a grassroots user-led advocacy charity, but operating in a different region to DVC's West Midlands base.
• Include Me TOO: West Midlands-based charity supporting disabled children and young people, including those with learning disabilities and autism, with advocacy and participation programmes. Regional peer operating in DVC's core geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DvcDudley
• Facebookfacebook.com/speakingoutinDudley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dudley-voices-for-choice-dvc

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 Dudley Voices for Choice