Footprints in the Community

What Footprints in the Community does

Footprints in the Community is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales (Charity Number 1153121), operating from 10 Queen Street, Redcar since November 2017. Founded in November 2011 by CEO Ruth Fox as a weekly community cafe in a church hall, the charity has grown into a multi-project community support organisation serving the Redcar and Cleveland area. Its mission is to reduce poverty and social isolation through an interconnected portfolio of programmes: the Redcar Area Foodbank (a Trussell-affiliated network of nine permanent centres hosted across local churches), two subsidised Next Step Shops (£3.50/week membership for 7 food items plus 5 non-food items), the Footprints Community Cafe on Redcar High Street with a "Pay it Forward" scheme, the Men's and Women's Shed woodworking workshop, First Steps (pre-loved baby and children's clothing), Lunch Box (holiday hunger meals for primary-age children), The Book Club (children's literacy), New Start (household starter packs), Reflections Dementia Support, Community Wellbeing Partnership (mental health, with Teesside Mind and The Link), and Advice & Support services including Acts 435 grants. The charity does not operate proprietary technology, relying instead on standard off-the-shelf tools — WordPress, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and CAF Online for donations.

The business model is a hybrid of donations, retail, and grant funding. Revenue streams include: (1) one-off and recurring donations via CAF Online and a tiered Supporters' Programme (£5-£100/month); (2) community cafe sales on Redcar High Street; (3) an online shop selling pre-loved toys and handmade crafts; (4) Next Step Shop weekly memberships; (5) fundraising events (e.g., "A Night at the Musicals," Sea Dip, 100 Club monthly prize draw); and (6) grants, most notably a £430,000+ National Lottery continuation award in May 2021 covering five years of core costs. The supply chain for food distribution is supported by collection points at Tesco (with a 20% cash top-up), Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Asda, and Spar stores. Pricing across all services is subsidised or free at point of use for beneficiaries.

Operations are volunteer-heavy: 170 active volunteers contributed 17,813 hours in 2024, valued at £203,780.72 at minimum wage, supplementing a paid staff team of approximately 8 (including CEO, Operations Manager, Campaign Against Poverty Advocate, Family Projects Worker, fundraiser, and apprentices added in 2024-2025). The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Steve Duffield, with day-to-day leadership provided by founder-CEO Ruth Fox, who was awarded an MBE in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours. Impact metrics for 2024 include over 62 tonnes of food distributed, 7,000+ individuals served, £1M+ in financial gains for clients through the Citizens Advice partnership, 17,813 volunteer hours, and 383 individuals supported through Next Step Shops with 6,500 attendances. Geographic scope is restricted to Redcar and Cleveland in the United Kingdom.

Name

Footprints in the Community

Legal name

Footprints in the Community

Website

https://footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Footprints in the Community is a UK registered charity in Redcar and Cleveland operating an interconnected portfolio of community projects — including a nine-centre foodbank, subsidised shops, a community cafe, mental health and dementia support, and family services — to reduce poverty and isolation among local residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Support Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Community support services
• Poverty relief charity
• Foodbank services
• Dementia support programmes
• Welfare advice services

Headquarters

HQ city

Redcar

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual one-off and recurring donations through CAF Online platform. Monthly supporters' programme with tiered membership (Supporter £5/mo, Changemaker £15/mo, Champion £50/mo, Community Partner £100/mo). Fundraising events generate ticket revenue.
2. Retail Shop Sales: Online shop selling pre-loved toys (Thomas & Friends wooden railway items), handmade crafts from The Shed, and merchandise. All profits support community projects.
3. Community Cafe: Footprints Community Cafe on Redcar High Street generates revenue from food and beverage sales. Also features innovative 'Pay it Forward' scheme where customers can prepay for clients who cannot afford meals.
4. Next Step Shop Memberships: Subsidised members' shops where clients pay £3.50 for membership and receive 7 food items and up to 5 non-food items weekly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Footprints in the Community is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that delivers community support services to people experiencing poverty, hunger, isolation, and social exclusion in Redcar and Cleveland. It operates a portfolio of programmes including a foodbank, community cafés, welfare advice, dementia support, and skills/lifestyle projects, funded primarily through donations and grants.

Product overview

Footprints in the Community is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation operating a portfolio of interconnected community support projects focused on reducing poverty and isolation in Redcar and Cleveland. The core offerings include the Redcar Area Foodbank network (nine foodbank centres providing emergency food), Next Step Shop (subsidised members' shops), First Steps (baby and children's clothing), Lunch Box (holiday meals and activities for children), Footprints Community Cafe (community dining with Pay it Forward scheme), The Shed (woodworking workshop), The Book Club (children's literacy programme), Reflections Dementia Support, New Start (household starter packs), Community Wellbeing Partnership (mental health support), and Advice and Support services. An Online Shop sells wooden train toys and handmade items to raise funds. All projects are coordinated from the 10 Queen Street headquarters and are designed to support individuals and families at different stages of crisis, providing pathways from emergency relief to sustained stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foodbank Emergency food parcels and ongoing food support for individuals and families in Redcar and Cleveland experiencing food poverty or financial crisis.
• Community Café Affordable social space offering hot drinks, meals, and social interaction for local residents, including those experiencing isolation.
• Reflections Dementia Support Dementia-friendly social group and peer-support activities for people living with dementia and their carers in the Redcar and Cleveland area.
• Next Step Shop Affordable or free clothing and household goods to support people in financial hardship or transitioning out of crisis.
• Advice and Support Welfare, benefits, and lifestyle advice for local residents, including signposting to additional support services.
• Online Shop Online retail of merchandise and donated goods to raise funds for the charity's community programmes.
• First Steps Early-stage support programme for individuals and families taking their first steps out of crisis or poverty.
• Lunch Box School-holiday or community meal provision supporting children and families during periods of food insecurity.
• The Shed Men's social and activity-based group tackling isolation through practical projects and peer support.
• The Book Club Community book club providing social interaction and literacy engagement for local residents.
• New Start Lifestyle and skills programme supporting individuals making a fresh start, including personal development pathways.
• Community Wellbeing Partnership Partnership-based wellbeing programme coordinating support across local agencies for residents with complex needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £3.4 million in financial gains secured for clients over 3 years through Financial Inclusion partnership
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, foundational and minor.

• Teesside MindcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Delivery partner in Community Wellbeing Partnership (CWP), part of Community Mental Health Transformation across Redcar and Cleveland. Delivers community-based support for people experiencing ill mental health.
• The LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Delivery partner in Community Wellbeing Partnership (CWP), part of Community Mental Health Transformation across Redcar and Cleveland. Works with Footprints to deliver community-based mental health support.
• Redcar and Cleveland Citizens AdvicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2021Financial Inclusion partnership delivering free, confidential advice and support for foodbank clients across all nine foodbank centres. Helps people with benefits, debt, money, consumer issues, housing, family, work and immigration. Over 3 years: supported 1,743 individuals, secured over £3.4 million in financial gains, helped 137 clients manage £1.3 million of debt, reduced foodbank use by 711 instances.
• TrussellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2021Trussell supports the Redcar Area Foodbank as part of their nationwide network of foodbanks. Shares procedures and best practice. Has supported the Financial Inclusion project over the last three years.
• South Tees Community BankfoundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Original partnership formed the first Community Bank Cafe in the UK in September 2019. Footprints Community Cafe operated inside South Tees Community Bank premises on Redcar High Street. Bank closed January 2024 but cafe continues independently.
• Emmanuel Church (Saltburn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts new foodbank centre at Emmanuel Church (Echo Hall), Saltburn. Opened November 2020, operating Tuesdays 12.30pm-2.30pm.
• Local Churches (Foodbank Centres)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine permanent foodbank centres hosted in local churches across Redcar and Cleveland: St Hilda's Whitby (Grangetown), Newcomen Methodist Church, Emmanuel Church (Saltburn), South Bank Baptist Church, Zetland Methodist Church, Brotton Methodist Church, St Peter's Church, St George's Church (Normanby).
• Grangetown United Community HubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHouses second Next Step Shop location (opened April 2021) and hosts Lunchbox project sessions. Partnership enables access to community space in Grangetown area.
• A Time 4 YouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal counselling service chose Footprints as their charity of the year. Providing monthly donations and referring families to counselling services. Adults and families working with Footprints can access counselling support.
• FROG (Future Regeneration of Grangetown)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration from 2021 offering one-to-one advice service to Footprints clients and members. Appointed Community Link Advisor to help local people with range of issues.
• TescominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood donation collection points at Redcar and South Bank stores. Tesco tops up all donations by 20% in cash, making it a particularly valuable partner.
• Morrisons (Redcar)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood and toiletries donation collection point.
• Sainsbury's (Saltburn, Marske, Redcar)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple store locations serve as foodbank donation points.
• Co-op (Marske)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoodbank donation collection point.
• Asda (Southbank)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-store foodbank donation collection point.
• Spar (Saltburn)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoodbank donation collection point at Windsor Road, Saltburn.
• Beyond HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership from end of 2022 to run drop-in sessions at Birkdale Community Centre in Eston for the local community.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FoodCycle: National charity turning surplus food into community meals, combining food rescue with social connection to reduce isolation. Direct overlap with Footprints' Community Cafe and food-poverty mission, particularly on the 'meals plus company' angle.
• The Cares Family: Charity building connections between younger and older neighbours in London, Liverpool and Manchester to reduce isolation. Comparable in addressing social isolation and community connection in UK urban areas, with overlapping volunteer-driven model.
• Mustard Tree: Manchester-based charity running an integrated foodbank, clothing bank, training and drop-in services. Closest structural analogue to Footprints' multi-project community-hub model addressing food poverty, isolation and skills gaps in a single deprived UK locality.
• Whitechapel Mission: East London charity delivering emergency food, clothing, training and wellbeing support under one roof. Comparable mix of food provision, basic-needs support and structured progression pathways for people in crisis.
• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK charity providing subsidised weekly grocery access to members through local hubs. Closest model analogue to Footprints' Next Step Shop (£3.50/week membership model with food and household items), though distributed via mobile rather than fixed shops.

Others

• Citizens Advice: National advice network that is Footprints' core Financial Inclusion delivery partner inside the foodbank network. Indirect peer given the co-delivery model, shared referral pathways and aligned outcome-measurement frameworks.
• Homeless Link: UK membership and infrastructure body for homelessness and housing-support organisations. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; useful comparable for understanding the funding, policy and referral landscape Footprints operates in.

Broad incumbents

• FareShare: UK-wide food redistribution charity supplying surplus food to frontline organisations including foodbanks and community cafes. Adjacent operating model and shared donor base; both serve as supply-side infrastructure for emergency food provision.
• Trussell Trust: National umbrella network of foodbanks that Footprints' Redcar Area Foodbank operates inside. Overlapping mission and shared procedures; larger scale and broader funding reach, but Footprints adds Financial Inclusion and community-hub layers on top.
• Centrepoint: National UK charity supporting young people facing homelessness and poverty through housing, health and learning programmes. Broader incumbent in adjacent social-support space, with comparable referral relationships with care professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/footprints_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/footprintsredcar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/footprintsinthecommunity

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 Footprints in the Community