Four Pillars

What Four Pillars does

Four Pillars is a UK-registered charity founded in 2016 and headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, that delivers integrated health and wellbeing services to the LGBT+ community across the Grampian region (Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray). The organisation is structured around four 'pillars' of wellbeing — mental, emotional, physical, and sexual health — and operates a portfolio of branded programmes including the 4Unity Café and community hub, the QuEST school inclusion service (in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council), the LOST rural outreach and mental health programme (Scottish Government funded), the GIC Support Service (NHS Grampian partnership), the GSHAW sexual health initiative (NHS Grampian Charity funded), the TRIP organisational training programme, and Third Party Hate Crime Reporting for Police Scotland. It also runs the 4Pride retail shop and coordinates the annual Grampian Pride event.

The organisation is led by a Chief executive and governed by a Board of Trustees, supported by 14 employees and an active volunteer base via the VAST programme. Its technology footprint is operational rather than strategic — comprising Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Forms, the Spond app for group event management, Mailchimp for email, and standard payment platforms (PayPal, JustGiving, Tiltify, Rainbow Lottery) — with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or software product.

Four Pillars' revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a UK community charity: public-sector grants from the Scottish Government, NHS Grampian, NHS Grampian Charity, and Aberdeenshire Council form the largest funding pillar (covering QuEST, LOST, GIC Support, GSHAW), supplemented by individual donations (monthly tiers from £16 to £300, one-off gifts via PayPal/JustGiving/Tiltify/Easy Fundraising/Payroll Giving), commercial training fees (TRIP at £500 + VAT per 2-hour session), and retail income from the 4Pride shop. Services are free at point of use for individual beneficiaries, while corporate/institutional training is the sole priced commercial offering.

Name

Four Pillars

Legal name

Four Pillars

Website

https://fourpillarsuk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Four Pillars is a Scottish charity founded in 2016 that delivers integrated mental, emotional, physical, and sexual health services — including drop-in support, community groups, training, school outreach, and hate crime reporting — to the LGBT+ community across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray, primarily funded by public-sector grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBT+ Community Health and Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• LGBT+ community support
• Charity health services
• Community outreach programs
• LGBT+ awareness training
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Aberdeen

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Four Pillars relies heavily on charitable donations from the public. Donation tiers are offered at up to £16/month (supports 1-2-1 services and crisis support), up to £80/month (supports social/support groups and mental health), and up to £300/month (maintains the LGBT+ Hub and staffing). One-time and monthly recurring donations are accepted via PayPal and JustGiving. The organisation also participates in the Rainbow Lottery and uses Tiltify for campaign-based fundraising.
2. Government and NHS Grants: Four Pillars receives funding from public bodies including the Scottish Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (for LOST programme), NHS Grampian Charity (for GSHAW sexual health initiative), and Aberdeenshire Council (for QuEST school inclusion programme). These grants support specific service delivery programmes.
3. Training Fees: The TRIP (Training Resources & Inclusion Programme) delivers paid LGBT+ awareness training sessions to organisations at £500 per 2-hour session + VAT. This represents a commercial revenue stream from corporate and institutional clients.
4. 4Pride Shop Sales: Four Pillars operates a physical shop (4Pride) at its Aberdeen location selling LGBT+ merchandise and related goods, generating retail revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Four Pillars is a registered charity that provides integrated mental, emotional, physical, and sexual health support, social groups, hate crime reporting, and LGBT+ inclusion training to the LGBT+ community and partner organisations across the Grampian region of Scotland. Its core operational offerings are delivered through the 4Unity drop-in hub and café, the 4Pride retail shop, peer community groups, school-based QuEST inclusion support, rural LOST outreach programmes, an NHS Grampian GIC support service, and a paid TRIP training programme for organisations.

Product overview

Four Pillars is a community support organisation (not a software product) providing integrated services across mental, emotional, physical, and sexual health for the LGBT+ community in Grampian, Scotland. The organisation operates through multiple interconnected services: a physical community hub (4Unity Café) serving as the central drop-in location; one-to-one support sessions; diverse peer support groups (4 Teens, 4 Inclusion, Grampian T-Folk, Rainbow Rookies, Queer Creations, Including Families, Out 4 ME, Positive Peers); training programs (TRIP for organisations, QuEST for schools); outreach services (LOST Mental Health & Wellbeing, GSHAW, GIC Support); hate crime reporting; the 4Pride retail shop; and annual events including Grampian Pride and Holocaust Memorial Day. The organisation uses Spond app for group event management and Microsoft Forms for service requests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4Unity: A community hub and café providing drop-in services, support groups, and a safe space for the LGBT+ community in Aberdeen. Hosts various groups including Queer Creations, 4Inclusion, and 4Teens.
• 4Pride Shop
• QuEST
• LOST
• GSHAW
• TRIP
• VAST
• GIC Support Service

Products and services

• 4Unity Café and Community Hub A drop-in café and community hub providing a safe, inclusive space for the LGBT+ community, offering accessibility features, digital translator services, and hosting groups including Queer Creations, 4Inclusion, and 4Teens.
• One-to-One Support Individual support sessions addressing LGBT+ relationship issues, coming out, family issues around identity, transitioning, sexuality, and sexual health. Does not provide counselling services for mental health diagnoses, autism, or trauma-informed counselling.
• Groups Program Multiple weekly and fortnightly peer support and social groups for LGBT+ individuals and their families, including groups for teens, transgender individuals, ethnic minorities, people living with HIV, families, and inclusive gaming and creative activities.
• Training Resources & Inclusion Program (TRIP) LGBT+ awareness training delivered in 2-hour sessions covering community support, terminology, discrimination prevention, and practical inclusion steps. Sold to organisations from £500 per session plus VAT.
• Queer Equality Support Team (QuEST) Partnership with Aberdeenshire Council providing LGBT+ Inclusion Advisors (LIAs) who visit young people in schools, offer one-to-one support, deliver LGBT+ awareness training to school communities, and provide phone/email support across all local authority schools.
• LOST Mental Health & Wellbeing Dedicated team supporting LGBT+ people across Aberdeenshire through confidential one-to-one support and social activities including group walks, community picnics, arts and crafts, and creative writing workshops. Funded by the Scottish Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
• Grampian Sexual Health and Wellbeing (GSHAW) Community initiative funded by NHS Grampian Charity promoting inclusive health through partnerships with local venues to increase access to free condoms, sexual health resources, PEP/PrEP information, and STI testing awareness.
• GIC Support Service NHS Grampian Gender Identity Clinic support service providing assessment preparation, social transition advice, and peer-informed guidance for individuals on the GIC waiting list. Available in-person, by phone, or via Microsoft Teams.
• Third Party Hate Crime Reporting Trained by Police Scotland as a Third Party Reporting Centre, enabling individuals to report hate crimes to Police Scotland with Four Pillars assistance or have Four Pillars submit reports on their behalf.
• Sexual Health Services Comprehensive sexual health support including condom and lubrication distribution, HIV/STI testing referral, BBV home testing kit availability at 4Unity, and support for individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
• 4Pride Shop Physical retail shop located at 33 Regent Quay, Aberdeen, offering pride-related merchandise.

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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHS Grampian — GIC Support ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Grampian and Four Pillars jointly deliver the NHS Grampian Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) Support service, a new initiative funded by the Scottish Government. Four Pillars provides assessment preparation, social transition guidance, and peer-informed support for individuals on the GIC waiting list. This is a flagship public-third sector co-delivery model.
• Aberdeenshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAberdeenshire Council partners with Four Pillars through the QuEST (Queer Equality Support Team) programme, placing LGBT+ Inclusion Advisors in schools across Aberdeenshire. This is a core public sector commissioning relationship supporting LGBT+ young people.
• NHS Grampian Charity — GSHAWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Grampian Charity funds the Grampian Sexual Health and Wellbeing (GSHAW) initiative, delivered by Four Pillars in partnership with local venues (pubs, clubs, cafés, educational institutions). GSHAW increases access to free condoms, sexual health resources, PEP/PrEP information, and STI testing awareness.
• Police ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour Pillars is a certified Third Party Reporting Centre for Police Scotland, trained to receive and submit hate crime reports on behalf of victims who may not feel comfortable reporting directly to police. This formalises Four Pillars' role in the hate crime reporting pathway.
• GREC (Grampian Regional Equality Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGREC partners with Four Pillars on the PATH (Prejudice and Solidarity Archived Throughout History) heritage project, exploring minority ethnic and queer community history in Aberdeen. This is a time-limited community heritage initiative.
• Aberdeen City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAberdeen City Council partners on the PATH heritage project alongside Four Pillars and GREC, providing archival access and institutional support for re-discovering queer community history in Aberdeen.
• University of AberdeenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Aberdeen is a research and archival partner on the PATH project, contributing academic expertise and archival materials on queer community history.
• CFineminorOthersFour Pillars has a partnership with CFine to redistribute in-kind donations (clothing, furniture, food) to those in need within the LGBT+ community, providing non-monetary support pathways.
• PayPalminorOthersPayPal processes one-time and monthly donations to Four Pillars, serving as a payment infrastructure partner for the charity's fundraising operations.
• JustGivingminorOthersJustGiving provides an online fundraising platform enabling supporters to create fundraising pages and donate to Four Pillars.
• TiltifyminorOthersTiltify is a fundraising campaign platform used by Four Pillars for charity livestream and social media fundraising campaigns.
• Rainbow LotteryminorOthersFour Pillars participates in the Rainbow Lottery, a UK-wide lottery supporting LGBT+ charities, as a beneficiary organisation.
• Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow PartnershipminorOthersThe Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark initiative is developed and delivered by the Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow Partnership, of which Four Pillars is a member. Four Pillars administers the Rainbow Mark sign-up process for organisations in the Grampian region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Terrence Higgins Trust: UK-wide sexual health and HIV charity delivering testing, peer support and advice. Comparable on HIV/sexual-health service delivery (Positive Peers, GSHAW) but operates at national scale with substantially larger resources than Four Pillars.
• Stonewall Scotland: Scottish arm of UK-wide Stonewall, focused on LGBT+ rights advocacy, workplace inclusion and policy rather than direct frontline services. Comparable as a Scotland-based LGBT+ umbrella organisation; Four Pillars administers the Rainbow Mark regionally on Stonewall-adjacent initiatives.

Direct peers

• LGBT Health and Wellbeing: Scotland-based LGBT+ charity running community programmes, wellbeing services and helpline support. Directly comparable as a Scottish LGBT+ service organisation with similar group programmes, peer support and community engagement focus.
• Waverley Care: Scotland's leading HIV and sexual health charity, working in partnership with NHS Grampian and other health boards. Closely comparable on the GSHAW sexual-health programme and HIV peer-support (Positive Peers) Four Pillars delivers.
• Mermaids: UK charity supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families. Comparable to Four Pillars' QuEST youth-in-schools work and Grampian T-Folk / GIC Support services for trans beneficiaries.
• Scottish Trans Alliance: Scottish equality organisation working on trans rights, policy and support, including work alongside the Scottish Government and NHS. Comparable to Four Pillars' GIC Support Service and Grampian T-Folk trans peer group.
• LGBT Foundation: Manchester-based LGBT+ charity offering community groups, helpline, sexual health and wellbeing services to a regional population. Closest comparable to Four Pillars in service mix (drop-in, groups, 1-2-1, training) and operating model, but serves a much larger metro region.
• Switchboard LGBT: UK LGBT+ helpline charity providing 1-2-1 listening, information and referral support. Comparable to Four Pillars' one-to-one support and remote (phone/Microsoft Teams) delivery channels.
• LGBT HERO: UK LGBT+ health and wellbeing charity (formerly PACE) running mental health, sexual health, and community programmes. Comparable on health-focused programming and community group delivery model.
• Albert Kennedy Trust: UK charity supporting LGBT+ young people (16-25) experiencing homelessness or hostile home environments. Comparable to Four Pillars' QuEST youth-in-schools and 4Teens programmes on LGBT+ youth support delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/4pillarsuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/4pillarsuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/four-pillars-uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/4pillarsuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Four Pillars