Garwood

What Garwood does

The Garwood Foundation is a registered UK charity (Charity Number 272905) and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1952 and headquartered in South Croydon, England. It provides integrated disability services across three core sites: Rutherford School (specialist day provision for students aged 19-25 with profound and multiple learning disabilities), Bramley Hill Day Centre (activities and therapies for 175+ weekly adult visitors with disabilities), and Jean Garwood House (a CQC-rated residential home for 14 adults with physical and learning disabilities). The organization also operates two charity shops in South Croydon and Addiscombe as a retail fundraising channel.

The Foundation's service technology centers on specialist facilities and curricula rather than software. Notable physical assets include a thermoneutral hydrotherapy pool (enabling independent movement for PMLD users with minimal hands-on assistance), multi-sensory learning environments, and adaptive music technology delivered through the OrchLab partnership with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Drake Music. Service quality is validated by OFSTED 'Outstanding' (2012), CQC 'Good', and Inclusion Quality Mark Centre of Excellence accreditations.

The business model is a hybrid charity funding stack: statutory local authority payments for residential and educational placements, grants from bodies including the National Lottery Community Fund, individual donations and legacy gifts, corporate partnerships (Contura Orthopaedics, Circle Health Group, Screwfix Foundation, Invesco Cares Foundation, among others), challenge event fundraising (London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon), charity shop retail income, and emerging facility hire revenue from the hydrotherapy pool. The organization is currently completing a £2.5M Space to Thrive capital campaign to expand Rutherford School's hydrotherapy, classroom, and community meeting space. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Garwood

Legal name

The Garwood Foundation

Website

https://garwoodfoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Garwood Foundation is a South London registered charity providing integrated disability services, including specialist PMLD education (Rutherford School), adult day activities (Bramley Hill), residential care (Jean Garwood House), and two charity shops, serving families and individuals across Croydon since 1952.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Special Education

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Special education
• Residential care
• Hydrotherapy services
• Charity fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

South Croydon, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donations, corporate donations, and general charitable contributions from supporters. Includes one-off and recurring donations.
2. Legacy Gifts: Gifts left to the charity in wills, including fixed sums, property, percentage of estate, valuable items, or shares.
3. Charity Shop Sales: Revenue from two charity shops in South Croydon and Addiscombe selling donated preloved items including clothing, accessories, and household goods.
4. Challenge Events Fundraising: Fundraising through challenge events including London Marathon, Vitality London 10,000, Royal Parks Half Marathon, Swim Serpentine, skydiving, and Ultra Challenges.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Support from local businesses including labor donations, materials, monetary sponsorships, and staff volunteering programs. Includes media partnerships.
6. Statutory/Funding Body Grants: Grants from organizations including National Lottery Community Fund for specific projects and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Garwood Foundation provides specialist disability services in south London through three integrated facilities: Rutherford School (education for ages 19-25 with profound and multiple learning disabilities), Bramley Hill Day Centre (day activities and therapies for over 175 adults with disabilities per week), and Jean Garwood House (residential care for 14 adults). The charity also operates two retail charity shops and funds capital projects such as the Space to Thrive Appeal via donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and challenge events.

Product overview

Garwood Foundation is a charity organization offering a portfolio of disability services in south London. The core services include Rutherford School (education for 16-25 year olds with PMLD), Bramley Hill Day Centre (activities for adults with disabilities), Jean Garwood House (residential care for 14 adults), and two charity shops. The organization is currently running the Space to Thrive Appeal to fund building improvements including a hydrotherapy pool, additional classroom, and accessible community meeting space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rutherford School Specialist independent day school for students aged 19-25 with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) in south London, offering an integrated curriculum incorporating learning, therapy and healthcare. Rated Outstanding by OFSTED (2012) and IQM Centre of Excellence. Located at 1A Melville Avenue, South Croydon.
• Bramley Hill Day Centre Day centre at 27 Bramley Hill, South Croydon, providing activities and therapies for adults with disabilities, including arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, music, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy. Over 175 visitors per week.
• Jean Garwood House Residential home at 25 Bramley Hill, South Croydon, for 14 adults with physical disabilities, additional learning disabilities and sensory impairments. Registered with the London Borough of Croydon under the Care Standards Act 2000 and rated 'Good' by the CQC. Many residents also attend Bramley Hill Day Centre.
• Garwood Charity Shops Two charity shops — at 127 South End, Croydon and 294 Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe — selling donated preloved items including clothing, accessories and household goods. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4pm. Income supports Garwood's services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 175 visitors per week at Bramley Hill Day Centre
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Satsang MandalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 July 2026Hindu community organization that partnered with Garwood for BAPS 10K Charity Challenge. Over 400 participants walked, jogged and ran 10 kilometres raising funds for Space to Thrive appeal.
• Contura OrthopaedicscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Headline sponsor for Charity Golf Day at Croham Hurst Golf Club. Develops and manufactures Arthrosamid, a hydrogel for knee osteoarthritis treatment.
• Circle Health GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Sponsor of putting competition at Charity Golf Day. Operates Shirley Oaks Hospital, dedicated to healthcare services with personalized care. Sarah Povey, Marketing Lead at Circle Health Group, is also a Garwood Trustee.
• Sellier KnightsbridgeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2025Luxury fashion retailer whose influencer Hanushka Toni conducted 'secret' charity shop drop at Garwood South Croydon store, raising over £800 from designer bag sales for Space to Thrive appeal.
• The Hive Design StudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Local business hosting Paint and Sip evening with all ticket sales going to Space to Thrive appeal.
• Artful DukeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 January 2025Pub in Bromley hosting regular quiz nights in aid of Garwood. General Manager Maria Evans has personal connection as her late son attended Rutherford School.
• London Philharmonic OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025OrchLab project delivering music sessions at Bramley Hill Day Centre. Participants explored LPO repertoire including Sibelius' En Saga and Strauss' Alpine Symphony, culminating in Festival Day at Southbank Centre.
• Drake MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Music organization specializing in adaptive technology for disabled musicians. Partner with London Philharmonic Orchestra for OrchLab project at Bramley Hill Day Centre.
• HaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Recruitment company whose volunteers painted Bramley Hill Day Centre interior over two days with 23 volunteers. Connected through Croydon Council's Match my Project scheme.
• Croydon Crown Decorating CentreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local business that donated over 120 litres of paint for Bramley Hill Day Centre refresh.
• Phoenix Motorcycle Training/ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Motorbike club that holds annual Toy Run to Rutherford School Christmas Fair for 11 years. Donates toys, equipment and gifts for students with disabilities.
• Burstow FreemasonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Masonic lodge supporting Garwood on numerous projects.
• Croham Hurst Masonic LodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Masonic lodge that has chosen Garwood as charity of the year, hosting charity golf day. Donated £300 to Space to Thrive appeal.
• Gen OnecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction/social enterprise partner. Workers participated in brick laying ceremony at Rutherford School. Donated £1,000 to Space to Thrive appeal.
• OcadominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that donated £50 Ocado voucher for Bramley Hill clients.
• LushminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Garwood projects.
• Rotary Croydon WhitgiftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Rotary club supporting Garwood projects and fundraising.
• Crown PaintsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Garwood.
• DIAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that donated £250 to Garwood.
• High View Primary SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal school partner supporting Garwood.
• Sanderstead WIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Institute group supporting Garwood.
• St. Paul's URCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch group supporting Garwood.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Response: UK charity providing personalised support for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs, including residential and day services. Similar operating model centred on individualised, community-based disability support.
• MacIntyre: National charity providing education, residential, and supported-living services for people with learning disabilities, with specific PMLD expertise. Closely aligned to Garwood's specialism in profound and multiple learning disabilities.
• Achieve Together: Provider of specialist residential, supported living, and day services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and PMLD. Comparable service mix and beneficiary profile, though operates as a larger for-profit/non-profit hybrid.
• Hft (Home Farm Trust): National charity providing supported living, residential, and day services for people with learning disabilities, including PMLD. Direct comparable given similar person-centred support model and multi-site residential footprint.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Highly relevant due to overlapping PMLD focus, multi-service delivery (education, day, residential), and similar residential and community-based service model.

Regional players

• Certitude: London-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through supported living, day services, and outreach. Comparable given its south-London operational base and similar beneficiary profile.
• Surrey Choices: Local-authority-owned provider delivering day opportunities, employment support, and community services for people with disabilities in Surrey. Comparable to Bramley Hill Day Centre's day-services model, although in an adjacent rather than overlapping geography.

Emerging players

• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): UK charity supporting people with sensory impairment, overlapping with Jean Garwood House's resident profile (physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments). Indirect competitor / potential referral partner.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK's largest learning-disability charity, providing residential, day, education, and employment services. Comparable in mission and service mix but operates at national scale with a much broader portfolio than Garwood's localised PMLD focus.

Others

• Disability Rights UK: National disability umbrella / advocacy organisation. Not a direct service competitor but operates in the same disability-support ecosystem, influencing policy and funding flows that affect providers like Garwood.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheGarwoodFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/garwoodfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-garwood-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Garwood