HealthBus Trust

What HealthBus Trust does

HealthBus Trust is a UK registered charity (Charity Number: 1186790) founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bournemouth, Dorset. It operates a nurse-led, mobile clinic housed in a converted bus that delivers specialist, trauma-informed healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness on the streets, in temporary accommodation, and at community drop-ins across the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) area. The clinical portfolio covers wound care, chronic disease management (with a dedicated specialist diabetes nurse), vaccinations, mental health support, women's healthcare, ECG monitoring, social prescribing, and referrals into housing, dental, and addiction services; the organisation also delivers trauma-informed outreach training and conducts applied research with the University of Southampton's Centre for Homelessness Research and Practice. The team comprises approximately 8 staff supported by specialist nurses, clinical leads, a social prescriber, administrators, and volunteers, and the service operates under CQC registration with the Chief Operating Officer serving as CQC Registered Manager.

The revenue model is entirely donation-funded with no statutory NHS or local council income. Cash flows from individual donations (one-off and recurring monthly), charitable trust grants (Burdett Trust for Nursing, Sir Halley Stewart Trust, Hospital Saturday Fund on a multi-year basis, The Hedley Foundation), corporate sponsorship (notably AJC Group, a three-year partner), community fundraising events (runs, golf days, the AJC 24-hour bus-pull world record attempt), legacies, and an EasyFundraising affiliate scheme. Patient services are free at the point of use. Distribution is direct-to-patient via mobile outreach and drop-in sessions at partner venues (e.g., St. Stephen's Hall), supplemented by an inbound referral network of over 40 partner agencies coordinated through the Homelessness Partnership BCP, including St Mungo's (operating the BCP Street Outreach Service), YMCA Bournemouth, NHS Dorset, The Cranborne Practice, Bournemouth Foodbank, DSAB, Faithworks, and Dorset Police.

Growth levers for 2025–2026 include the launch of the Care+Her women's health research project with the Burdett Trust for Nursing, a new Mental Health Support Worker role, the Women's Healthcare Policy Briefing and Trauma-Informed Outreach Training programme, a published 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, and a new membership in Homeless Link, the national network of 800+ homelessness organisations.

Name

HealthBus Trust

Legal name

HealthBus Trust

Website

https://healthbus.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HealthBus Trust is a UK registered charity operating a nurse-led, mobile clinic that delivers specialist, trauma-informed healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, funded entirely by charitable grants, donations, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Healthcare Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & Street Medicine Primary Care Programs (HLAFAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

Keywords

• Mobile healthcare services
• Homeless health outreach
• Community nursing care
• Trauma-informed care
• Wound care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bournemouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations from the public, both one-time and regular monthly contributions. The organization promotes various donation amounts that fund specific services such as fuel, medical supplies, and session costs.
2. Regular/Monthly Donations: Recurring donation program where supporters commit to regular contributions. £50 pays for fuel and insurance for one session, £30 funds a face-to-face clinical session for one patient, £5 provides tea/coffee/biscuits for 10 rough sleepers.
3. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Charitable bequests left in supporters' wills, including cash gifts, residuary gifts, and gifts in kind. Legacies are exempt from inheritance tax.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnerships with local businesses providing financial donations, sponsorship, fundraising activities, or in-kind support including food, hygiene items, professional skills, or equipment.
5. Charitable Trust Grants: Funding from charitable foundations and trusts including Burdett Trust for Nursing, Sir Halley Stewart Trust, Hospital Saturday Fund, The Hedley Foundation, and others supporting specific programs and capital equipment.
6. Fundraising Events: Community fundraising activities including runs, challenges, concerts, golf days, and other events organized by supporters and corporate partners to raise funds.
7. EasyFundraising: Online shopping donation scheme where participating retailers donate a percentage of purchases to HealthBus at no cost to the shopper.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HealthBus Trust is a nurse-led charity that delivers specialist, trauma-informed mobile healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. Services are provided free of charge via a converted mobile clinic and at community drop-ins, covering wound care, chronic disease management, mental health, women's health, vaccinations, social prescribing, and ECG monitoring. The charity also trains frontline professionals in trauma-informed outreach and conducts research on health outcomes for the homeless population.

Product overview

HealthBus Trust operates as a nurse-led, mobile healthcare charity providing specialist, trauma-informed healthcare services to people experiencing homelessness in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. The core offering is a mobile clinic service that delivers wound care, chronic disease management (including diabetes specialist care), mental health support, women's healthcare, social prescribing, vaccinations, and ECG monitoring directly to individuals on the streets, in shelters, and at community drop-ins. Adjacent services include trauma-informed outreach training programs for other professionals and research/evaluation publications on homelessness health. The model is relational and patient-centred, emphasizing trust-building 'at the pace of trust' before engaging with mainstream services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Healthcare Clinic

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of clinical interventions and appointments delivered annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• YMCA BournemouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGareth Sherwood, Chief Executive of Bournemouth YMCA, serves as Vice-Chair/Treasurer on the HealthBus Board. YMCA provides accommodation services and works with HealthBus for coordinated patient support.
• University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Centre for Homelessness Research and Practice (CHRP) on research projects including Care+Her women's health initiative, Mixed Methods Evaluation Report 2026, and Trauma-Informed Outreach Training. Professor Nick Maguire leads training sessions.
• NHS DorsetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship with NHS Dorset for clinical governance, referrals, and integration with mainstream health services. Dr Mohammed Tamimi provides medical advisory from NHS background.
• St Mungo'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBCP Street Outreach Service operated by Mungo's. Partnership allows HealthBus to reach rough sleepers identified through outreach and provide healthcare alongside housing support.
• The Cranborne PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGP practice partnership for referrals and collaborative patient care. Part of network of healthcare providers ensuring homeless patients can access mainstream services when ready.
• Dorset PolicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support vulnerable individuals who may encounter police while homeless, ensuring healthcare needs are addressed alongside any legal considerations.
• DSAB (Drug and Alcohol Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with substance misuse services to provide coordinated support for patients with addiction issues, enabling integrated care alongside housing and health services.
• FaithworkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based charity partnership providing additional support network for homeless individuals and connection to community resources.
• Bournemouth FoodbanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with foodbank services to identify individuals who may need healthcare support and provide holistic assistance alongside food provision.
• Healthwatch DorsetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch report 'Voiceless, unheard and socially excluded' (September 2024) highlighted health inequalities faced by homeless people, supporting HealthBus mission.
• AJC GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPoole-based affordable housing developer supporting HealthBus for three years. Fundraising included golf day (£10,400+), 24-hour bus pull world record attempt (104% of £10,000 target = £10,400+), raising awareness and funds.
• We Are With YoucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrug and alcohol charity partnership providing specialist support services for homeless individuals with substance misuse issues.
• Homeless LinksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership charity for organisations working directly with people experiencing homelessness. HealthBus joined as member in 2026 to access network of 800+ organisations.
• Cranfield TrustsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono management support to help HealthBus strengthen, grow and plan for the future. Consultant John Stephenson working closely with the team.
• Arts University BournemouthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents created homelessness awareness campaigns and artwork for postgraduate summer show, helping amplify HealthBus message to new audiences.
• Bournemouth UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia students delivered client briefs on homelessness awareness. Partnership helps train next generation while raising HealthBus profile.
• Dorset Coast RadiosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular appearances on Community Connect show provide platform to discuss HealthBus work, share patient stories, and promote fundraising campaigns to listeners.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Crisis: National UK homelessness charity offering housing, education, employment and health programmes for people experiencing homelessness. Overlaps with HealthBus on the health-inclusion agenda and broader mission but operates at national scale rather than mobile clinical specialisation.
• Homeless Link: National membership body for over 800 organisations working directly with people experiencing homelessness in the UK. HealthBus joined in 2026; Homeless Link provides infrastructure, training and influence at scale that complements rather than competes with HealthBus's clinical service.
• St Mungo's: Large UK homelessness charity providing housing, recovery and outreach services including the BCP Street Outreach Service referenced in HealthBus's data. Operates as a strategic partner rather than direct competitor, but serves the same population at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Groundswell: UK charity tackling homelessness through peer-led advocacy, research and health inclusion programmes. Comparable in its lived-experience-led approach, UK focus on homeless health inequalities, and commitment to producing evidence to influence policy and practice.
• The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields: London-based charity providing frontline services including healthcare, advice and resettlement support for people sleeping rough. Operates in a comparable frontline-healthcare-for-homeless space and combines clinical and non-clinical support in a similar integrated model.
• Pathway: UK healthcare charity dedicated to improving healthcare for people experiencing homelessness through hospital-based specialist teams and advocacy. Highly comparable to HealthBus as both focus on the homeless-health interface in the UK, though Pathway operates primarily inside NHS hospitals rather than via mobile outreach.
• Doctors of the World UK: UK clinic and outreach programme providing medical care to people facing barriers to access including homelessness, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. Dr Mohammed Tamimi, HealthBus's Medical Advisor, is himself a Doctors of the World volunteer, evidencing strong mission and operational overlap.

Regional players

• Single Homeless Project (SHP): London-based charity providing accommodation, support and health services for single homeless people. Comparable integrated support model for homeless populations, with overlap on the health-addiction-housing nexus, but regional London focus differs from HealthBus's BCP coverage.
• Thames Reach: London-focused charity supporting people out of homelessness through outreach, accommodation and health programmes. Comparable in combining street outreach with health-related support, but limited to London and therefore a regional rather than direct peer for the BCP-based HealthBus.

Emerging players

• Centre for Homelessness Research and Practice (University of Southampton): Academic research centre that is HealthBus's primary research partner. They co-produce evaluations and training; functionally an adjacent organisation in the homeless-health evidence ecosystem and a natural extension point for HealthBus's research dissemination strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthbus-trust

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 HealthBus Trust