Include.org

What Include.org does

Include.org (legally The Include Project) is a UK registered charity (No. 1177785) founded in 2016 by Alix Lewer, a former NHS speech and language therapist, to serve people with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, stroke, and other communication difficulties in Surrey and South East England. Its flagship offering is The Include Choir, a sing-and-sign choir using Makaton signing that meets weekly in Redhill (Wednesdays) and Epsom (Tuesdays), with supplementary online participation via Include Choir Online. Adjacent core products include Stroll and Sign monthly wellbeing walks, the Include Champions Group (a lived-experience consultancy that produces free Easy Read resources across 18+ topics), and Communication Corner drop-in speech therapy Q&A sessions. Supporting services include specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessments and AAC provisions, accredited training in Makaton, Talking Mats, Mental Capacity Act, and Inclusive Communication, plus consultancy and corporate volunteering programmes. The underlying approach is grounded in speech and language therapy evidence rather than proprietary technology, with differentiation built on lived experience leadership, awards recognition (Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2022, nasen Community Champion 2025), and a multi-touchpoint community ecosystem.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of fee-for-service training and consultancy, grants from UK charitable foundations and Surrey County Council, individual and corporate donations (including Big Give Christmas Challenge), SLT interventions, and event performance fees. Choir membership and Easy Read resources are priced for accessibility rather than margin. The organization operates with approximately 13 paid staff plus trustees, runs from a registered address in Redhill, Surrey, and reports strong member outcomes (88% mental health improvement, 97% feel happier, 89% meet more people, 88% feel more confident). The only named enterprise partner is CardMedic (charity partnership, 2020); broader commercial buyers include healthcare, social care, education, and corporate clients across the UK.

Name

Include.org

Legal name

The Include Project

Website

https://include.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Include.org is a UK registered charity (No. 1177785) founded in 2016 that supports people with learning disabilities, autism, and communication difficulties through sing-and-sign choirs, wellbeing walks, lived-experience consultancy, Easy Read resources, and accredited inclusive communication training in Surrey and South East England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Inclusion Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Inclusive communication services
• Speech language therapy
• Makaton sign training
• Easy read resources
• Community inclusion choir

Headquarters

HQ city

Redhill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training and Consultancy Services: Fee-for-service training programs including Inclusive Communication Training, Mental Capacity Act Training, Makaton Training, and Talking Mats Training. Consultancy services for organizations seeking to improve CQC ratings, address service delivery issues, or become more inclusive.
2. Grants and Funded Programs: Funding from charitable foundations and government bodies including Community Foundation for Surrey, Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Powertutors, Surrey County Council, and The Russell Tin Trust.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate fundraising, event-based fundraising (Run Reigate, Ultra Challenge), and Big Give Christmas Challenge campaigns. Choir membership fees kept as low as possible for accessibility.
4. Speech and Language Therapy Services: Specialist speech and language therapy interventions including assessments, individual and group therapy programs, Communication Passports, AAC including iPads, Communication Care Plans, and reports.
5. Event Performance Fees: The Include Choir performs at events for fees, including weddings, corporate events, community celebrations, and awareness-raising performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Include.org is a UK registered charity that delivers inclusive communication services for people with communication difficulties, primarily those with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, stroke or brain injury. Core offerings include the Include Choir (weekly sing-and-sign sessions in Redhill and Epsom with online access), Stroll and Sign wellbeing walks, the Champions Group lived-experience consultancy that produces Easy Read resources, and specialist speech and language therapy. The charity also sells training and consultancy to organisations covering Inclusive Communication, Mental Capacity Act, Makaton and Talking Mats.

Product overview

Include.org is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of services focused on inclusive communication for people with communication difficulties. The core offerings include The Include Choir (sing-and-sign choirs in Redhill and Epsom), Stroll and Sign (wellbeing walks), and the Include Champions Group (lived experience consultancy producing Easy Read resources). Supporting services include Speech and Language Therapy, training programs (Makaton, Talking Mats, Mental Capacity Act, Inclusive Communication), Easy Read resources, Creative Communication Activities, consultancy, and corporate volunteering programs. The organization also provides Communication Corner for speech therapy Q&A and Include Choir Online for virtual participation. These services work together to boost communication, inclusion, and empowerment for people with learning disabilities, autism, and other communication needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Include Choir A sing-and-sign choir for people with and without learning disabilities or autism, combining music, Makaton signing, and inclusive communication practice. Sessions are held in Redhill (Wednesdays 7.30-9pm) and Epsom (Tuesdays 6-7.30pm), with online Zoom access available, and a Communication Corner Q&A drop-in on the last session of each month.
• Stroll and Sign Monthly accessible walks in natural environments that teach Makaton signing and mindfulness skills, with Grade Level 1 routes suitable for wheelchairs. Locations include Merstham Recreation Ground and Redhill Common.
• Include Champions Group A lived experience consultancy team of people with learning disabilities, autism and communication needs that generates ideas, feedback, and free Easy Read resources, and advises organisations on inclusive practice. Members meet weekly via Zoom and contribute to Easy Read document creation.
• Speech and Language Therapy Specialist speech and language therapy interventions including assessments, individual and group therapy programmes, AAC (including iPads), Communication Passports, Communication Books, and Communication Care Plans, delivered by qualified therapists.
• Makaton Training Accredited Makaton training workshops (Taster, Beginner, Foundation, Enhancement) delivered by qualified Regional Makaton Tutors, plus bespoke creative Makaton-based courses tailored to organisational needs.
• Talking Mats Training Foundation Training delivered over two half-day sessions teaching the use of visual supports and symbols to help people with communication difficulties express themselves on complex topics.
• Mental Capacity Act Training Interactive workshops and training in robust Mental Capacity Assessments using inclusive communication techniques, including audit of MCA practice, policy development, and strategy.
• Inclusive Communication Training Taster, 1-day, and 2-day training courses providing insight into communication difficulties, interactive evidence-based learning, and practical tools for including people with understanding or speaking difficulties.
• Easy Read Resources Free Easy Read resources on topics including health, wellbeing, inclusive communication, mental capacity, activities, and current topics, produced by the Include Champions group and accompanied by audio files on SoundCloud.
• Inclusive Communication and Mental Capacity Act Consultancy Flexible consultancy services tailored to organisational needs, including practice audits, CQC rating improvement, service-delivery enhancement, and team skills development.
• Include Choir Event Performances The Include Choir is available for booking at weddings, corporate events, community celebrations, conferences, and awareness-raising performances.
• Creative Communication Activities Practical activities such as Communicake decorating, afternoon tea sessions, and interactive music sessions designed to teach inclusive communication skills in meaningful, fun ways for people with communication needs and their support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of members report improvement in mental health
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• National Autistic Society: Large UK charity for autistic people and their families, delivering information, support, and services. Comparable to Include because ~80% of Include choir members have learning disabilities and a sizable share have autism, but NAS operates at national scale and across the full autism spectrum rather than focusing on communication access.
• United Response: National charity providing support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs, including communication-focused services. Comparable on the learning disability and communication support mission, but operates as a much larger direct-service provider rather than a small community-led charity.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people who are deafblind or have complex communication needs. Comparable to Include on the inclusive communication / communication disability axis, with overlapping service types (advice, community programs, training) but broader disability scope and national footprint.
• Mencap: One of the UK's largest learning disability charities, providing advice, support, and services to people with learning disabilities. Comparable to Include as a learning-disability-focused nonprofit serving overlapping populations, but operating nationally across many program areas rather than specializing in inclusive communication.
• Hft (Home Farm Trust): National charity supporting people with learning disabilities through personalized support, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable on target population and inclusion focus, though Hft's model is built around supported living rather than arts/inclusive communication programming.

Regional players

• Surrey Coalition of Disabled People: Local user-led disability organization in Surrey, the same geography Include primarily serves. Comparable as a regional disabled-people-led advocacy and peer support organization, with overlapping geography and beneficiary base, but focused on broader disability rights rather than inclusive communication specifically.

Others

• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT): UK professional body for speech and language therapists; awarded Include two Giving Voice Awards. Comparable as the sector ecosystem anchor that legitimizes Include's SLT-led services and feeds referrals, training demand, and clinical credibility.

Direct peers

• Talking Mats: Social enterprise that developed the Talking Mats visual communication framework and licenses its training. Include sells accredited Talking Mats Foundation Training at £225/person, putting the two organizations in direct competition for the same training buyers (healthcare, social care, education).
• The Makaton Charity: Originating charity and licensing body for the Makaton language programme, which Include teaches. Directly comparable on Makaton training delivery, sign-and-symbol communication, and supporting people with learning disabilities and communication needs, though The Makaton Charity owns the core programme while Include delivers it.
• Communication Matters: UK charity and membership organization promoting Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including symbol-based systems. Directly comparable to Include because Include provides AAC (e.g. iPads), Communication Passports, and Communication Care Plans, and both serve people with complex communication needs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IncludeTube
• Facebookfacebook.com/include.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/include-org
• Instagraminstagram.com/include_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Include.org