Pilgrim Bandits Charity
Pilgrim Bandits Charity is a UK-registered non-profit that rehabilitates injured military veterans and emergency services personnel through physically demanding expeditions, the Curtis Palmer Programme for police officers, individual equipment grants, and vocational training courses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew Milton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pilgrim Bandits Charity does
Pilgrim Bandits Charity is a UK-registered non-profit (charity number 1136166) founded in 2007 by Special Force Members and officially registered in March 2010. Headquartered in New Milton, Hampshire with a 9-person team, the charity supports injured military veterans and emergency services personnel through physically and mentally demanding expeditions — kayaking, cycling, trekking, skiing, and parachuting — designed to rebuild self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Its core programmes include the general expedition portfolio, the Curtis Palmer Programme (established 2019) for police officers with PTSD or injuries (now reaching 35+ students across 7 police forces), individual grants for specialist equipment (wheelchairs, e-bikes), and free or part-funded vocational training courses to support career transition.
The organisation generates revenue from four streams: individual donations processed via the Total Giving platform (with automatic Gift Aid reclaim adding 21.6%), a 32-product e-commerce merchandise shop selling branded clothing, homeware, and gifts priced £2–£1,000, corporate partnerships for CSR and team-building initiatives, and event participation fees where beneficiaries pledge £1,500 per expedition. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across its own e-commerce store, donation platform, and expedition registration system, supplemented by corporate direct-sales outreach. Underlying technology is minimal: a WordPress site, standard e-commerce plugin, and Microsoft Forms for grant applications, with no proprietary platforms, APIs, or AI systems.
Go-to-market is community-led, relying on beneficiary testimonials, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), expedition-driven earned media, and a podcast collaboration ('Another Mans Shoes') for awareness, with corporate partnerships and direct outreach driving bottom-funnel conversions. The charity claims a global expedition footprint spanning the UK, Norway, Vietnam, USA, New Zealand, and Australia, though the UK remains the primary operational and fundraising market. Notable credibility assets include the Sun Millie Award (2021), Armed Forces Covenant signatory status, and patrons drawn from UK Special Forces and parliamentary defence circles.
Pilgrim Bandits Charity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pilgrim Bandits Charity
- Legal name
- Pilgrim Bandits Charity
- Website
- https://pilgrimbandits.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pilgrim Bandits Charity is a UK-registered non-profit that rehabilitates injured military veterans and emergency services personnel through physically demanding expeditions, the Curtis Palmer Programme for police officers, individual equipment grants, and vocational training courses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pilgrim Bandits Charity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran and Emergency Services Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disaster Behavioral Health & Psychosocial Support (HLAJAGAM), Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC)
Keywords
Where Pilgrim Bandits Charity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Milton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pilgrim Bandits Charity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through individual donations via Total Giving platform, standing orders via Barclays, and Gift Aid reclaim. Donations go directly to supporting injured service personnel.
- Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including clothing, homeware, and gifts. Products range from £4 to £1,000 including custom watches, clothing, and accessories.
- Corporate Partnerships: Sustainable partnerships with private sector companies for joint activities, team building, and CSR initiatives. Provides PR coverage and brand strengthening for corporate partners.
- Event Participation Fees: Beneficiaries pledge to raise £1,500 towards expedition costs. Vietnam 2026 event has different pricing for beneficiary and supporter categories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise items from £2 to £1,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weight-based UK shipping rates |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Aid increases donation value by 21.6% |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pilgrim Bandits Charity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pilgrim Bandits Charity helps and inspires injured military veterans and emergency services (blue light) personnel to live life to the full through physically and mentally demanding expeditions and challenges, including kayaking, cycling, trekking, and parachuting. Core services include the Curtis Palmer Programme for police/emergency services personnel with PTSD, individual grants for specialist equipment such as wheelchairs and electric bikes, and free/partially funded vocational training courses for veteran career transition. A branded online merchandise shop supplements fundraising.
Product overview
Pilgrim Bandits Charity operates primarily as a support organization for injured military veterans and emergency services personnel, offering a portfolio of experiential recovery programmes and retail merchandise. The core offering consists of physically demanding expeditions (kayaking, cycling, trekking, parachuting) and the Curtis Palmer Programme for police/emergency services with PTSD, complemented by individual grants for specialist equipment. The organization also maintains a branded e-commerce shop selling clothing, homeware, and merchandise to support fundraising, with products including T-shirts, hoodies, watches, challenge coins, and accessories. The Curtis Palmer Programme provides structured recovery combining physical challenges, emotional intelligence training, and peer mentoring.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Curtis Palmer Programme: A programme established in early 2019 that helps Police Officers with injuries or who are struggling with their mental health to get back to work in a better place. It includes physical challenges, emotional intelligence training, and mentoring.
Products and services
- Expeditions and Challenges Physically and mentally demanding expedition programme (kayaking, cycling, trekking, parachuting, off-roading) for injured military veterans and emergency services personnel to rebuild self-confidence and self-belief.
- Curtis Palmer Programme Specialized recovery programme for police officers and emergency services personnel with injuries or PTSD, combining physical challenges (canoeing in Norway, Snowdonia expeditions), emotional intelligence training, and peer mentoring by injured military servicemen.
- Individual Grants for Injured Personnel
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 35 students from 7 Police Forces supported by Curtis Palmer Programme since 2019
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pilgrim Bandits Charity
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pilgrim Bandits Charity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pilgrim Bandits Charity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- NITE WatchesminorWatch manufacturer in Christchurch, Dorset. Produced limited edition 2023 Pilgrim Bandits custom watch (only 11 made; first sold at auction for £5,000).
- Vetrun180coreMilitary charity partnership for Operation Ride UK. Vetrun180 volunteers, who are injured veterans themselves, organize logistics including food preparation and camp setup for riders.
- Fox Bravo OverlandcoreAmerican hosts for Op Western Bandits expedition in San Francisco, Eastern California and Western Nevada. Hosted 26 participants from UK, NZ and USA.
- Dixon StewartminorPartner company with logo displayed on website footer. Nature of partnership not detailed.
- Liley's CiderminorPartner company supplying Welsh Warrior cider products. Logo displayed on website footer.
- HelIOperationscorePartner supporting expeditions with operational logistics. Logo displayed on website footer.
- The Next StepcoreVeterans charity partner. Logo displayed on website footer alongside other partner logos.
- BritKitUSAminorFriends in the states who supply Pilgrim Logo patches for the charity. Located in USA.
- Hidden Valley BushcraftcorePartner organization for Curtis Palmer Programme. Helen Barnett is Patron. Provides bushcraft and survival skills training.
- Curtis Palmer ProgrammecoreProgramme established in 2019 to help Police Officers with injuries or mental health. Includes physical challenges, emotional intelligence training, and mentoring by injured military servicemen.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pilgrim Bandits Charity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Royal British Legion: UK's largest military charity serving the entire Armed Forces community. Overlaps on beneficiary population but operates a vastly broader welfare, housing, and remembrance mission rather than adventure-based rehabilitation.
- Help for Heroes: UK's largest military charity supporting wounded veterans through recovery, welfare, and employment programmes. Directly comparable beneficiary population (injured UK military) but vastly larger scale, broader service portfolio, and dominant donor brand.
- SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity: UK's oldest armed forces charity providing welfare, mental health, and housing support. Overlapping beneficiary base (military personnel and families) but significantly broader scope and longer operating history.
Direct peers
- Walking With The Wounded: UK charity supporting ex-military with physical and mental injuries through expeditions, employment, and mental health programmes. Closest comparable in terms of expedition-based veteran rehabilitation model.
- The Not Forgotten: UK military charity providing sporting and challenging activities for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and veterans. Very close peer in terms of expedition/challenge-based rehabilitation for the same beneficiary population.
- Combat Stress: UK charity specializing in mental health treatment for veterans, particularly PTSD. Direct peer in the veteran PTSD/mental health recovery space; Combat Stress is clinical-treatment focused whereas Pilgrim Bandits uses adventure-based experiential therapy.
- Blesma - The Limbless Veterans: UK charity supporting limbless and amputee veterans. Highly comparable beneficiary profile (multiple beneficiaries like Tyler Christopher and Charley Streather are amputees); Blesma focuses on welfare and rehabilitation grants while Pilgrim Bandits delivers experiential challenges.
Emerging players
- Calvert Trust: UK outdoor activity centres delivering adaptive outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. Comparable in using outdoor adventure as therapy/enablement but serves a broader disability population rather than specifically military/emergency services.
- Jubilee Sailing Trust: UK charity providing sailing adventures for people of all abilities including disabled and wounded personnel. Shares the adventure-therapy-as-rehabilitation model but operates primarily in maritime activities and a wider beneficiary base.
Others
- Hidden Valley Bushcraft: Partner organization providing bushcraft and survival skills training for the Curtis Palmer Programme. Listed as a partner on Pilgrim Bandits' website and operates in the same outdoor-adventure instruction space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pilgrim Bandits Charity social profiles
Digital presencePilgrim Bandits Charity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pilgrim Bandits Charity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pilgrim Bandits Charity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pilgrim Bandits Charity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pilgrim Bandits Charity
What does Pilgrim Bandits Charity do?
Pilgrim Bandits Charity helps and inspires injured military veterans and emergency services (blue light) personnel to live life to the full through physically and mentally demanding expeditions and challenges, including kayaking, cycling, trekking, and parachuting. Core services include the Curtis Palmer Programme for police/emergency services personnel with PTSD, individual grants for specialist equipment such as wheelchairs and electric bikes, and free/partially funded vocational training courses for veteran career transition. A branded online merchandise shop supplements fundraising.
Is Pilgrim Bandits Charity a public or private company?
Pilgrim Bandits Charity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pilgrim Bandits Charity founded?
Pilgrim Bandits Charity was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pilgrim Bandits Charity based?
Pilgrim Bandits Charity is headquartered in New Milton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Pilgrim Bandits Charity make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, corporate Partnerships and event Participation Fees.
Who are Pilgrim Bandits Charity's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity. Direct peers are Walking With The Wounded, The Not Forgotten, Combat Stress and Blesma - The Limbless Veterans. Emerging players are Calvert Trust and Jubilee Sailing Trust. Hidden Valley Bushcraft is listed as an others.
Does Pilgrim Bandits Charity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pilgrim Bandits Charity.
What industry is Pilgrim Bandits Charity in?
Pilgrim Bandits Charity's product category is Veteran and Emergency Services Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAG, Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs, with a secondary code of HLAJAGAM, Disaster Behavioral Health & Psychosocial Support. Its NAICS code is 62431 and its SIC code is 8300.