Pilgrim Bandits Charity

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.

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

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

• Military veteran support
• Expedition rehabilitation services
• Emergency services charity
• Injured personnel grants
• PTSD recovery programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

New Milton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NITE WatchesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Watch manufacturer in Christchurch, Dorset. Produced limited edition 2023 Pilgrim Bandits custom watch (only 11 made; first sold at auction for £5,000).
• Vetrun180coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary 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 OverlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican hosts for Op Western Bandits expedition in San Francisco, Eastern California and Western Nevada. Hosted 26 participants from UK, NZ and USA.
• Dixon StewartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company with logo displayed on website footer. Nature of partnership not detailed.
• Liley's CiderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company supplying Welsh Warrior cider products. Logo displayed on website footer.
• HelIOperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting expeditions with operational logistics. Logo displayed on website footer.
• The Next StepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans charity partner. Logo displayed on website footer alongside other partner logos.
• BritKitUSAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends in the states who supply Pilgrim Logo patches for the charity. Located in USA.
• Hidden Valley BushcraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Curtis Palmer Programme. Helen Barnett is Patron. Provides bushcraft and survival skills training.
• Curtis Palmer ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/pilgrimscharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/pilgrimbandits
• Instagraminstagram.com/pilgrimbanditscharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pilgrim-bandits-charity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Pilgrim Bandits Charity