Ruhama

What Ruhama does

Ruhama is an Irish registered charity (Ruhama Ltd., CHY 10733) founded in 1989 and the only specialist frontline NGO in Ireland providing free, confidential, nationwide support to women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Its service portfolio is built around a person-centred, trauma-informed casework model and includes one-to-one key-worker support and care planning, counselling and psychotherapy, assertive outreach and in-reach (including a nightly street outreach van and clinics in homeless/addiction services), legal and immigration support, an Education and Development Programme, the Bridge to Work employment programme (36% of participants gained employment in 2022), housing and welfare advocacy, health and wellbeing services, addiction support, and specialised trauma programmes (Trauma Healing, Seeking Safety). It also runs a professional training catalogue (Know Sex-Trafficking, Safety in Truth, Conflict & Crisis, bespoke Garda Síochána and corporate training) and recurring awareness campaigns including the GAA Game Changer programme (2024) and Get the Full Picture.

The underlying technology is intentionally minimal: Ruhama operates on standard digital channels (WordPress website with multilingual resources in six languages, freephone 1800 02 02 02, REACH SMS to 50100, WhatsApp, email) and a JustGiving donation widget, with no proprietary AI or software product. Its intellectual capital resides in 35 years of survivor-informed methodology, statutory relationships, and policy advocacy through the Turn Off the Red Light coalition (credited with Ireland's 2017 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act).

Revenue mechanics are grant-driven and donation-supported: over 75% of funding comes from statutory sources (Department of Justice Victims of Crime Unit, HSE CH06, South Inner City Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force CH07), with the balance from individual donations, corporate partnerships, non-statutory grants, and event-based fundraising. All services are free at point of use with no visa or English-language requirement. Geographic coverage is delivered through a Dublin HQ plus regional offices in Cork, Limerick, and Tullamore, serving 1,128 beneficiaries in 2024 (+75% YoY). The customer segments are non-paying beneficiaries (women in prostitution, trafficking survivors, transgender women, and men), and the 'buyer' is effectively the Irish state via multi-year statutory grants.

Name

Ruhama

Legal name

Ruhama Ltd.

Website

https://ruhama.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ruhama is an Irish registered charity and the only specialist frontline NGO in Ireland providing free, confidential, trauma-informed support nationwide to women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, funded primarily by statutory grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social services for women impacted by prostitution and sex trafficking

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Human trafficking support
• Prostitution support services
• Trauma-informed counselling
• Gender-based violence advocacy
• NGO social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Statutory Funding: Over 75% of funding comes from statutory sources including the Department of Justice (Victims of Crime Unit), the Health Service Executive (HSE CH06), and the South Inner City Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (HSE CH07).
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate partnerships, text-to-donate campaigns, JustGiving, Facebook fundraising, and event-based fundraising.
3. Non-statutory Grants: Funding from various grant-making organizations and foundations to support specific programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ruhama provides free, confidential, person-centred support services to women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation across Ireland, delivered through casework, counselling, legal and immigration support, education, employment (Bridge to Work), housing, health and addiction services. The organisation also delivers trauma-informed specialised programmes (Trauma Healing, Seeking Safety), a free SMS text support service (REACH to 50100), outreach and in-reach clinics, and a suite of professional training courses (e.g. Know Sex-Trafficking) to frontline sectors.

Product overview

Ruhama is an Irish NGO and registered charity (founded 1989) offering nationwide, free and confidential support services exclusively to women impacted by prostitution, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. Its service portfolio is structured around a person-centred model delivered by caseworkers. Core service lines include Casework & Key Worker Support (with individual Care Plans), Counselling & Psychotherapy (trauma-informed), Assertive Outreach & In-Reach, Legal & Immigration Support, Education & Development Programme, the Bridge to Work Employment Programme, Housing & Accommodation Support, Health & Wellbeing Support, Addiction Support, and a free SMS-based REACH text support service (text REACH to 50100). Ruhama also operates specialised programmes including a Trauma Healing Programme and Seeking Safety Programme. Complementing direct service delivery, Ruhama runs a suite of professional training programmes (Know Sex-Trafficking, Safety in Truth, Conflict & Crisis, Bespoke Training, and Garda Síochána Training) delivered to frontline sectors, as well as guest lectures at third-level institutions. Ruhama additionally conducts public-facing awareness campaigns including the Game Changer Programme (a GAA partnership launched 2024), the Get the Full Picture Campaign (2021), We Don't Buy It (2014–2017, 2019–2020), What Irish Sex Buyers Are Really Thinking (2018), and A Penny For Your Thoughts (2017), and hosts an annual international conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Casework & Key Worker Support
• Counselling & Psychotherapy
• Assertive Outreach & In-Reach
• Legal & Immigration Support
• Education & Development Programme
• Bridge to Work Programme
• Housing & Accommodation Support
• Health & Wellbeing Support
• Addiction Support
• REACH Text Support Service
• Trauma Healing Programme
• Seeking Safety Programme
• Know Sex-Trafficking Training
• Safety in Truth Training
• Conflict & Crisis Training
• Bespoke & Garda Síochána Training
• Guest Lectures for Third-Level Institutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% increase in women accessing services (1,128 people in 2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• GAAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2024Three-year Game Changer partnership to raise awareness and action through sport to tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Supported by LGFA and Camogie Associations, funded by Cuan/Department of Justice.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 May 2024Google hosted Ruhama team at EMEA HQ for training about services. Staff participated in 'Giving Week' fundraising activities. Partnership for awareness and support.
• Turn Off the Red Light Campaign (TORL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of over 70 civil society organisations advocating to end prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland. Successfully advocated for the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 which criminalised the purchase of sexual acts.
• Irish Observatory on Violence Against WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork chaired by National Women's Council of Ireland. Ruhama is an active member working with grassroots and national organisations to monitor progress on violence against women and improve service provision.
• SPACE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organisation giving voice to women survivors of prostitution. Members from France, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, US, and UK. Founded in Ireland in 2012.
• CAP InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition for the Abolition of Prostitution - global advocacy vehicle for frontline NGOs. Made of 33 NGOs in 27 countries. Ruhama's Policy and Communications Manager serves as a board member.
• CATW - Coalition Against Trafficking in WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the oldest NGOs working to end trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls worldwide. Ruhama is a member and part of the 5.2 Global Partnership to End Trafficking.
• European Women's LobbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest European umbrella network of women's associations representing 2000+ organisations. Ruhama works with EWL on international advocacy to combat sexual exploitation.
• Men's Development NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit organisation working with men on equality. Key collaborators on White Ribbon Campaign and 'We Don't Buy It' campaign to change men's attitudes towards purchasing sex.
• White Ribbon IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Game Changer programme. Working to end violence against women through male engagement and allyship.
• Microsoft and CodecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted 20 Ruhama service-users for Super ICT Skills Workshop. Partnership to build digital skills for women in the programme.
• City of Dublin ETBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssisted with laptop loan scheme for Ruhama service-users with funding from Adult Literacy for Life initiative.
• Sexual Violence Centre CorksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 'We Don't Buy It' campaign addressing prostitution and sex trafficking.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ECPAT International: Global network focused on ending the sexual exploitation of children, with national member organisations across 100+ countries. Comparable as a frontline anti-exploitation NGO operating across advocacy, training, and survivor support, though with a child-focused mandate.
• International Justice Mission (IJM): Large global anti-trafficking organisation operating across 17+ countries, providing frontline rescue and aftercare services to victims of forced labour and sex trafficking. Comparable scale and casework-driven survivor support model.
• Polaris Project: US-based anti-trafficking NGO operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline and survivor services. Comparable mission and operating model with casework, policy advocacy, and training programmes; larger scale and US-centric rather than Irish.
• European Women's Lobby: Largest European umbrella network of women's associations representing 2000+ organisations. Comparable in advocacy for women's rights, including combatting sexual exploitation, with broader scope spanning all forms of gender-based violence.

Direct peers

• SPACE International: International coalition giving voice to women survivors of prostitution, founded in Ireland in 2012 with members across Europe, North America, and beyond. Direct peer as a sister organisation with identical abolitionist mission and overlapping advocacy scope.
• CATW (Coalition Against Trafficking in Women): One of the oldest international NGOs working to end trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls. Direct coalition peer with shared abolitionist stance and policy advocacy focus; Ruhama is an active member.
• CAP International: Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution comprising 33 NGOs in 27 countries advocating the Nordic model. Direct peer in mission, advocacy approach, and survivor-centred service model; Ruhama's Policy Manager serves on the board.

Regional players

• Sexual Violence Centre Cork: Irish regional organisation providing sexual violence support services, partnered with Ruhama on the 'We Don't Buy It' campaign. Comparable frontline survivor-support model focused on the Munster region with overlapping beneficiary population.
• Men's Development Network: Irish non-profit working with men on gender equality and violence prevention. Direct collaborator on White Ribbon Campaign and 'We Don't Buy It' campaign; comparable mission-adjacent work targeting male behaviour change.

Emerging players

• NIA Project (UK): UK-based specialist organisation providing refuge and outreach support for women affected by prostitution and sexual exploitation. Closely comparable frontline service model with casework, counselling, and exit support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ruhamaie
• Facebookfacebook.com/RuhamaIreland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ruhama

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ruhama