Touretteshero
Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company founded in 2010 in London that celebrates Tourette Syndrome through creative programmes, solidarity services, research initiatives, and commercial training and consultancy, serving people with Tourette's, cultural organisations, educators, and funders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Touretteshero does
Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company (CIC) registered in England and Wales (Company No. 07735004), founded in 2010 by Jess Thom and Matthew Pountney and headquartered at 2 Walmer Castle Court, Peckham Road, London. The organisation's stated mission is to celebrate the humour and creativity of Tourettes Syndrome and to promote disability culture and social justice, operating across six named areas: creative, solidarity, research, commercial, digital, and media. Its core digital platform is a WordPress-based website that documents 6,667+ genuine vocal tics, hosts a user-generated art gallery, publishes a blog with 348+ posts, and operates an e-commerce shop; the site is gated to adults and offers a proprietary SafeMode cookie-based content filter that removes swearing and adult content for family-friendly browsing. Programmes span theatrical productions (Backstage in Biscuit Land, Burnt Out in Biscuit Land, Not I, Heroes of the Imagination, Valley of the Shadows), immersive installations (Journey to a Better World), solidarity offerings (Practical Intervention Fund, Letters of Welcome, London Group for children aged 6-16), and research initiatives (Knowledge for Change, Knowledge Builders, Rebel Play, Knowledge Exchange events).
The business model is multi-stream non-profit social enterprise. Primary funding comes from a concentrated portfolio of UK arts and charitable foundations: Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation since 2023, Wellcome Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, City Bridge Foundation, Linbury Trust, National Lottery Community Fund, with initial seed support from UnLtd in 2010. Secondary revenue streams include merchandise (zines £10, t-shirts £15.99, prints £12, padded gloves £25, logo patches £2, books), donations in £5-£20 tiers, and bespoke commercial services (disabled-led training, consultancy, public appearances, access document creation) sold to museums, galleries, theatres, schools and corporations. Distribution is hybrid: a global e-commerce storefront and online participation model for community reach, plus direct enterprise sales and ticketed events delivered in person at partner venues across the UK and internationally.
The organisation is led by co-founders Jess Thom and Matthew Pountney (Co-creative Directors), with a leadership team that includes Executive Director Frederica Notley, Research Director Dr Will Renel, General Manager Trina Keane, Solidarity Co-ordinator Dr Katie Goldfinch, Senior Producer Nisha Oza (departing May 2026), and Relationships and Knowledge for Change Manager Dr Chloe Trainor. Operations are supported by a multi-skilled advisory group meeting quarterly, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Touretteshero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Touretteshero
- Legal name
- Touretteshero CIC
- Website
- https://touretteshero.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company founded in 2010 in London that celebrates Tourette Syndrome through creative programmes, solidarity services, research initiatives, and commercial training and consultancy, serving people with Tourette's, cultural organisations, educators, and funders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Touretteshero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Arts and Community Services
- NAICS
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours (THAJAAAE)
Keywords
Where Touretteshero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Touretteshero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce shop selling branded merchandise including zines, t-shirts, prints, patches, gloves, and books. Products priced £2-£25, with sustainability and practicality focus.
- Donations: Non-profit social enterprise accepting one-off and regular donations. Donations £5-£15 range. All revenue supports activities and ongoing costs.
- Commercial Services: Training, consultancy, public appearances, access document creation, and curation services. Delivered by disabled-led team with expertise in Tourettes, relaxed performance, disability arts, creative access, inclusive play, and organisational change.
- Funding Partnerships: Grant funding from Arts Council England (National Portfolio), Wellcome Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, City Bridge Foundation, Linbury Trust, and National Lottery Community Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise products |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donations |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Commercial services (training, consultancy) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Touretteshero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company that creates theatrical performances, solidarity programmes, research initiatives, and commercial training and consultancy services centred on celebrating the humour and creativity of Tourettes Syndrome. It operates a digital platform featuring a tic database, art gallery, blog, and e-commerce shop, alongside grant-funded community engagement and bespoke services for cultural organisations, educators, and corporations.
Product overview
Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company (CIC) operating a multi-faceted digital and service platform centered on celebrating the humor and creativity of Tourettes Syndrome. The core platform (touretteshero.com) provides the SafeMode content filtering feature, a searchable tic database (6,667+ tics), an art gallery, blog, and e-commerce shop. The portfolio spans creative performances (Backstage in Biscuit Land, Journey to a Better World, Heroes of the Imagination), solidarity programmes (Practical Intervention Fund, Letters of Welcome, London Group), research initiatives (Knowledge Builders, Knowledge for Change, Rebel Play), and commercial services (training, consultancy, access document creation). Merchandise includes the 'Welcome to Biscuit Land' book, zines, padded gloves for tics, and apparel. All commercial revenue supports the organization's social mission of promoting disability culture and social justice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rebel Play: An intergenerational, disabled-led, practice-based research project that documents the positive play experiences of disabled children and adults, informing collaborations with artists and inspiring new accessible play activities.
- Knowledge Builders
- Knowledge for Change
Products and services
- Touretteshero Shop
- Backstage in Biscuit Land
- Adventures in Biscuit Land
- Not I
- Heroes of the Imagination
- Burnt Out in Biscuit Land
- Journey to a Better World
- Welcome to Biscuit Land Book
- Department for Wonder and Play Zine
- Padded Gloves for Tics
- Disabled-led Training Services
- Bespoke Consultancy
- Access Document Creation
- Valley of the Shadows
Quantifiable outcome
- Total Theatre Award at Edinburgh Fringe for Backstage in Biscuit Land (2014)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Touretteshero
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Touretteshero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Touretteshero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Tate ModerncoreVenue for Adventures in Biscuit Land immersive installation in 2017. Partnership created interactive sensory play spaces in Blavatnik Building for disabled and non-disabled families.
- V&AmajorPresented paper at Museums, Artists & Communities symposium 2026. Ongoing partnership for empathetic creative practice exploration.
- Whitechapel GallerymajorPartnership for Return of the Rebels inclusive play event. Hosted at Assembly Room with step-free access and Changing Places toilet facilities.
- Graeae Theatre CompanymajorVenue for 1000 Cuts Knowledge Exchange event on Access to Work. Wheelchair accessible venue with chill-out spaces and BSL interpretation.
- Shakespeare's GlobemajorVenue for Knowledge Exchange events. Selected for comfortable, accessible settings with shared cultural value for disabled research participants.
- Oasis PlaycoreInclusive adventure playground venue for London Group sessions. Wheelchair accessible space hosting Touretteshero Friends Meet Up for children aged 6-16.
- National Youth TheatreminorCollaboration on Digital Heroes of Imagination project for SEND schools during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Bridlington SpamajorVenue for Journey to the Brilliant Bridlington public family day event. Wheelchair accessible, all activities on one level.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Touretteshero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mind the Gap: UK learning disability theatre company producing touring work with learning-disabled performers. Comparable in scale, producing model, and disability-led ethos, though focused on learning rather than Tourettes specifically.
- Graeae Theatre Company: UK's flagship disability-led theatre company, producing professional work with disabled artists and touring nationally. Direct peer in mission, disabled-led structure, and creative touring model; both partnered on knowledge exchange events.
- Shape Arts: UK disability-led arts organisation supporting deaf and disabled artists through grants, training, and development. Comparable in disability-led mission, training services, and Arts Council England funding relationship.
- StopGAP Dance Company: UK inclusive dance company producing touring work with disabled and non-disabled dancers. Comparable as a UK-based inclusive touring dance company with similar funding profile from Arts Council England.
- Candoco Dance Company: UK-based inclusive dance company integrating disabled and non-disabled dancers in professional touring productions. Closely comparable as a disabled-led/inclusive performing arts company of similar scale and touring scope.
- Diverse City: UK inclusive touring theatre company producing work with disabled and non-disabled performers. Comparable in producing touring work and participatory community engagement in disability arts.
- Access All Areas Theatre: UK inclusive performing arts company working with learning-disabled and autistic artists. Comparable in producing inclusive touring theatre and participatory programmes for marginalised communities.
- Extant Theatre Company: UK visually impaired-led professional theatre company producing touring work with blind and partially sighted performers. Comparable as a disabled-led touring theatre company with similar funding base and institutional relationships.
Regional players
- National Disability Theatre: US-based disability-led theatre company producing touring work with disabled artists. Comparable mission and producing model but operates in a different geography (US vs UK) with no direct market overlap.
Others
- Disability Arts Online: UK online platform and magazine covering disability arts and culture. Comparable as a sector platform amplifying disabled-led creative work, though operating as media rather than producing organisation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Touretteshero social profiles
Digital presenceTouretteshero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Touretteshero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Touretteshero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Touretteshero 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 Touretteshero
What does Touretteshero do?
Touretteshero is a disabled-led Community Interest Company that creates theatrical performances, solidarity programmes, research initiatives, and commercial training and consultancy services centred on celebrating the humour and creativity of Tourettes Syndrome. It operates a digital platform featuring a tic database, art gallery, blog, and e-commerce shop, alongside grant-funded community engagement and bespoke services for cultural organisations, educators, and corporations.
Is Touretteshero a public or private company?
Touretteshero is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Touretteshero founded?
Touretteshero was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Touretteshero based?
Touretteshero is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Touretteshero make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Merchandise Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations, commercial Services and funding Partnerships.
Who are Touretteshero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mind the Gap, Graeae Theatre Company, Shape Arts, StopGAP Dance Company, Candoco Dance Company, Diverse City, Access All Areas Theatre and Extant Theatre Company. National Disability Theatre is listed as a regional player. Disability Arts Online is listed as an others.
Does Touretteshero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Touretteshero.
What industry is Touretteshero in?
Touretteshero's product category is Disability Arts and Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAAAE, Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours. Its NAICS code is 7115 and its SIC code is 7819.