The Utley Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersIngatestone, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Utley Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Utley Foundation
- Legal name
- The Utley Foundation
- Website
- https://utleyfoundation.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Utley Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where The Utley Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ingatestone, Chelmsford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Utley Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Endowment-based Grant-making: The Foundation was established in 2014 with a £25 million endowment. It operates as a private family charitable trust, distributing grants from its endowment and any investment returns. It does not generate commercial revenue. Its model is to act as a catalyst for greater funding and wider action, having leveraged at least £3.5 million from other sources through shared investment approaches.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Utley Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Utley Foundation is a private family charitable trust that distributes grants from its £25 million endowment to advance charitable causes. Its flagship offering is the Music for Dementia campaign, which combines grant-making with policy development, awareness raising, and direct service delivery — most notably m4d Radio, a free, ad-free, 24/7 online radio station with era-specific themed channels designed for people living with dementia and their carers. The Foundation also operates strategic grant programmes in veterans' mental health, children and young people, and international/refugee aid.
Product overview
The Utley Foundation is a private family charitable trust established in 2014 with a £25 million endowment. Its flagship programme is Music for Dementia, a campaigning philanthropy initiative that combines grant-making with policy development, awareness raising, and direct service delivery. The core product is m4dRADIO, a free online radio station serving people living with dementia and their carers. The Foundation also publishes research reports (Power of Music Report, The Music Sounds Better With You), runs awareness campaigns (Give it a Go), and operates grant programmes distributing funds to music and dementia organisations across the UK. Additional focus areas include Veterans, Children, and International/Refugee support programmes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Music for Dementia: A cross-sector campaign to make music an integral part of dementia care, involving over 200 organisations from the NHS, care sector, third sector and music sector
- m4d Radio
- Power of Music Fund
- Paul and Nick Harvey Fund
- The Leon Schiteanu Memorial Programme
Products and services
- m4d Radio A free online radio station with six era-specific channels (1940s–1980s) delivering music for people living with dementia and their carers. Ad-free and talk-free, accessible via web browser, Amazon Alexa, tablets, and Yoto screen-free audio players. Award-winning (Dementia Care Award 2020; Outstanding Arts and Creativity in Dementia Care Award 2020).
- Music for Dementia Grants Programme A grant-making programme distributing funds to music and dementia organisations across the UK. Over £3.5 million distributed to nearly 300 music and dementia organisations via sub-funds including the Paul & Nick Harvey Fund (grants of £5,000–£50,000 to 30 UK projects).
- Power of Music Fund A dedicated grant fund, kickstarted with £1 million from The Utley Foundation and managed by the National Academy of Social Prescribing, that enables local grant-making for music and dementia projects including dementia choirs, carers groups, and care home projects.
- Veterans Grant-Making Programme A strategic UK grant programme funding organisations that provide mental health and wellbeing support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families, particularly those from Special Forces backgrounds, during and after service transition.
- Children and Young People Grant Programme A UK grant programme funding organisations supporting children and young people through disability services, child health, creative arts, music, play schemes, and scholarship programmes. £1.6 million awarded to date. Includes the Leon Schiteanu Memorial Programme for child bereavement support.
- International and Refugee Grant Programme A grant programme providing international aid and support for refugees and communities in crisis zones, spanning well-known charities to grassroots groups. Over £750,000 distributed to date.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% of UK family carers now use music as part of dementia care (up from near-zero recognition 10 years ago)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use The Utley Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Utley Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
The Utley Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered significant and core.
- BBCBBC participated in the Music Made Easy Roundtable (November 2025) and hosted the second Taskforce roundtable at its Blue Room (March 2026). BBC Memory Radio and BBC R&D showcased accessibility and archive content work. BBC Songs of Praise broadcasted Lichfield Cathedral dementia-friendly service.
- BPI (British Phonographic Industry)significantParticipated in Music Made Easy Roundtable (November 2025) and hosted the subsequent Taskforce meeting at its offices in July 2026. Representing UK record labels in the push for accessible music formats for older adults and people with dementia.
- Universal Music Group (UMG)significantUMG participated in the Music Made Easy Roundtable and is supporting through its Health and Wellness initiatives including the Sound Therapy project on Apple Music and the Sollos research programme. UMG's Universal Music Group for Impact (UMGI) has provided a donation linked to Sam Fender's track 'Remember My Name'.
- Warner Music GroupsignificantParticipated in the Music Made Easy Roundtable (November 2025), contributing to industry-wide efforts to improve music accessibility for older adults and people with dementia.
- University of Sheffield — Muses, Mind, Machine (MMM) Research CentrecoreCo-hosted the Music Made Easy Roundtable with Music for Dementia in September 2025. Dr Jennifer MacRitchie leads the Music, Dementia, Technology project co-designing new technologies for music engagement with people living with dementia. Also leads the BRIDGES for Dementia Network (EPSRC-funded) focused on technology design for people with dementia.
- YotocoreChildren's audio platform whose devices were adapted for people living with dementia through a Music for Dementia Yoto Player trial. 92% of participating families would recommend screen-free music devices for older people. Yoto hosted the Music Made Easy Roundtable at its London HQ in September 2025.
- Music Made Easy TaskforcecoreCross-sector taskforce established by Music for Dementia bringing together UK Music, BPI, BBC, Universal Music Group, Warner Music, technology manufacturers, accessibility experts, and people with lived experience to drive industry-wide progress on music accessibility for people with dementia. Led by Music for Dementia and University of Sheffield. Hosted second roundtable at BBC's Blue Room in March 2026.
- Championing Social Care (Care Home Open Week)significantPartnered for Care Home Open Week 2025 (16–22 June) on a 'Power of Music' theme. Joint initiatives include a mini newspaper mailer with musical activity ideas, free Sing-a-long sessions on m4d Radio, and a Big Music Quiz. Over 5,500 care services participated in the previous year.
- National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP)coreUtley Foundation contributed £1 million to kickstart the Power of Music Fund, co-convened with NASP. NASP grew the fund with support from Andy Burnham, Sir Richard Lees (Chair of NHS Greater Manchester), The University of Manchester, and Alzheimer's Society. The fund enables local grant-making for music and dementia projects.
- Manchester CameratacoreSelected as host for UK's first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia following an outstanding bid. Manchester Camerata runs Music in Mind therapy programmes and together with Alzheimer's Society conducts anonymised data-driven research into music's impact on dementia. Centre runs four weekly music cafés per borough across 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, training 300 Music Champions.
- Alzheimer's SocietysignificantCo-host of the Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia alongside Manchester Camerata. Conducts Singing for the Brain sessions across Greater Manchester boroughs as part of the Centre's programme, recruiting and training 300 Music Champions.
- Intergenerational Music MakingsignificantNot-for-profit organisation that partnered with Runwood Homes' Prime Timers choir to produce 'Christmas Through the Years' song. Supported the Guinness World Record attempt and backs the Join A Choir 2025 initiative.
- UK MusiccoreCo-produced the ground-breaking Power of Music report in 2022, consulting with over 200 organisations and individuals from health, social care, music, and philanthropy sectors. The report serves as a blueprint for embedding music in dementia care across the UK.
- The Spitz Music CharitycoreThe Utley Foundation has supported The Spitz Music Charity since 2021. The Spitz brings professional musicians into care homes, hospices, and hospitals to share live music with those who need it most. It is cited as a best-in-class example of live music for dementia care, having demonstrably transformed residents including those who were non-verbal.
- Musical Care Taskforce (MCT)coreCreated in 2019 to bring together sector leaders to drive policy and practice change in music and dementia care. Led to the co-production of the Power of Music report with UK Music in 2022 and subsequently the Power of Music Consortium.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Utley Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alzheimer's Society: UK's largest dementia charity. Broad incumbent and direct partner of The Utley Foundation via the Centre of Excellence; overlaps on dementia care advocacy and service delivery.
- Wellcome Trust: Large UK charitable foundation funding health research and social initiatives. Broad incumbent in UK health philanthropy with overlapping interest in dementia and broader health policy impact.
Direct peers
- The Tudor Trust: UK independent charitable trust funding small-to-medium charities. Comparable as a UK grant-making trust supporting community and social welfare causes, including disability and elderly care.
- Leverhulme Trust: UK charitable trust established from the estate of William Lever. Comparable as a UK family-derived charitable trust distributing grants across research, education, and the arts.
- LankellyChase Foundation: UK independent foundation focused on social justice and systemic change. Comparable as a UK private foundation pursuing 'campaigning philanthropy' style strategy and coalition building.
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation: UK grant-making foundation focused on social justice, the arts, and education. Comparable as a UK private family foundation with multi-cause grant-making and sector development work.
- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: UK independent charitable foundation supporting social change, the arts, and the environment. Comparable as a grant-maker combining strategic, multi-cause funding with sector capacity-building.
- Garfield Weston Foundation: One of the UK's largest family-funded grant-making foundations. Comparable as a UK private family charitable trust distributing significant multi-cause grants, including arts, education, and health.
- The Hunter Foundation: UK family charitable foundation established by Sir Tom and Lady Marion Hunter. Directly comparable as a UK private family philanthropic foundation and co-funder of the Paul & Nick Harvey Fund with The Utley Foundation.
Others
- The King's Fund: Independent UK charitable foundation working on health and care policy. Thematically related as a UK health-policy thought leader; adjacent rather than directly comparable as a grant-maker.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Utley Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Utley Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Utley Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Utley Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Utley Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Utley Foundation 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 The Utley Foundation
What does The Utley Foundation do?
The Utley Foundation is a private family charitable trust that distributes grants from its £25 million endowment to advance charitable causes. Its flagship offering is the Music for Dementia campaign, which combines grant-making with policy development, awareness raising, and direct service delivery — most notably m4d Radio, a free, ad-free, 24/7 online radio station with era-specific themed channels designed for people living with dementia and their carers. The Foundation also operates strategic grant programmes in veterans' mental health, children and young people, and international/refugee aid.
Is The Utley Foundation a public or private company?
The Utley Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Utley Foundation founded?
The Utley Foundation was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Utley Foundation based?
The Utley Foundation is headquartered in Ingatestone, Chelmsford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Utley Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: endowment-based Grant-making.
Who are The Utley Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alzheimer's Society and Wellcome Trust. Direct peers are The Tudor Trust, Leverhulme Trust, LankellyChase Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and The Hunter Foundation. The King's Fund is listed as an others.
Does The Utley Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Utley Foundation.
What industry is The Utley Foundation in?
The Utley Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAJ, Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.