What Acorn recovery projects does

Acorn Recovery Projects is a UK-registered charity and Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) founded in 1997 in Stockport, now headquartered in Burnley, Lancashire. The organisation provides addiction recovery services across North West England, structured around four pillars: residential rehabilitation (Fulstone House in Stockport and CQC-rated 'Good' Bank Parade in Burnley), supported housing (Walter Lyon House in Lancaster, Redwood House in Rochdale, and others), community services (RAMP, DEAP, Transformational Counselling, Ketamine Care Hub, and specialist services such as Pregnancy Support), and a training/social enterprise division (Acorn Academy, an NOCN-recognised centre for learning, and Bad Kamra video production). Approximately 85% of staff have personal lived experience of addiction, which is the core of the service model rather than an ancillary feature.

The organisation operates a portfolio of NHS-commissioned, grant-funded, and partnership-delivered services free at point of use, supporting over 7,000 people annually. Acorn joined The Calico Group conglomerate in 2014 and operates alongside sister entities including Calico Homes, Delphi Medical, Syncora, and Safenet, gaining shared infrastructure and cross-referral capacity. Revenue is derived from NHS and local authority commissioning (e.g., 18 Peer Support Workers embedded in Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Teams; partnership with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), National Lottery grants (totalling at least £160,708 across three documented awards), and smaller charitable foundation funding (Christal Foundation, Pilgrim Trust).

Service delivery is partnership-led: key collaborations include the Recovery Wing at HMP Manchester (with Delphi Medical, opened May 2024), MIDAS (Manchester Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service), Change Grow Live Manchester, Project FREE with Red Rose Recovery, and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. The organisation maintains a regulatory moat through CQC registration of residential facilities and has expanded into adjacent domains including prison recovery, harm reduction training for police (Lancashire Constabulary naloxone programme), maternal alcohol support, and ketamine-specific peer support for under-25s. The 'Empowering Clients' project (National Lottery Community Fund, 2023) formalises a progression pathway from volunteer (90% of whom are former service users) to paid employment, creating a self-renewing talent and community pipeline.

Name

Acorn recovery projects

Legal name

Acorn Recovery Projects

Website

https://acornrecovery.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Acorn Recovery Projects is a UK charity founded in 1997, part of The Calico Group, providing peer-led residential rehab, supported housing, and community addiction recovery services across North West England, serving over 7,000 people annually through NHS, grant, and partnership funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Recovery Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Addiction recovery services
• Residential rehabilitation
• Supported housing
• Peer-led recovery
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Funding: Funded through grants from National Lottery Community Fund, government commissions, and charitable foundations
2. NHS and Public Sector Contracts: Partnership with NHS trusts including Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership
3. Social Enterprise Activities: Bad Kamra video production and Acorn Academy training courses generate some revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Acorn Recovery Projects is a UK charity that delivers addiction recovery services across North West England. Its core offerings include residential rehabilitation (Fulstone House in Stockport and Bank Parade in Burnley), community-based drug and alcohol programmes, supported housing for people rebuilding independence, and a peer-led ketamine support service. The organization supplements these with the Acorn Academy training division and the Bad Kamra video production social enterprise. Services are delivered free to clients and funded primarily through NHS and public sector contracts, charitable grants, and foundations.

Product overview

Acorn Recovery Projects operates as a portfolio of addiction recovery services rather than a single software product. The core offering consists of Residential Rehab (Fulstone House and Bank Parade), Community Services, Supported Housing, and Ketamine Support. These are supplemented by the Acorn Academy training division and Bad Kamra social enterprise. Treatment programmes include RAMP, DEAP, Transformational Counselling, and specialist services such as the Pregnancy Support Service and Music Therapy. The organisation provides dedicated facilities including The ARC, Redwood House, and Walter Lyon House, all delivered through peer-led and professional support approaches. Services are primarily funded through NHS partnerships, local authorities, and charitable grants rather than a commercial product model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acorn Academy: Provides behavioural change, emotional wellbeing, and addiction awareness training courses for service users, professionals, and the wider public. Recognized as a centre for learning by the National Open College Network (NOCN).
• Bad Kamra
• The ARC (Abstinence Recovery Centre)
• Redwood House
• Walter Lyon House
• Bank Parade
• Fulstone House

Products and services

• Residential Rehab
• Community Services
• Supported Housing
• Ketamine Support (Ketamine Care Hub)
• Acorn Academy
• Bad Kamra
• Redwood House
• Walter Lyon House
• The ARC (Abstinence Recovery Centre)
• Pregnancy Support Service
• Transformational Counselling
• RAMP (Reduction and Motivation Programme)
• DEAP (Drug and Alcohol Education Programme)
• Music Therapy

Quantifiable outcome

• Bank Parade received 'Good' CQC rating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lancashire ConstabularyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partnership to train frontline police officers in use of naloxone nasal spray for opioid overdose response.
• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partner in Recovery Wing at HMP Manchester alongside Delphi and Acorn.
• OddartsminorOthers · 3 March 2026Theatre-based wellbeing charity featured in first film of six-part series on young women's mental health support.
• M13 Youth ProjectminorOthers · 3 March 2026Partner organisation in Pilgrim Trust film project covering young women's mental health.
• The Counselling & Family CentreminorOthers · 3 March 2026Partner organisation in Pilgrim Trust film project covering young women's mental health.
• MASH (Manchester Action on Street Health)minorOthers · 3 March 2026Partner organisation in Pilgrim Trust film project covering young women's mental health.
• Stockport Women's CentreminorOthers · 3 March 2026Partner organisation in Pilgrim Trust film project covering young women's mental health.
• ADABminorOthers · 3 March 2026Partner organisation in Pilgrim Trust film project covering young women's mental health.
• Project FREE (Red Rose Recovery)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Partnership with Project FREE - a lived experience recovery organisation supporting adults with substance-related offending behaviour in Bury and Oldham.
• HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2024Corporate sponsors of Apollo and Espero horses for animal-assisted therapy. Clients visit sanctuary every 6-8 weeks for grooming sessions.
• Horizon (Blackpool)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024Recovery service collaboration within Calico Group network across north west.
• Spark (Blackburn with DarboldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024Recovery service collaboration within Calico Group network.
• Acorn Academy partners (Stockport Continuing Education, Hopwood Hall College)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024Partners delivering accredited courses including Level 2 Peer Mentoring, Level 2 Combination Learning Programme, and Level 3 Counselling Skills.
• Delphi MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2024Partnership with Delphi Medical and HMP Manchester to open Recovery Wing providing substance misuse support for inmates.
• Change Grow Live Manchester (CGL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Partnership with CGL Manchester to deliver alcohol addiction sessions at CGL Manchester hubs Bradnor Point and the Zion Centre, as well as at The Arc. Responded to spike in referrals during pandemic.
• Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2020Partnership to relaunch Pregnancy Support service working throughout Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Glossop as part of wider Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy campaign.
• Recovery TrustminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 August 2020Acorn joined Recovery Trust platform showcasing best residential rehabilitation services for substance misuse, mental health conditions, gambling and behavioural addictions.
• Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Delivers Mindsmatter counselling service and peer support across Community Mental Health Teams for Fylde Coast. Acorn provides 18 Peer Support Workers within CMHTs.
• Lancashire Care Foundation (LCFT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Funding partner for peer support programme delivered across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre for people with mental health issues.
• New LeafminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership bringing together employers and services across Warrington and Cheshire to help people change lives and create opportunities. Funded by Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund.
• MIDAS (Manchester Integrated Drug & Alcohol Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership providing joined-up substance misuse approach for adults across Manchester alongside range of partners.
• The Calico GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Parent organisation since 2014. Acorn is part of The Calico Group which comprises Calico Homes, Syncora, Calico Enterprise, Safenet, Ring Stones, Acorn Recovery Projects, and Delphi Medical.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Turning Point: National UK health and social care charity delivering drug and alcohol recovery, mental health, and learning disability services. Directly comparable in substance misuse residential and community rehabilitation, with significantly larger geographic and operational scale.
• With You (formerly Addaction): UK drug, alcohol, and mental health charity providing free support and treatment nationwide. Closely comparable in free, peer-influenced service delivery model and commissioning relationships with NHS and local authorities across multiple English regions.
• Change Grow Live (CGL): Largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment services in England, delivering community-based recovery, harm reduction, and rehabilitation across all regions. Directly comparable to Acorn in service mix and target population; CGL is already both a partner (alcohol sessions in Manchester) and a competitor for the same commissioning contracts.
• Red Rose Recovery: Lancashire-based lived experience recovery organisation supporting adults with substance-related offending behaviour. Directly comparable as a regional LERO peer; partners with Acorn via Project FREE for delivery in Bury and Oldham.
• Humankind: UK charity (formerly HumanKind) providing drug and alcohol treatment, housing, and family support across the North of England and Midlands. Highly comparable in integrated substance misuse, supported housing, and recovery-focused peer-led delivery, often as a commissioned NHS/local authority provider.
• Cranstoun: UK charity delivering drug and alcohol, housing, domestic abuse, and criminal justice services. Closely comparable in supported housing, recovery-focused rehabilitation, and criminal justice in-reach delivery across multiple UK regions.
• Phoenix Futures: UK charity providing residential rehabilitation, community recovery programmes, and prison in-reach for people with drug and alcohol issues. Directly comparable in residential rehab, supported housing, and prison-based recovery delivery — including a long-established LERO-adjacent model.
• Delphi Medical: Sister organisation within The Calico Group delivering clinical substance misuse treatment, prison in-reach, and recovery services. Directly comparable in target population, service model, and recovery outcomes; operates the HMP Manchester Recovery Wing jointly with Acorn.

Emerging players

• Mind (National Mind): UK mental health charity providing peer support, information, and community services. Comparable on the mental health peer support dimension of Acorn's work (e.g., its Mindsmatter and CMHT peer support partnerships), though Mind does not specialise in addiction recovery.

Broad incumbents

• We Are Recovery (UK) / Recovery Focus: UK charity group providing mental health, addiction, and recovery services including residential rehabilitation and community programmes. Comparable in scope and aspiration but at significantly larger multi-region scale with broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/acornrecovery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acorn-recovery-projects
• Instagraminstagram.com/acornrecoveryprojects
• Xx.com/acornrecovery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Acorn recovery projects