Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

Name

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

Legal name

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

Website

https://blesma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is a UK Armed Forces charity founded in 1932 that provides lifelong practical, emotional, and financial support to serving and ex-Service personnel who have suffered limb loss or loss of sight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Veterans Charity Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Amputee & Prosthetic Rehabilitation Programs (HLAFAFAL)

Keywords

• Veteran support services
• Military charity
• Limbless veteran assistance
• Prosthetic grants
• Rehabilitation activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelmsford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from supporters, including one-time and recurring contributions
2. Lottery: Make a Smile Lottery partnership where ticket sales support Blesma and other charity partners
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses for fundraising and support
4. Trust Partnerships: Funding from charitable trusts
5. Legacies and Wills: Gifts left in supporters' Wills
6. Fundraising Events: Various events including Challenge events, bike rides, and community fundraising activities
7. Payroll Giving: Employee payroll donation scheme

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is a UK military charity that provides lifelong welfare support to serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces who have lost limbs, the use of limbs, or have lost sight or hearing as a result of service. It delivers tailored assistance including grants for prosthetics, home and vehicle modifications, rehabilitation activities, sports and challenge events, and ongoing advocacy with statutory and NHS providers. Members are supported from initial recovery through resettlement and for the rest of their lives.

Product overview

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is a national Armed Forces charity that provides lifelong support to veterans who have suffered limb loss or loss of use of a limb, an eye, or sight. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of services including welfare support through dedicated Support Officers and Outreach Officers, rehabilitative activities (skiing, cycling, horse riding, swimming), financial grants for disability-related costs, prosthetics advocacy, and the Blesma Connects mobile app. The charity also publishes Blesma Magazine and produces a podcast, and runs programmes such as the Storytelling and Wellbeing Programme to support member mental health and communication skills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Welfare support and advocacy for limbless veterans Personalised, lifelong welfare support delivered by Blesma's regional support officers to serving and ex-serving Armed Forces personnel who have lost limbs, use of limbs, or sight or hearing as a result of service, including advocacy with statutory bodies and the NHS.
• Prosthetic and assistive equipment grants Charitable grants to members towards prosthetics and associated equipment where NHS or statutory provision is insufficient, enabling mobility and independence.
• Home and vehicle modification grants Financial assistance to adapt members' homes and vehicles, supporting independent living after limb loss or serious service injury.
• Rehabilitation, sports and challenge activities Programme of rehabilitation, sports and challenge activities, including member events and competitions, designed to aid physical recovery, build confidence and foster peer support among limbless veterans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,697 veterans and widows received direct support last year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlesma is a member of COBSEO, the umbrella organisation for Service charities in the UK. Through COBSEO, Blesma participates in sector-wide advocacy and government engagement.
• Fundraising RegulatorminorOthersBlesma adheres to the Fundraising Regulator's standards for fundraising practice
• Scottish Charity RegulatorminorOthersBlesma is a registered Scottish charity (SCO10315) regulated by OSCR
• Make a Smile LotterycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLottery partnership where ticket sales support Blesma and other charity partners. In 2025, more than £1 million from ticket sales went directly to charity partners.
• Historic RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital archives specialist that converted Blesma Magazine issues from 1940s onwards into digital form for preservation and future access
• The Drive ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers the Blesma Storytelling and Wellbeing Programme (BSWP) helping Members tell their stories through creative workshops
• Limb Loss and Limb Difference AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational collaboration including Reach, Finding Your Feet, LimbPower, Steel Bones, Amputation Foundation and Blesma to raise awareness and campaign for limb loss community
• ErskineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish veterans charity that began as hospital for limbless veterans; provides care home, assisted living and independent living options for veterans
• Electric MobilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates scooters for Remembrance Sunday parade, with staff driving them to the event for free

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Combat Stress: UK charity specializing in mental health treatment for veterans with PTSD and other conditions. Comparable in the dedicated-veteran-niche focus but addresses psychological rather than physical limb loss; often co-referral partner.
• LimbPower: UK charity supporting amputees and people with limb difference through sport and physical activity. Member of the Limb Loss Alliance alongside Blesma; comparable rehabilitative activities offer though broader (non-military) population.
• Finding Your Feet: Scottish amputee support charity providing peer support, activities, and rehabilitation to amputees and families. Limb Loss Alliance member; overlapping activities programme model though not military-specific.

Broad incumbents

• Help for Heroes: Large UK military charity delivering recovery and welfare services to wounded UK service personnel and veterans. Overlaps with Blesma on grants, rehabilitation, and welfare support but covers a broader range of injuries beyond limb loss.
• SSAFA: UK military charity providing lifelong support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families across welfare, mental health, and financial assistance. Overlaps with Blesma's welfare officer model and fundraising universe.
• ABF The Soldiers' Charity: National Army charity supporting soldiers, veterans, and their families through welfare grants and partner services. Comparable in funding Army beneficiaries and administering disability-related grants.
• Royal British Legion: Largest UK Armed Forces charity, supporting veterans and their families across welfare, housing, employment, and care. Competes for donations and provides grants to limbless veterans, though as part of a much wider remit.
• Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund: UK RAF charity providing welfare, mental health, and financial support to RAF personnel and veterans. Comparable military-charity operating model; prior employer of Blesma's Director Independence and Wellbeing.

Direct peers

• Blind Veterans UK: UK military charity supporting vision-impaired veterans with rehabilitation, training, and lifelong support. Highly comparable mission (life-changing sensory loss among serving personnel), similar beneficiary profile, and overlapping welfare-delivery model.
• Erskine: Scottish veterans charity that, like Blesma, originated as a hospital for limbless veterans and now provides care home, assisted living, and independent living services to ex-Service personnel. Explicitly named Blesma partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blesma
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BLESMA1932
• Facebookfacebook.com/blesma
• Instagraminstagram.com/blesma

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Blesma, The Limbless Veterans