Aid Box Community

What Aid Box Community does

Aid Box Community is a UK registered charity (Charity Registration Number 1172697) founded in 2015 by Imogen Mcintosh, originally as Aid Box Convoy, and repositioned in April 2016 as a Bristol-based Free Shop and Welcome Hub for refugees and people seeking asylum. It operates an integrated suite of services from a headquarters at St Bartholomew's Parish Hall (BS6 5BX), with activity groups hosted across Trinity Centre, St Pauls Community Sports Academy and Lockleaze Sports Centre. Headcount is 12 part-time staff, 7 trustees and 356 volunteers; the most recent impact year records 4,041 individuals and dependants served through the Free Shop, 583 activity-group attendees, 76 befriending participants, 53 Crisis Fund referrals and 414,490 items re-homed.

The service portfolio comprises five core programmes: the Free Shop & Welcome Hub (drop-in distribution of donated clothing, toiletries, household items and food, Monday-Friday 10:30-15:30), Activity Groups & Trips (women's social/sports, men's football, swimming, ESOL, plus day trips and weekend retreats), Aid Box Connections (10-week telephone/WhatsApp/video befriending), the Crisis Fund (referral-based emergency practical and financial aid via BRASP, Unseen, NHS and Bristol City Council) and Educational/Schools Resources aligned with the Schools of Sanctuary initiative. All services are provided free of charge; technology is limited to off-the-shelf website (Squarespace/Weglot with 10+ languages), donation infrastructure (CAF Donate), and operational databases (Airtable). There is no proprietary technology platform.

The revenue model is a multi-stream charity model: individual donations (one-time, recurring and payroll giving), corporate CSR partnerships (cash and in-kind), in-kind product donations (toiletries, clothing, furniture, tickets), community fundraising events (Great Bristol Run, abseils, gigs, Refutrees Christmas), grants & trusts (John James Foundation named), and legacy giving. Distribution is exclusively direct, physical and Bristol-only; beneficiary acquisition is community-led via word-of-mouth and partner referrals, and donor acquisition runs through events, PR (BBC Bristol, Bristol Post, Bristol 24/7), email and organic social. Geographically the charity is constrained to BS postcodes.

Name

Aid Box Community

Legal name

Aid Box Community

Website

https://aidboxcommunity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aid Box Community is a Bristol-based UK charity (registered 2015/2016) providing refugees and asylum seekers with a free shop, welcome hub, activity groups, befriending and crisis funding, operated by 12 part-time staff and 356 volunteers serving around 4,000 beneficiaries a year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAH), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Asylum seeker assistance
• Community charity programmes
• Free shop donations
• Befriending and resettlement

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals via CAF Donate platform. Monthly giving programme encouraged. Donors can contribute specific amounts targeting different services (£3, £5, £15, £30, £45 for defined outcomes).
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships with businesses providing donations, event sponsorship, volunteer expertise, and fundraising team activities.
3. Corporate Product Donations: In-kind donations of goods from corporate partners including toiletries, clothing, furniture, event tickets, and other supplies that stock the Free Shop.
4. Fundraising Events: Community fundraising events including charity runs, abseils, concert fundraisers, and challenge events. Corporate challenge events.
5. Grants & Trusts: Funding from charitable foundations and trusts. John James Foundation mentioned as providing funding for crisis funding, essential supplies, and community programmes.
6. Legacy Giving: Legacies left to the charity in donors' wills to support long-term work with forcibly displaced families and individuals.
7. Payroll Giving: Tax-efficient workplace giving programme allowing UK income taxpayers to give regularly through payroll deduction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aid Box Community is a Bristol-based charity providing refugees and asylum seekers with free practical aid (clothing, toiletries, household items, food via a Free Shop), emotional support (activity groups, befriending programme), and emergency assistance (Crisis Fund). All services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries, who access them through drop-in visits, partner referrals, or community outreach.

Product overview

Aid Box Community is a charity organization offering a coordinated suite of support services for refugees and people seeking asylum in Bristol. The core offerings include the Free Shop & Welcome Hub (providing free donated items with dignity), Activity Groups & Trips (social and sports activities for wellbeing), Aid Box Connections (a befriending programme), Crisis Fund (emergency financial assistance), and ABC Cafe (drop-in community space). These services are complemented by a Refugee Support Guide directory and Educational Resources covering the asylum process. The organization functions as a single integrated support ecosystem rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with all services designed to work together to provide practical aid, emotional support, and sanctuary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Shop & Welcome Hub A free shop at St Bartholomew's Parish Hall, Bristol, where refugees and asylum seekers choose with dignity from donated quality items including clothing, toiletries, toys, household and electrical items. Open Monday-Friday 10:30am-3:30pm. The Welcome Hub also hosts the ABC Cafe drop-in space.
• Activity Groups & Trips A portfolio of social and sporting groups for refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol, including Women's Social Group, Women's Sports Group, Men's Football Groups, Men's Social Group, Swimming Groups, and English Classes (ESOL), plus day trips and weekend retreats to venues such as Community Farm, Bristol boat tours, and Cotswolds/Devon retreats.
• Aid Box Connections A 10-week befriending programme connecting local volunteers with refugees and asylum seekers settling in Bristol via telephone, WhatsApp, or video calls to alleviate isolation and build lasting friendships. Referrals and volunteer sign-ups via Airtable form.
• Crisis Fund Emergency practical and financial support for refugees and asylum seekers facing crisis situations, acting as a vital safety net when no other help is available. Access is by referral from partner organisations including BRASP, Unseen, NHS, and Bristol City Council.
• ABC Cafe Daily drop-in community space within the Welcome Hub where refugees and asylum seekers can get a warm welcome, enjoy tea or coffee, find out about other services, play games, use art supplies, access a computer, or simply relax. Open Tuesdays 10:30am-12:30pm.
• Refugee Support Guide A directory of free services supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol, covering healthcare, practical support with living items, housing support services, legal advice services, English classes, employment help, free activities, and LGBTQ+ support. Available in multiple languages.
• Schools Resources Resources for schools to educate students on the refugee experience, including presentations, fundraising packs, teaching resources from UNICEF, UNHCR, Amnesty International, and British Red Cross, and support for becoming a School of Sanctuary.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,041 individuals and dependants served through Free Shop in one year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bloody Good PeriodminorOthersRegularly donates menstrual products to the Free Shop, supporting women's hygiene needs.
• Beauty BanksminorOthersExists to end hygiene poverty in UK. Regularly donates toiletries to Free Shop.
• We The CuriousminorOthersScience and arts centre donating lost property and offering free entry to refugees and asylum seekers.
• EmmausminorOthersProvides free furniture for refugees and people seeking asylum that can afford this.
• Bristol Old VicminorOthersDonates free tickets and drinks for Connections friends to meet up.
• The Community FarmminorOthersOrganic, not-for-profit farm in Chew Valley Lake. Organises day trips throughout the year for ABC community.
• Faith in NatureminorOthersNatural, eco-friendly, cruelty-free personal care brand. Regular donations of shampoo, conditioner and body wash refills for Free Shop.
• ISL TalentminorOthersBristol recruitment agency. Donates Christmas presents annually for Free Shop.
• The Bristol Soap CompanyminorOthersNatural toiletries and cosmetics manufacturer, vegan and ethically handmade in Bristol. Donates products.
• Vegware Community FundminorOthersPlant-based, compostable catering disposables company. Donates product for Women's Group and community parties.
• Lockleaze Sports CentreminorOthersNot-for-profit registered charity. Donates football pitch for Tuesday football group and space for English class.
• Bristol Ferry BoatsminorOthersCollaborates to provide free day trips for individuals and families to explore Bristol.
• John LewisminorOthersDepartment store chain. Donates to Free Shop on semi-regular basis, primarily new underwear.
• One World RentalminorOthersTech hire company. Supplies essential tech equipment for annual surveys and Refutrees fundraising event.
• Bristol Hospitality NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts The Big Fish Bash fundraiser with ABC. Provides hosted accommodation for refused asylum seekers and runs Moveable Feast catering branch. Strong referral relationship.
• British Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValues ABC's work highly. Provides endorsement for funding applications. Services include move-on support for those gaining refugee status, family reunion, and destitution fund.
• Bristol Refugee RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelcome Team Manager states ABC has amazing, creative and flexible approach. BRR provides immigration legal advice services and ABC complements their advice service and cafe spaces.
• Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC has been valuable member since BRASP inception. Input strengthened governance and provided clarity for direction. ABC is the only charity providing clothing/essentials at this volume with dignity focus. BRASP refers individuals to ABC Crisis Fund.
• Unseen (Modern Slavery)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation that can refer individuals to ABC's Crisis Fund for emergency support.
• NHSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation that can refer individuals to ABC's Crisis Fund for emergency support.
• Bristol City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation that can refer individuals to ABC's Crisis Fund for emergency support.
• Open Minds ActiveminorOthersSwimming lessons organisation providing lessons for ABC members.
• Nuffield HealthminorOthersSwimming lessons provider for ABC members at their Bristol North gym.
• Bridges for CommunitiesminorOthersRuns b.friend 1-year face-to-face befriending programme for more vulnerable individuals who may not access other services. Recommended alternative to Connections programme.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bristol Refugee Rights: Bristol-based charity offering immigration legal advice, advice services and cafe spaces for asylum seekers and refugees. Directly comparable because both organisations serve the same Bristol refugee and asylum seeker population through complementary, co-referred services, and ABC is documented as complementing Bristol Refugee Rights' advice service.
• Bristol Hospitality Network: Bristol charity providing hosted accommodation and a Moveable Feast catering branch for refused asylum seekers. Directly comparable as a fellow Bristol refugee support organisation with strategic co-fundraising (Big Fish Bash) and an active referral relationship with Aid Box Community.
• Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP): Bristol-wide partnership coordinating refugee and asylum seeker support organisations. ABC has been a valuable BRASP member since inception and is the only charity providing clothing and essentials at this scale with dignity focus. Comparable as the coordinating body for ABC's direct peer network.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross (Refugee Services): UK-wide humanitarian organisation running refugee support including family reunion, destitution support and move-on services for newly recognised refugees. Comparable because ABC is endorsed by British Red Cross for funding applications and they operate overlapping services for the same UK refugee population.
• Refugee Council: UK-wide refugee support charity providing advice, advocacy and integration support. Comparable as a national-level incumbent serving the same refugee and asylum seeker population ABC targets, including resettlement and destitution support services.
• City of Sanctuary: UK-wide movement supporting people seeking sanctuary through a network of local groups including Schools of Sanctuary. Comparable because ABC explicitly partners with Schools of Sanctuary and operates within the same sanctuary movement ecosystem.
• Refugee Action: UK charity delivering refugee resettlement, integration and advice programmes. Comparable as a national-scale incumbent offering overlapping refugee support services including move-on support that ABC complements locally.
• Together with Refugees: UK-wide coalition of refugee organisations advocating for a fairer refugee system. Comparable as a sector umbrella that connects and amplifies the work of frontline charities like Aid Box Community and shapes the funding and policy environment they operate in.

Regional players

• Asylum Welcome (Oxford): Oxford-based charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees with advice, housing, destitution support and befriending. Comparable as a similarly structured regional charity offering an integrated suite of services for asylum seekers in a single UK city outside Bristol.
• Scottish Refugee Council: Scotland-wide refugee support organisation providing advice, integration and policy advocacy. Comparable as a regional refugee charity delivering integrated support services (advice, community integration, policy work) to asylum seekers and refugees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AidBoxCommunity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Aid Box Community