What Booth Centre does

Booth Centre is a registered charity (CIO 1205529 and charity number 1062674) headquartered at Edward Holt House, Pimblett Street, Manchester, that supports people affected by homelessness across Greater Manchester. Founded in 1995, it operates as a community hub delivering eight integrated services: the Three Bees Community Café (free meals), an Activities Programme (art, wellbeing, music, philosophy), a Community Hub offering advice and advocacy, an Inclusive Volunteering programme, an Inclusion Project for people facing barriers to mainstream services, Employment & Skills support (Job Club, CSCS courses, ESOL), the Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS) for non-UK nationals, and the Economic Trailblazer outreach programme. The Centre follows a co-production model where service users design, deliver, and evaluate the programmes, with an open-door policy and no referral required for most services.

The technology stack is non-proprietary and standard for a UK mid-sized charity: WordPress for the website, Google Analytics 4 for web analytics, Donorfy for donation CRM and management, Jotform for referrals, and bbPress for volunteer and trustee forums. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML capabilities, and no mobile applications. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees chaired by Robin Lawler.

The business model is donation-dependent. Revenue streams include individual donations (monthly recurring and one-off via the Donorfy platform), corporate partnerships (financial contributions, in-kind resources, employee volunteering, and event sponsorship), legacy giving (bequests via a free will-writing partnership with Kwil), and Gift Aid (HM Government scheme reclaiming 25% basic rate tax, which raised an additional £28,388 in the last financial year). All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. In FY2023-24 the Centre supported 2,130 people (1,295 new), served 28,154 healthy meals, recorded 12,342 volunteer hours, and achieved measured outcomes including 71 people moved into permanent homes, 44 into employment, and 96 supported to access statutory homelessness prevention. Footfall grew 51% year-over-year.

Name

Booth Centre

Legal name

The Booth Centre

Website

https://boothcentre.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Booth Centre is a Manchester-based registered charity supporting people experiencing homelessness across Greater Manchester through a community hub offering free meals, activities, employment support, housing advice, and specialist services including immigration support and outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness and community social services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Personal Services (7200)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Community hub services
• Employment and skills training
• Housing advice and advocacy
• Volunteering and inclusion programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations and one-off donations from individual supporters. Donations can be made via website using Donorfy platform, by cheque, or in person.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Financial contributions, in-kind resources, employee volunteering, and sponsorship from corporate partners. Includes social value commitments from businesses.
3. Legacy Giving: Bequests and gifts left in wills by supporters. Partnership with Kwil for free online will writing with code BOOTH.
4. Gift Aid: HM Government scheme allowing reclaim of 25% basic rate tax on UK donations. Raised additional £28,388 last financial year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Booth Centre is a Greater Manchester community hub that provides free, integrated support services for people affected by homelessness and poverty. Its core offering includes a Community Café serving free meals, a programme of wellbeing/creative activities, advice and advocacy on housing and finances, inclusive volunteering, employment and skills training, immigration-related restricted-eligibility support, and one-to-one inclusion and economic inclusion programmes, all delivered on an open-door, no-referral basis from its Edward Holt House base.

Product overview

Booth Centre is a community hub providing homelessness support services in Greater Manchester. The organisation offers eight integrated services: the Three Bees Community Café (providing free meals), an Activities Programme (art, wellbeing, music), Community Hub (advice and advocacy), Inclusive Volunteering, Inclusion Project, Employment & Skills, Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS), and Economic Trailblazer. These services work together holistically, with the Community Café and volunteering programmes supporting access to more specialist support including employment assistance, immigration advice, and inclusion support. No referral is needed for most services, and all are provided free of charge to people experiencing homelessness or poverty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Three Bees Community Café A community café offering free breakfast, lunch, snacks, and hot drinks to everyone visiting the Centre. Operates as part of the Inclusive Volunteering programme, providing food security and a first point of engagement for people experiencing homelessness or poverty in Greater Manchester.
• Activities Programme A free programme of activities for people affected by homelessness, including art sessions, wellbeing sessions (yoga, boxing, walking group), music and sound sessions, cultural visits, and philosophy groups. Designed to help people break the cycle of homelessness through self-expression, skill-building, and positive relationships.
• Community Hub Direct support, advice, and advocacy service for people impacted by homelessness. Offers help with accommodation issues, housing support, financial advice, and connections to specialist agencies including health and wellbeing services. Delivered on an open-door, no-referral basis at the Edward Holt House base.
• Inclusive Volunteering A volunteering programme where people accessing services can design, deliver, and evaluate the Centre's offerings. Provides opportunities to gain experience, work in a team, and achieve qualifications such as Food Hygiene or Health & Safety.
• Inclusion Project A support package delivered by an Inclusion Coordinator for people struggling to maintain access to services due to behaviours, mental ill health, or substance misuse. Addresses barriers through group work, specialist service links, and 1-1 support sessions. The Inclusion Project has been shared with services across the UK as a best-practice guide.
• Employment & Skills A free employment and skills service helping people move back into employment through Job Club (applications, CV support, interview preparation) and Skills Sessions (qualifications, CSCS courses, ESOL Talking Circles). Available throughout the week without referral.
• Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS) Bespoke support for individuals experiencing homelessness due to immigration status and restricted access to public funds. Delivered in partnership with Boaz Trust and the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, offering floating support and immigration advice to non-UK nationals.
• Economic Trailblazer One-to-one support from Navigators to help people gain skills, qualifications, volunteering roles, or employment. Co-designed person-centred action plans aim to remove barriers to the world of work, with Trailblazer Navigators conducting outreach across Manchester city.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51% increased footfall year-over-year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boaz TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering the RESS (Restricted Eligibility Support Service) Project. Floating support offered by Boaz Trust and Booth Centre, with Booth Centre focusing on European Nationals with restricted eligibility. The partnership offers bespoke support to individuals experiencing homelessness due to immigration status.
• Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering the RESS Project alongside Booth Centre and Boaz Trust. GMIAU provides immigration support and legal advice as part of the integrated service for non-UK nationals with restricted eligibility.
• ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with aligned values and approaches to tackling homelessness in Manchester. Shelter provides Early Help Adult Navigator Service Team.
• PwC ManchesterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate charity partnership where PwC staff volunteered at the Centre on Tuesdays, attended events, and fundraised throughout the year. Described as one of the best charity relationships.
• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValued Work and Skills provider strongly aligned with MCC priorities around inclusion, lived experience, and tackling inequality. Booth Centre's co-production approach ensures resident voice is central to service design.
• Greater Manchester Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive role in Greater Manchester through established relationships and strategic engagement, contributing insight and knowledge to support development of effective, person-centred services.
• Mustard TreeminorOthersReferral partner for furniture and clothes donations when Booth Centre cannot accept these items due to space constraints.
• KwilminorOthersPartnership offering free online will writing service. Users enter code BOOTH and nothing to pay. Enables supporters to leave legacy gifts to Booth Centre.
• Deluxe Elegant LadiesminorOthersCooked Christmas Jollof for the community during festive period 2025, providing culturally meaningful meals for the diverse community.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Emmaus UK: National homelessness charity supporting people out of homelessness through community, training, and social enterprise. Comparable mission and operating model with similar community-based ethos.
• Depaul UK: UK-wide charity supporting young people and adults experiencing homelessness through accommodation, training, and prevention services. Comparable service mix and beneficiary segments.
• Shelter: UK national homelessness charity and long-standing Booth Centre partner. Both provide housing advice, advocacy, and homelessness prevention services; Shelter operates at national scale while Booth Centre operates regionally in Greater Manchester.
• Crisis UK: National UK homelessness charity working to end homelessness through education, training, and housing solutions. Comparable mission, services, and reliance on donations and fundraising.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable service model including accommodation, employment support, and skills training, though focused on under-25s nationwide.

Emerging players

• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK charity tackling food poverty through affordable membership-based food provision. Comparable community hub model and food security focus, though distinct service delivery mechanism.
• Citizens Advice Manchester: Local advice provider offering housing, financial, and welfare advice to Manchester residents. Comparable service component within Booth Centre's Community Hub offering, with potential referral overlap.

Regional players

• Mustard Tree: Manchester-based charity tackling poverty and homelessness through food, clothing, furniture, and training. Booth Centre's referral partner for furniture and clothes donations when storage is constrained.
• Boaz Trust: Manchester-based charity providing accommodation and support for asylum seekers and refugees. Joint partner with Booth Centre on the Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS) project.
• YMCA Manchester: Manchester branch of the YMCA network providing accommodation, health and wellbeing, and training for vulnerable people. Operates in the same geography with overlapping services around housing and skills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/booth-centre

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 Booth Centre