The Clock Tower Sanctuary - Brighton & Hove

What The Clock Tower Sanctuary - Brighton & Hove does

The Clock Tower Sanctuary (CTS) is a UK registered charity (No. 1146777) founded in 1998 and headquartered in Brighton & Hove, operating the only drop-in day centre in the city specifically for 16-to-25 year olds who are rough sleeping, sofa surfing, or living in temporary, emergency, or supported housing. The day centre is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30am to 1:30pm, serving a free hot lunch at 12:30pm alongside shower and laundry facilities, daily classes and activities, weekly food parcels, and clothing and toiletry distributions. The organisation also delivers one-to-one caseworking covering housing applications, benefits, CV writing, GP and jobcentre appointments, and access to specialist agencies. Free services are provided without referral, with additional structured offerings including a Youth Voice Group advocacy programme, weekly cooking workshops, and ongoing photography workshops.

CTS runs no proprietary technology platform. Operations are supported by standard third-party tools including Google Analytics for web analytics, MailChimp for email newsletters, JustGiving and GiveToday for online donations, Beacon Forms/Enthuse for event registration, and Make a Will Online for legacy giving administration. The organisation holds the Fundraising Regulator membership, NVCO's Investing in Volunteers quality mark (2022), and is GDPR-compliant under a documented privacy framework.

CTS receives no statutory or local-authority funding and is financed entirely through voluntary income. Revenue streams comprise individual one-off and regular monthly donations, legacy gifts via Wills, in-kind donations (food, clothing, toiletries), fundraising challenge events (Big City Sleepout, Brighton Marathon, Brighton Half Marathon, Skydive, Abseil, Hike Against Homelessness, Snowdonia Crossing, London to Brighton Cycle Ride), corporate partnerships (including OneFamily, Responsible Travel, Plus Accounting, Platf9rm, Octopus Energy and a 2025 Co-op 12-month partnership), and participation in the Make Change Count coalition of nine Brighton & Hove homelessness charities. Pricing is non-commercial: all services are free to clients, and event participation fees carry fundraising pledges rather than commercial margins.

Name

The Clock Tower Sanctuary - Brighton & Hove

Legal name

The Clock Tower Sanctuary

Website

https://thects.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Clock Tower Sanctuary is a Brighton & Hove charity founded in 1998 that operates the city's only drop-in day centre for 16-to-25 year olds experiencing homelessness, providing free hot meals, showers, laundry, one-to-one support, and workshops funded entirely by donations and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies entirely on donations from individuals - both one-off and regular monthly contributions. Suggested donation amounts include £10 (drop-in centre operations), £22 (kitchen essentials for new home), £55 (one-to-one support into accommodation).
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated through organized fundraising events including the annual Big City Sleepout (raised nearly £30,000 in 2025, over £44,000 in 2024), Brighton Marathon, Brighton Half Marathon, Skydive, Abseil, Hike Against Homelessness, Snowdonia Crossing, London to Brighton Cycle Ride, and community-organized events (quiz nights, concerts, magic shows, marathons).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners including OneFamily, Responsible Travel, Plus Accounting, Platf9rm, and others support through corporate donations, employee fundraising, charity of the year partnerships, and strategic partnerships. ESG/CSR aligned giving. Named corporate partners make donations, volunteer, and participate in fundraising events.
4. In-Kind Donations: Donations of food, clothing, toiletries, and other essential items from individuals and businesses. Items listed on a monthly updated Wish List. Donations enable free hot meals (prepared 5 days a week), weekly food parcels, and clothing for young people.
5. Gifts in Wills (Legacies): Legacy gifts left in supporters' Wills. The organization partners with Make a Will Online to offer a free online Will-writing service, funded by CTS. Legacies are tax-exempt under UK charity law.
6. Make Change Count Campaign: Brighton & Hove's combined fundraising campaign for local homelessness charities. CTS is a partnered charity. The campaign has raised over £100,000 for partnered charities since 2017. Donations come through JustGiving campaign page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Clock Tower Sanctuary operates a free, no-referral drop-in day centre in Brighton for 16-25 year olds who are rough sleeping, sofa surfing, or in temporary, emergency, or supported housing. The centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30am to 1:30pm and provides a free hot lunch at 12:30pm, shower and laundry facilities, food parcels, daily activities and classes, and one-to-one support with housing, benefits, CV writing, employment and appointments. A Youth Voice Group, Cooking Group, and Photography Workshops supplement the core service.

Product overview

The Clock Tower Sanctuary operates as a single, unified charity offering drop-in day centre services for 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove. The core offering centers on the Day Centre (open 10:30am-1:30pm, Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat with free hot lunch at 12:30pm), providing shower and laundry facilities, daily activities, food parcels, and one-to-one support services. The organisation also runs a comprehensive fundraising programme including challenge events (Big City Sleepout, Brighton Marathon, Skydive, Hikes, Snowdonia Crossing), a Corporate Partnership Programme, Make Change Count city-wide campaign, and Legacy Giving. Additional enrichment includes Youth Voice Group, Cooking Group workshops, and Photography Workshops. CTS receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on donations and fundraising activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Centre Services Free drop-in day centre for 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove, open 10:30am-1:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a free hot lunch at 12:30pm, shower and laundry facilities, food parcels, daily classes and activities, and one-to-one support.
• One-to-One Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in new clients (2019)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Museum of HomelessnessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Established in 2014, operated by individuals with lived experience of homelessness. Invited CTS Youth Voice Group for a private tour of their 'Criminal: An Untold History of Homelessness, Resistance, and Survival' exhibition on 15 June 2026.
• Suzi RuffellminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Comedian and performer supporting CTS through comedy events. Romesh Ranganathan and other acts also performed at CTS fundraiser comedy night.
• BHHA (Brighton & Hove Housing Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Selected CTS as their Charity of the Year for 2025, with a prize giveaway initiative to raise funds.
• Arc IT RecruitmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023, combining fundraising efforts with colleagues.
• Cloud9 InsightminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• DabbappsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Graves Son & PilcherminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Octopus EnergyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Responsible TravelcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate partner and team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Sawyer & CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• The Sandwich SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• TridentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Leaving Care TeamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate/agency team participant in Big City Sleepout 2023.
• Make Change Count CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Brighton & Hove's combined fundraising campaign for local homelessness charities. CTS is a partnered charity. Partnered charities include Antifreeze, BHT Sussex, Change Grow Live, SIG Equinox, Sussex Nightstop, YMCA Brighton, and YMCA Downslink Group. Campaign raised over £100,000 since 2017. Supported by Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Police.
• OneFamilycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time corporate partner supporting CTS through food and toiletry donations, fundraising event participation, and painting the outside wall. Located short walk from CTS. Shares many of the same values and supports ESG/CSR goals.
• Responsible TravelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed among key supporters, participating in fundraising events and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Plus AccountingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that has supported CTS through fundraising events and donations.
• Platf9rmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and venue provider (provided gorgeous venue for 25th anniversary event), supported Big City Sleepout and other fundraising events.
• Pizza PilgrimsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew supporter located next door on Ship Street who donated pizzas for hungry hikers after the Hike Against Homelessness event.
• Albion in the Community (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial charity of Brighton & Hove Albion FC. As part of AITC's Christmas Wish programme, nominated CTS to receive a visit. Former player Steve Sidwell visited with a signed shirt. Video message from Danny Welbeck. The Danahar family nominated CTS through this programme.
• Angel-i Barbers / Richmond Barbers (George)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorge from Angel-i Barbers (based at Richmond Barbers, London) provides free haircuts to CTS clients through Haircuts 4 Homeless network. Regular community volunteer using professional skills to support homeless people.
• PegasusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that donated and decorated a float for CTS to participate in Brighton's Pride parade.
• Brighton & Hove City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with through Make Change Count campaign. CTS responds to Council's 5-Year Homelessness Strategy. Worked together during COVID-19 to secure emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.
• Articulate (Laura)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaura from Articulate has run creative and therapeutic photography workshops at CTS for over 8 years, travelling 170 miles every week from Bristol. Sessions provide young people with a platform to explore creative expression in a safe environment.
• CancomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that supported Big City Sleepout and other fundraising events.
• Scott Baker and Search RecruitmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses that supported Big City Sleepout as part of the corporate partner community.
• Make a Will OnlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing free online Will-writing service for CTS supporters, funded by CTS. Supports legacy giving strategy.
• Brighton Phoenix 10KminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrighton Phoenix 10K race chose CTS and Mind as its charity beneficiaries for 2025. One of Brighton's most inclusive running events welcoming all paces and abilities.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centrepoint: The UK's leading youth homelessness charity, providing accommodation, support, and training to 16-25 year olds. Like CTS, it focuses on the same narrow age band and same core problem of youth homelessness, but operates at a national scale with multiple accommodation services.
• YMCA DownsLink Group: Regional YMCA operating across Sussex and Surrey, including Brighton & Hove, providing supported housing, accommodation, and youth services. A member of the Make Change Count coalition alongside CTS, serving overlapping client populations in the same Brighton catchment.
• Depaul UK: National youth homelessness charity operating the Nightstop service, providing emergency accommodation and support to young people. Directly comparable to CTS on both target demographic (young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness) and on a volunteer-led hosting model.
• Sussex Nightstop: Local Sussex-based charity providing emergency accommodation for homeless young people through volunteer hosts. Direct peer in the Make Change Count coalition, addressing the same demographic and same urban geography (Brighton & Hove area).
• BHT Sussex: Sussex-based anti-poverty charity providing housing, homelessness, and mental health services. Direct peer via the Make Change Count coalition, with overlapping client base in Brighton & Hove and complementary (housing-led) service model.

Broad incumbents

• St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity supporting adults experiencing homelessness with housing, health, and recovery services. Comparable mission and capital-cities footprint, but focuses on adult rough sleepers rather than youth, and at substantially larger scale.
• Shelter: National UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, support, and campaigning on housing issues. Broader housing-focused mandate than CTS, but addresses overlapping issues of homelessness, housing access, and client support across the UK.
• Crisis: National UK charity working to end homelessness through research, advocacy, and direct services. Shares CTS's mission of supporting people out of homelessness, but operates at national scale with broader demographics and a strong policy/advocacy function.

Emerging players

• Soul Soup: Smaller London-based charity providing hot meals and support to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable in scope and operational model (community-funded, volunteer-driven, meals-centred day support) to CTS, though focused on a different urban population.

Regional players

• The Passage: London-based charity providing homelessness services including day centre, residential services, and outreach. Comparable operational model (day-centre-based support for people experiencing homelessness) but operates in a different geography (Westminster/London) with a broader demographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thectsorguk
• Instagraminstagram.com/theclocktowersanctuary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theclocktowersanctuary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Clock Tower Sanctuary - Brighton & Hove