Thirtyone:eight

What Thirtyone:eight does

Thirtyone:eight is the UK's leading independent Christian safeguarding charity, providing a comprehensive suite of safeguarding services to over 13,000 churches, faith-based organisations, charities, and statutory bodies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Operating for over four decades (founded circa 1986 per detailed history; firmographic data records 1977), the charity delivers 24/7 crisis helpline support, criminal records checking (DBS, AccessNI and PVG), CPD-accredited training, specialist consultancy, and policy resources to organisations that need safeguarding expertise grounded in faith-community contexts but delivered free from denominational control. Its primary customer segments are churches and faith-based organisations (vertical focus), with secondary reach into charities, community groups, statutory agencies (Department for Education, Home Office), and victim-survivors and individuals seeking support.

The service portfolio is anchored on a proprietary eBulk platform for online DBS application processing (built to DBS specification, hosted in an ISO27001 UK data centre, integrated with Security Watchdog, TrustID and Equifax), a Knowledge Hub of 200+ pages of safeguarding guidance, and a media/social media checking service via SP Index covering up to 10 years of online history. Sub-brands include the Safeguarding Helpline (Helplines Partnership 'outstanding' accredited), the iKnow Safeguarding recruitment tool, the Safeguarding Standards Award accreditation programme, and the annual Safeguarding Sunday campaign (now in its seventh year with 5,400+ participating churches). In 2024/25 the charity processed 86,857 DBS checks, answered 8,152 helpline calls, trained 10,188 people, and served 6,620 paying members.

Commercially, Thirtyone:eight operates a membership-based subscription model with annual renewals as the primary revenue stream, supplemented by transaction fees on DBS check processing, training and eLearning fees (CPD-accredited, with member discounts), fee-based safeguarding consultancy (policy reviews, case reviews, international child protection), donations and Gift Aid contributions, and corporate sponsorship of events and campaigns. From April 2026 the charity is replacing its flat membership with three tiered packages (Essential, Comprehensive, Advanced), launching a 24/7 Knowledge Finder and opening free public access to the Knowledge Hub as a top-of-funnel acquisition asset, while transitioning from a joint-CEO model to a single-CEO structure under incoming Chief Executive Therese Reinheimer-Jones.

Name

Thirtyone:eight

Legal name

Thirtyone:eight

Website

https://thirtyoneeight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thirtyone:eight is the UK's largest faith-sector safeguarding charity, providing a 24/7 helpline, DBS checks, CPD-accredited training, consultancy, and policy resources to over 13,000 churches, charities, and statutory bodies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Safeguarding Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

Keywords

• Safeguarding services
• DBS checking
• Helpline support
• Charity membership
• Safeguarding training

Headquarters

HQ city

Swanley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscriptions providing access to safeguarding resources, helpline support, training discounts, and consultancy services. Primary revenue stream funding the Safeguarding Helpline.
2. Training and Events: Revenue from webinars, eLearning courses, and self-paced training programs. Courses are CPD accredited and include discounts for members.
3. DBS Check Processing: Fees for processing Disclosure and Barring Service checks for organizations. Includes AccessNI checks for Northern Ireland and PVG checks for Scotland.
4. Consultancy Services: Fee-based safeguarding consultancy including policy reviews, case reviews, audits, and international child protection services.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, trusts, and corporate sponsors. Includes monthly giving, legacy giving, and one-time contributions. Gift Aid boost available.
6. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities for training events, Safeguarding Helpline, and Safeguarding Sunday campaign. Target audience of over 20,000 contacts across churches, charities, and businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thirtyone:eight is an independent Christian safeguarding charity providing a comprehensive suite of services to churches, faith-based organisations, charities, and community groups across the UK. Its core offering combines a 24/7 Safeguarding Helpline, online DBS/criminal records checking (the largest provider in the UK faith sector), CPD-accredited safeguarding training, specialist consultancy, and a nationwide membership programme supported by a searchable Knowledge Hub of over 200 pages of guidance and policy templates.

Product overview

Thirtyone:eight is a safeguarding charity offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected services rather than a single product. The core portfolio centres on a 24/7 Safeguarding Helpline providing expert advice, an online DBS/Criminal Records Checking Service (the largest in the faith sector, handling DBS, AccessNI, and PVG checks with media/social media check add-ons), and CPD-accredited Training delivered via webinars, eLearning, and events. These are supported by Safeguarding Consultancy Services (including policy reviews, case reviews, and international child protection), a Membership programme (providing resources, templates, exclusive webinars, and helpline access to over 13,000 organisations), and a Knowledge Hub of guidance documents. The Safeguarding Standards Award provides accreditation for organisations meeting the charity's ten standards framework. An annual Safeguarding Sunday campaign rounds out the offering as a sub-brand awareness initiative. All services operate within a UK-wide context with specific adaptations for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safeguarding Sunday: Annual safeguarding awareness campaign for churches, now in its seventh year with over 5,400 churches participating.
• Safeguarding Helpline
• iKnow Safeguarding

Products and services

• Safeguarding Helpline Award-winning 24/7 phone advice and guidance service providing expert safeguarding support to individuals and organisations. Free for members, victim-survivors and statutory services; handles over 8,000 calls annually with 75% classified as crisis calls.
• DBS & Checks Service (iKnow Safeguarding) Online criminal record checking service processing Standard and Enhanced DBS checks (England and Wales), AccessNI checks (Northern Ireland) and PVG checks (Scotland), with optional media and social media background checks. Largest provider of DBS checks in the UK faith sector.
• Training and Events CPD-accredited safeguarding training delivered through live webinars, self-paced eLearning, self-hosted webinars, and in-person events covering UK-wide legislative contexts and faith-context safeguarding. Trained 10,188 people in 2024/25.
• Safeguarding Consultancy Services Paid specialist safeguarding consultancy including advice consultations, policy reviews, case and learning reviews, audits, and international child protection support for organisations working in complex safeguarding contexts.
• Membership (Essential, Comprehensive, Advanced) Nationwide membership network of over 13,000 organisations providing access to safeguarding resources, policies, templates, exclusive webinars and Safeguarding Helpline support on an annual subscription basis.
• Safeguarding Standards Award Accreditation programme recognising organisations meeting Thirtyone:eight's ten safeguarding standards framework, providing a recognised benchmark of safeguarding practice.
• International Child Protection Services Specialist services supporting organisations working internationally, including a self-audit tool and guidance adapted to different legislative contexts outside the UK.
• Media and Social Media Checks Background checking service examining online digital presence across up to 10 years of social networks, blogs, news reports and open-source information, processed through third-party screening partner SP Index.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86,857 DBS checks processed in 2024/25
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in Faith CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThirtyone:eight provides the secretariat for the APPG, which promotes good safeguarding practice and encourages shared learning between faith groups, statutory agencies, and policymakers. The APPG has launched an inquiry into regulated activity definition effectiveness in faith settings.
• SP IndexcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party professional screening partner for media/social media checks. Processes personal data for background checks on online digital presence including up to 10 years of online history across social networks, blogs, news reports, and open-source information.
• Security WatchdogcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of the eBulk system used for online DBS application processing. System built from DBS specification, hosted in ISO27001 UK-based data centre with intrusion detection/prevention.
• University of ChesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership as part of an Arts & Humanities Research Council funded program. Conducting study on working relationships between faith groups and statutory partners.
• University of KentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for Arts & Humanities Research Council funded program on working relationships between faith groups and statutory partners. Thirtyone:eight participating in research.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered umbrella body for processing criminal records checks. Thirtyone:eight processes DBS applications for faith sector and other organizations. System built to DBS specification.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Refuge: UK charity supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight in operating abuse-prevention services, helplines, and training, though focused on domestic violence rather than faith-specific safeguarding.
• NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): The UK's leading child protection charity, providing safeguarding training, helplines, and policy advocacy. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight in mission and service mix (helpline, training, consultancy) but operating at broader national scale and serving all children, not specifically faith-based organizations.
• Childline (NSPCC): UK helpline for children and young people about a wide range of issues including abuse. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight's Safeguarding Helpline in service model (24/7 helpline, crisis support) though targeting younger demographics and a broader scope beyond faith contexts.
• NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): UK charity providing support for adult survivors of childhood abuse, including a helpline and resources. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight's victim-survivor support services and abuse-recovery content, with a similar small-charity operating model.
• FaithAction: UK national network of faith-based and community organizations. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight's membership-based model serving churches and faith-based charities, with overlapping audiences in the faith community and similar advocacy positioning.
• Stop It Now UK & Ireland: Helpline and prevention service focused on preventing child sexual abuse. Directly comparable to Thirtyone:eight's safeguarding helpline, training, and prevention mandate, with overlapping customer base of concerned adults and professionals.
• CARE (Christian Action Research and Education): Christian charity providing policy advocacy and resources on issues including safeguarding. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight's faith-based advocacy positioning, though with a broader policy portfolio beyond safeguarding.

Others

• Helplines Partnership: UK membership body for helpline providers, which accredits Thirtyone:eight's helpline. Comparable as a peer membership organization serving the UK helpline and advice sector, with overlapping membership-network dynamics.

Emerging players

• Restored: UK Christian charity supporting survivors of abuse and trafficking. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight in faith-rooted approach to abuse recovery, with overlapping audience of faith-based organizations and survivor support services.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Society: Major UK national charity working with children, including safeguarding and abuse prevention services. Comparable to Thirtyone:eight in mission and service mix (training, helpline, advocacy), though broader than faith-specific contexts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thirtyoneeight
• Facebookfacebook.com/thirtyoneeight.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thirtyone-eight
• Instagraminstagram.com/thirtyoneeight_safeguarding

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Thirtyone:eight