Hersana Cic

What Hersana Cic does

Hersana CIC is a London-based Community Interest Company founded in 2020 that delivers support, advocacy, and therapeutic services to Black femme survivors of gender-based violence across England and Wales. Its service portfolio comprises one-to-one holistic therapy, independent advocacy, a 24/7 live chat helpline, community outreach, and paid professional training for external practitioners. The organization operates a "by-and-for" delivery model in which services are designed and staffed by people with lived experience of the issues facing its beneficiaries, a positioning that distinguishes it from mainstream statutory providers.

The company's core technology asset is a purpose-built digital platform developed for the Safe Horizons London Partnership, launched in October 2025, which serves as a referral and coordination tool across a consortium of 13 specialist organizations. Beyond crisis services, Hersana has expanded its product surface with SANA Spaces (a peer-support and wellness line launched in 2024), the recurring SANA Fest community events series (debuted May 2023), and Power In Print, an original research initiative launched in 2024 that documents Black survivors' experiences in the sector.

Hersana is structured as a non-profit Community Interest Company with 11–50 staff. Revenue is generated through a mix of government contracts (notably the MOPAC-backed Safe Horizons partnership and Home Office consultation work on the Enough Campaign), fee-based professional training priced at £540–£900 per session, community fundraising, and donations. The go-to-market combines direct beneficiary outreach, statutory-sector procurement, and grassroots community channels such as SANA Fest.

Name

Hersana Cic

Legal name

HERSANA CIC

Website

https://hersana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hersana CIC is a London-based Community Interest Company founded in 2020 providing therapy, advocacy, and 24/7 crisis support for Black femme survivors of gender-based violence across England and Wales through a "by-and-for" delivery model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAD

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAD

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDABAIAF

DEI, Equity & Inclusion Training

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/HR, Talent, DEI & People Operations Training

Keywords

• Gender-based violence support
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Survivor advocacy services
• Professional training programs
• Holistic wellbeing services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: HERSANA generates revenue through charitable donations including monthly recurring donations, one-off contributions, payroll giving, and matched donation schemes. They also accept gifts in wills (pecuniary, residuary, or specific gifts).
2. Professional Training Services: Accredited training packages delivered to professionals, organisations, schools, and corporations. Training is offered as 'off-the-shelf' modules, open monthly sessions, and bespoke packages. All sessions are certificated and contribute to CPD.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses for corporate social responsibility initiatives, including support from companies like LUSH who have been supporting since 2016.
4. Trusts and Foundations: Funding from trusts and foundations including major donor programmes and philanthropy partnerships.
5. SANA Boutique: Charity boutique initiative helping survivors rebuild their lives by providing clothing, accessories, and personal care items. Accepts donations of new items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HERSANA CIC provides holistic support services, independent advocacy, 24/7 live chat counselling, and trauma-informed therapy to Black femme survivors of gender-based violence. The organisation also delivers accredited professional training programmes on gender-based violence topics and youth education workshops in schools and universities.

Product overview

Hersana Cic is a community interest company offering a suite of services for Black femme survivors of gender-based violence. The core offerings include Holistic Therapy (1-1 counselling and group work), Independent Advocacy (rights and agency support), Live Chat (24/7 emotional support), and Wholistic Outreach (community-based support). Training services encompass multiple professional development modules covering Honour-Based Abuse, Female Genital Cutting, Forced Marriage, and Post-Separation Abuse. The organisation also delivers youth education workshops in schools and runs SANA Spaces, a mobile wellbeing hub for festivals and events. Additional initiatives include SANA Boutique (material support), Power In Print (research study), and Safe Horizons London Partnership (pan-London domestic abuse service).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SANA Spaces: Mobile trauma-informed safe and wellbeing hub for festivals and events that celebrate Black joy, providing preventative, immediate care and support in venue spaces.
• SANA Fest
• SANA Boutique
• Power In Print

Products and services

• Holistic Therapy
• Independent Advocacy
• Live Chat Counselling
• Wholistic Outreach
• Professional Training Programmes
• School Training & Youth Education Workshops
• SANA Spaces
• SANA Boutique
• Power In Print

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 students educated through workshops and assemblies since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Safe Horizons London Partnership (Victim Support-led)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by MOPAC, Safe Horizons is a pan-London domestic abuse support service led by Victim Support. HERSANA is one of 13 specialist organisations in the partnership, providing expert, intersectional, and community-connected support to victim survivors of domestic abuse. The new service commences 1 October 2025.
• The Drive PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHERSANA participates in The Drive Partnership's National Systems Change work, co-designing improved responses to perpetrators of domestic abuse across Black African, Caribbean and Mixed Heritage communities. Christabel Yeboah from HERSANA serves on the co-design group.
• LUSHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLUSH has been supporting HERSANA (formerly AskFirst Campaign) since 2016. Together they have provided handmade and fresh products to over 500 refugees and asylum seekers.
• Agal Wellbeing ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgal Wellbeing Services is a charity helping South Asian families deal with domestic violence and provide counselling to South Asians struggling with mental health.
• CoppaFeel!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's only youth-focused breast cancer awareness charity partnering with HERSANA.
• HourglassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity dedicated to ending the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people.
• Olu Olu FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAfrican and specialty foods brand supplier, providing 30+ years of market-leading products.
• Sicklecell SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity enabling individuals with sickle cell disorder to realise their full economic and social potential through education, advocacy, and direct welfare services.
• Surviving Economic AbuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it.
• TreasureTressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEurope's first and largest natural hair product discovery box, building sisterhood over kinks and curls.
• Wakati HairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack women-powered hair brand celebrating Black beauty and heritage, creating opportunities for Black talent.
• WAP BrunchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack women's empowerment social enterprise fostering collaboration and sisterhood, empowering women with tools to dismantle barriers.
• We Are FriedaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally accredited training, consultancy and research organisation specialising in intersectional, trauma-informed and anti-racist practice in domestic and sexual violence and abuse.
• Home Office (Enough Campaign)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHERSANA consulted on and supported Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the award-winning Home Office Enough Campaign, which targets potential perpetrators of violence against women and girls.
• Elianne Andam Memorial Project (Croydon Community)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnibail-Rodamco-Westfield commissioned HERSANA to deliver Bystander Intervention Training as part of the Elianne Andam memorial legacy, helping businesses and community members become active bystanders.
• BOXPARKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANA Spaces has become a BOXPARK resident, present at all major day and evening events with an exclusive area.
• Wireless FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANA Spaces partnered with Wireless Festival 2025 in collaboration with Safer Spaces for festival wellbeing support.
• University of SussexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANA Spaces is the official welfare partner for Sussex Freshers Festival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Refuge: Largest UK specialist domestic violence organisation, providing refuges, helplines and advocacy. A broad incumbent that competes for the same statutory and philanthropic funding pools and trained IDVA/advocate talent as Hersana.
• Victim Support: National charity supporting victims of crime in England and Wales, and lead partner of the Safe Horizons London Partnership in which Hersana participates. Direct counterparty/incumbent relationship for Hersana within its biggest commissioning contract.
• Women's Aid: UK-wide umbrella federation for domestic abuse services. A broad incumbent in the same sector as Hersana, providing national infrastructure, the National DA Helpline and member support; Hersana operates within but at a more specialist intersectional niche.

Direct peers

• Nia: London-based specialist domestic and sexual violence organisation providing refuge, advocacy and education. Directly comparable to Hersana as a London DA specialist offering holistic recovery support and training to professionals.
• Karma Nirvana: UK charity specialist in honour-based abuse and forced marriage, operating a national helpline and professional training. Directly comparable to Hersana in training product overlap (forced marriage, HBA) and survivor-led specialist positioning.
• Southall Black Sisters: Specialist by-and-for Black and minority women organisation providing domestic and sexual violence advocacy, counselling and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to Hersana in mission, beneficiary focus and service mix, though operating on a longer-established and broader pan-ethnic remit.
• Jewish Women's Aid: Specialist by-and-for organisation supporting Jewish women and girls affected by domestic and sexual violence. Directly comparable to Hersana as a community-specific specialist DA provider with helpline, advocacy and education services.
• Imkaan: UK-wide federation of specialist Black and minoritised women-led organisations working on VAWG. Directly comparable to Hersana as a specialist, intersectional, by-and-for provider with both frontline service and policy/research functions.

Emerging players

• Respect: UK charity working with perpetrators of domestic abuse and supporting professionals via the Respect Phoneline. Adjacent specialist peer, comparable through its Drive Partnership perpetrator-response work, where Hersana participates in co-design.
• Galop: UK specialist charity supporting LGBT+ victims of abuse including domestic and sexual violence. Comparable as a by-and-for specialist DA provider overlapping with Hersana's inclusive survivor framing (Black transwomen and non-binary people).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hersana-cic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hersana Cic