Catch22 is a social business, a not for profit business with a social mission. For over 200 years they have designed and delivered services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities. As a social business they have the heart of a charity, and the mindset of a business.

Catch22's history starts in 1788 with the formation of The Philanthropic Society, who aimed to 'unite the spirit of charity with the principles of trade' - their original definition of a 'social business'.

Their vision is a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live. In 2015/16 they supported 44,090 people through our 138 services, across 144 locations all over the UK. Their 1,340 colleagues were supported in their vital work by 314 volunteers.

They’ve been a charity for 200 years. Today their 1600 colleagues work across children’s social care, deliver alternative education, get people into work through apprenticeships and employability programmes, build stronger communities through social action, and deliver social justice and rehabilitation services (in prisons and in the community). 

But they don’t just stop at changing lives on the frontline. They take any surplus and the learning from their delivery, and funnel that into public service reform – investing in new structures and programmes that do things differently and change the system for good.