Small Supports

Working with local systems to develop small, bespoke, person-led support organisations that enable people with complicated lives to thrive in their own communities.

Explore the recordings from our Autumn 2025 webinar series about Small Supports: Small Supports and the future

Two people sat outside chatting and smiling

About Small Supports

Small Supports are small, community organisations that offer highly personalised support for people with complicated lives. They are rooted in relationships, community and long-term commitment, offering a sustainable alternative to institutional care. 

We work with local authorities, NHS partners and community organisations to grow and sustain these new organisations that enable people to live independently in the community with the support they need.

Why Small Supports matter

People speak

Our Living Library is a growing collection of stories from people, their family members and those who support them about what it means to be supported by a Small Support organisation. Follow the link, pull out a virtual book and read, listen, or watch.

Our work

Pink Small Supports logo element of head and shoulders shaped supported by a pink wrapped circular shape.

Brighter Futures

Project
Small, local, bespoke support for young people with complicated lives as they move into adulthood.
Small Supports single colour icons orange

Home, Family, Community

Project
This programme of work, co-designed by the five Meeting centres in Angus, local authority and health partners and people and families with lived experience will start out by thinking through what differences there are to past work on small supports.

Featured resources

A diverse group of four you people laughing and smiling at the camera with hands up.

Creating Brighter Futures

August 21, 2026
Resource
NewsEvaluation and learning
New insights from a national roundtable discussion on supporting young people with complex needs to thrive in adulthood.
2988ppp_882b08b82664121

Applications: Home Family Community

Resource
Resource
Welcome to the application information for Home Family Community
NDTi_People_CircleBlue_RGB-01

Small Supports Network warns of escalating crisis for small social care providers

April 23, 2026
Resource
News
New ARC evidence reveals funding gap threatening small, community-based social care organisations.
Photo of two males. One is providing support, looking at the other with his hand on his shoulder. The other has his back to the camera.

Small is beautiful

October 29, 2025
Resource
Blog
Nic Crosby, Small Supports programme lead, explores how Small Supports prove that person-centred care at an individual scale delivers better wellbeing, lower costs, and lasting impact.
Commission evaluation

Evaluation of the Small Supports Pilot in Leeds 2022-2024

Resource
Evaluation and learning
Report documenting the outcomes of a two year pilot in Leeds to develop new small support organisations for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.
NDTi_Document_CircleBlue_RGB

A Deep Dive into the Small Supports experience in Plymouth

Resource
Evaluation and learning
Report exploring the long term impact of Small Supports organisation Beyond Limits.

Tools and resources

AdobeStock_79654917

A local and person-centred future: Small Supports

Collection
A series of online events sharing learning, discussion, and hope. These international events were held online in Autumn 2025.
Podcast

Small Supports: Podcast series

Collection
Our Autumn 2025 podcast series featured many great conversations, covering all aspects of Small Supports, including the roots and foundations of Small Supports, people with lived experience of institutionalisation, human rights, coproduction, and what makes for good support.
AdobeStock_79654917

Small Supports 2022-2025

Collection
Discover how NHS England funding helped seed nine new Small Support organisations, with more to come, plus reports, resources, and peer network insights.
older-lady-in-community-setting-supported-by-woman-in-hijab

Small Supports: The need for a bespoke solution

Collection
A range of research, webinar recordings and articles on person-centred support solutions for people in secure, forensic, and mental health in-patient units.

Delivery explained

Strategic support

We help shape local systems to enable small, person-led organisations to thrive.

Commissioning and funding guidance


We advise on contracts, direct payments, and individual service funds to support bespoke provision.

Provider development

We recruit, mentor, and support new providers through setup, registration, and growth.

Training and resources


We offer tailored training, peer networks, and practical tools for teams, families, and multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs).

Partnerships and alliances

beyond-limits-logo

Beyond Limits

Partner
C-Change-Logo

C-Change

Partner
NHS_England_logo.svg

NHS England

Funder
Layout 1

Positive Support for You

Partner

Related news

A diverse group of four you people laughing and smiling at the camera with hands up.

Creating Brighter Futures

August 21, 2026
Resource
NewsEvaluation and learning
New insights from a national roundtable discussion on supporting young people with complex needs to thrive in adulthood.
NDTi_People_CircleBlue_RGB-01

Small Supports Network warns of escalating crisis for small social care providers

April 23, 2026
Resource
News
New ARC evidence reveals funding gap threatening small, community-based social care organisations.
Photo of two males. One is providing support, looking at the other with his hand on his shoulder. The other has his back to the camera.

Small is beautiful

October 29, 2025
Resource
Blog
Nic Crosby, Small Supports programme lead, explores how Small Supports prove that person-centred care at an individual scale delivers better wellbeing, lower costs, and lasting impact.

A week of hope and learning: Small Supports lunchtime series

September 22, 2025
Resource
News
Discover an exciting series of events about Small Supports and taking a person centred, local approach to reshaping support for people with complicated lives.

Small Supports, big changes: Transforming lives in Leeds

March 24, 2025
Resource
BlogEvaluation and learning
What happens when you reimagine adult social support from the ground up? Dr Vicky Mason-Angelow shares what happened in Leeds following a two year pilot.

Beyond Limits: A blueprint for Small Supports organisations

November 5, 2024
Resource
BlogEvaluation and learning
Dr Vicky Mason-Angelow shares insights from a study into the impact of Small Supports organisations.

Newsletter sign up

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and a range of other subject specific newsletters and updates.