Rhiannon Sheridan
CEO
The system wasn’t
built around the
people it serves.
So we rebuilt it.
Every year, millions of people miss out on over £23 billion in benefits, grants, and other support because finding them is fragmented and hard to navigate. We’re changing that. One platform. Thousands of support schemes. Better access for people, and better delivery for organisations.
Why we exist
No one should have to fight a system to get the help they’re entitled to. We’re making support easier to access, faster to deliver, and fairer for everyone.
400,000+
People registered on the platform
£25 million+
Support received
2,500+
Verified schemes to apply through
Meet the team
behind the platform
Behind Lightning Reach is a team that cares deeply about making support easier to access. We’re motivated by the belief that no one should miss out on help because the system is too difficult to navigate, and we work every day to change that.
Ignas Velža
CTO
James Smith
COO
Dave Farquharson
Director of Partnerships
Sam Fathers
Head of Customer Success
Gareth Oakley
Chair
Mary McKenna
Director
Ren Yi Hooi
Director
Our journey so far
Building better access doesn’t happen overnight. These milestones capture some of the key moments that have helped shape Lightning Reach into what it is today.
2020
Lightning Reach was founded during the pandemic with a simple goal: make it easier for people to access the support available to them.
2021
We launched the Lightning Reach portal, co-designed with charities and support organisations to make accessing help simpler.
2022
More than 10,000 people used the platform, with over £1 million in support identified and accessed.
2023
Backed by £1 million in investor funding, we expanded the platform to connect people with thousands of support opportunities across the UK.
2024
We surpassed £10 million in support delivered and continued to grow our partnerships across organisations and sectors.
2025
More than 200,000 people had used Lightning Reach to access grants, benefits, bill support and other financial help, with over £20 million delivered.
2026
We launched Partner Hub and Deliver, helping organisations collaborate more effectively and provide more connected support journeys. We also introduced the new Lightning Reach brand to mark our next chapter.
Three values that guide
everything we do
We put people first
Prioritising people over profit, with always working with integrity and respect.
We solve problems that matter
Developing technology for real impact and better lives.
We bring people together for action
Joining forces to build towards a shared vision, not just talk.
