Bowel Cancer

What Bowel Cancer does

Bowel Cancer UK, founded in 1987 and headquartered in London, is the UK's leading charity dedicated to bowel cancer. Registered in England and Wales (1071038) and Scotland (SC040914) and structured as a company limited by guarantee (3409832), the organisation operates across all four UK nations with 101–250 staff. It serves recently diagnosed patients, family members, friends and carers, healthcare professionals (including the NCCNN network), younger patients under 50, and patients with advanced (stage 4) disease. Core service lines include the Ask the Nurse service, a Peer Support Line, online forums and Facebook groups, local support groups, the 'An Expert Explores' educational series, an extensive publications library reviewed every two years by healthcare professionals, a research programme overseen by Scientific and Medical Advisory Boards, and a campaigning function covering early diagnosis, younger patients, and personalised advanced-care policy.

The operating model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Bowel Cancer UK is funded through individual donations (one-off and monthly), corporate partnerships (notably Andrex/Kimberly-Clark and Bio&Me), fundraising events (marathons, treks, cycling, skydives, golf days), legacy giving and free Will-writing, an online merchandise shop, and memory/tribute giving. All patient-facing services are provided free of charge. Distribution is primarily digital through bowelcanceruk.org.uk (using ReachDeck for 100+ language accessibility and Futr.ai for web chat) and Microsoft Clarity / Google Analytics for behavioural insight, supplemented by volunteer-delivered awareness talks in workplaces and community groups, retail presence via the Andrex partnership, and direct outreach through social media, email newsletters, podcasts, and the Spotlight Magazine. Strategic alliances with Marie Curie, Genomics England, NHS Trusts (e.g., Shrewsbury and Telford), and the Association of Medical Research Charities deepen clinical and research integration.

Name

Bowel Cancer

Legal name

Bowel Cancer UK

Website

https://bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bowel Cancer UK is a London-based charity founded in 1987 that supports bowel cancer patients, families, and healthcare professionals across the UK through nursing helplines, peer support, educational resources, research funding, and awareness campaigns, funded by donations, events, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Charity Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Cancer patient support
• Medical research funding
• Cancer awareness campaigns
• Health professional education
• Community fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and monthly donations from individual supporters, with various suggested donation amounts (£5, £10, £30, £35).
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies like Andrex and Bio&Me for co-branded awareness campaigns and fundraising.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue from participants in organized events including London Marathon, treks, cycling events, skydives, and golf days.
4. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Legacy donations and bequests from supporters who leave gifts in their Wills.
5. Online Shop: Sale of merchandise and products through the online shop.
6. Memory Giving: Donations made in memory of loved ones, including Star of Hope Tribute Pages and funeral collections.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bowel Cancer UK is a UK registered charity providing free support, information, awareness and research services to people affected by bowel cancer. Its core offerings include a nurse-led Ask the Nurse service, a Peer Support Line, online forums and local support groups, a programme of volunteer-delivered awareness talks, professional education for healthcare workers, a research grant programme and policy campaigning.

Product overview

Bowel Cancer UK operates as a charitable organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of patient support, education, and advocacy services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Ask the Nurse service and Peer Support Line for direct patient support, complemented by digital communities through online forums and local support groups. Educational initiatives feature the An Expert Explores Series with on-demand videos, Bowel Cancer Awareness Talks, and an extensive library of Patient Information Publications covering diagnosis, treatment, and living with bowel cancer. The organization also provides Health Professionals Education through the NCCNN network and clinical trial information. Research activities are conducted through grant programs and scientific advisory boards. Campaigning programs address policy issues including early diagnosis and support for younger patients. Fundraising activities include organized events and an online shop. Key resources include a podcast, Spotlight Magazine, free Will writing service, and the Early Diagnosis Programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ask the Nurse Service Nurse-led helpline where patients and caregivers can ask questions about bowel cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and living with the condition. Free service for individuals affected by bowel cancer across the UK.
• Peer Support Line Telephone peer support service connecting people affected by bowel cancer with trained volunteers who have personal experience of the disease.
• Online Communities Digital community platform including online forums and a stage 4 Facebook support group enabling patients and families to connect, share experiences and support one another.
• Local Support Groups In-person local support groups across the UK providing opportunities for people affected by bowel cancer to meet and share experiences.
• An Expert Explores Series Online information series featuring health professionals presenting on topics such as prehabilitation, diet, living with a stoma, and emotions and cancer, with on-demand video recordings and live Q&A sessions.
• Bowel Cancer Awareness Talks Free online or face-to-face awareness presentations delivered by trained volunteers covering bowel cancer symptoms, risk factors and the importance of NHS screening.
• Patient Information Publications Comprehensive range of booklets and factsheets covering bowel cancer topics including What is Bowel Cancer, Your Pathway, Your Operation, Younger People with Bowel Cancer, Eating Well, Living Well, Stoma Reversal, and screening by UK region.
• Health Professionals Education Education events, online learning modules and the National Colorectal Cancer Nurses Network (NCCNN) supporting healthcare professionals in colorectal cancer care, including the Gary Logue Colorectal Cancer Nurse Awards.
• Research Programme Charity-funded research into bowel cancer including genetic testing, diagnostic pathways, screening improvements and treatment advances delivered through grant programmes and Scientific Advisory Boards.
• Fundraising Events Organised events including running events (marathons, half marathons), cycling challenges (London to Paris, Land's End to John O'Groats), treks (Jurassic Coast, Inca Trail), skydives and community fundraising activities.
• Online Shop E-commerce platform selling charity merchandise and awareness items, including Remember Together tribute pages.
• Free Will Writing Service Partnership offering free Will writing for supporters who wish to leave a legacy gift to the charity in their Will.
• Early Diagnosis Programme Programme aimed at improving early detection of bowel cancer through awareness, screening promotion and healthcare system advocacy.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marie CuriecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2022Co-produced 'Preparing for end of life' support event with Marie Curie, combining expertise in end-of-life care. This partnership brings together two cancer charities to provide comprehensive support for bowel cancer patients.
• AndrexcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFlagship corporate partnership with Andrex ( Kimberly-Clark) for bowel cancer awareness campaigns. Includes co-branded awareness materials, point-of-sale promotions, and fundraising initiatives. The partnership leverages Andrex's retail reach to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and the importance of screening.
• Bio&MeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partnership with gut health brand Bio&Me focused on awareness and fundraising collaboration.
• Genomics EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of successful bid to lead Genomics England work on bowel cancer, contributing to genomic research initiatives that will improve understanding and treatment of bowel cancer.
• Hold Amy's HandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch a major new research project, combining resources and expertise for bowel cancer research.
• The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing dedicated support services for bowel cancer patients at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust hospitals.
• Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)coreOthersMember of AMRC, demonstrating commitment to the highest standards in medical research funding and governance.
• Fundraising RegulatorcoreOthersMember of the Fundraising Regulator, committed to adhering to the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Promise, ensuring ethical fundraising standards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Research UK: UK's largest cancer research and awareness charity, operating across all cancer types. Comparable as a mass-market UK cancer charity competing for the same donor pool, but with a much broader research and awareness remit.

Direct peers

• Young Lives vs Cancer: UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent). Comparable UK cancer charity model with focus on a younger demographic and similar family support services.
• Marie Curie: UK charity providing care and support for people with terminal illness including cancer. Direct peer in UK cancer/palliative support space and active co-production partner of Bowel Cancer UK's end-of-life content.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: The UK's largest cancer charity providing patient support, information, and financial aid across all cancer types. Directly comparable as a UK cancer support charity with overlapping patient services and professional fundraising model.
• Prostate Cancer UK: UK charity focused on prostate cancer research, support, and awareness. Direct peer operating an identical single-disease charity model with overlapping services including specialist nurses, peer support, and research funding.
• Pancreatic Cancer UK: UK charity dedicated solely to pancreatic cancer, providing patient support, research funding, and awareness. Closely comparable single-disease UK cancer charity model with similar service portfolio and donor base dynamics.
• Anthony Nolan: UK charity funding stem cell and bone marrow transplants with patient support and research programs. Comparable UK disease-specific charity with similar donor-funded, patient-support-driven model.
• Blood Cancer UK: UK charity dedicated to blood cancer research and patient support. Comparable single-disease UK cancer charity with similar scale, services, and fundraising model.

Regional players

• Bowel Cancer Australia: Australia's leading bowel cancer charity providing patient support, awareness, and research funding. Closest international peer operating the same single-disease model in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Sarcoma UK: UK charity supporting patients with sarcoma (rare cancers). Comparable small single-disease UK cancer charity with overlapping patient support, information, and research funding activities, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bowelcanceruk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=N5bFoXePF9E
• Facebookfacebook.com/bowelcanceruk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bowel-cancer-uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/bowelcanceruk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bowel Cancer