Tenovus Cancer Care

What Tenovus Cancer Care does

Tenovus Cancer Care is a Wales-based registered charity (no. 1054015) founded in Cardiff in 1943 to provide cancer treatment, support and research funding. The organisation operates four Mobile Support Units delivering chemotherapy and lymphoedema treatment in community locations across South Wales and parts of England, a free nurse-led Support Line handling around 5,242 calls and emails annually (0808 808 1010), a network of 16 Sing with Us choirs plus a virtual choir (with around 900 regular attendees), professional counselling (544 people supported last year), and welfare benefits advice. Research is delivered via long-standing partnerships with Cardiff University, Royal College of Music, Imperial College London and Royal Marsden Hospital, including the 'More than Singing' programme that produced peer-reviewed evidence on biological and psychological effects of choir participation for cancer patients and carers.

The charity's business model is diversified across six income streams: individual donations and regular giving, approximately 60 charity shops across Wales and England (including a Bristol bridal shop and eBay sales), a 'make a smile lottery', legacies and gifts in Wills, payroll giving, and corporate sponsorships. Friends of Tenovus Cancer Care groups (30+ active) raise around £150,000 annually through local community engagement. Major historical grants include a £1 million Big Lottery AdvantAGE Fund grant (2011) that seeded the choir expansion, and the organisation is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Services are free at point of use and delivered under NHS/health board partnership arrangements.

Governance is via a Board of Trustees chaired by Tracey Burke, with Judi Rhys (MBE) serving as Chief Executive and a senior leadership team covering People and Development, Finance, Income Generation/Marketing/Communications, and Support/Policy/Insight. The charity employs 251-500 staff and operates additional services including a Cancer Callback programme, Ask the Nurse email service, online shop, and volunteer pathways across retail, administration and community roles.

Name

Tenovus Cancer Care

Legal name

Tenovus Cancer Care

Website

https://tenovuscancercare.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tenovus Cancer Care is a Wales-based registered charity founded in 1943 that delivers free cancer treatment, support and research through mobile chemotherapy units, a nurse-led helpline, choirs, counselling and welfare advice for patients, families and the bereaved.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oncology Remote Symptom Monitoring & Care Navigation (HLALAFAD)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Mobile cancer treatment
• Community choirs cancer
• Cancer counselling services
• Cancer research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, regular giving, and fundraising activities from supporters including events, challenges, and community fundraising groups.
2. Charity Retail Shops: Approximately 60 charity shops selling donated clothes, books, furniture and bric-a-brac. Also includes bridal shop and eBay sales.
3. Lottery: Weekly 'make a smile lottery' providing cash prizes while supporting cancer patients.
4. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Gifts left in Wills are described as hugely important and help fund around a million pounds of cancer research annually.
5. Payroll Giving: Tax-efficient regular donations deducted directly from salary.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors for choirs and other initiatives, including companies sponsoring local choirs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tenovus Cancer Care is a registered cancer charity providing direct support services to people affected by cancer across Wales and parts of England. Core offerings include a free nurse-led Support Line, four Mobile Support Units delivering chemotherapy and lymphoedema treatment in community settings, Sing with Us community choirs, counselling, welfare benefits advice, and cancer information resources. The charity also funds cancer research through partnerships with universities and Royal Colleges.

Product overview

Tenovus Cancer Care is a Wales-based cancer charity offering a portfolio of integrated support services for cancer patients and their loved ones. The core services include the Nurse-led Support Line (phone and Ask the Nurse online service), four Mobile Support Units providing chemotherapy and lymphoedema treatment in communities, Sing with Us choirs (16 in-person choirs plus virtual), counselling, benefits advice, and cancer information. These services are complemented by fundraising mechanisms (donations, lottery, shops, Friends groups) and research programmes including the 'More than Singing' research initiative. The organization operates charity shops, an online shop, and various volunteer programmes as part of its community-based approach to cancer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sing with Us: A network of community choirs for people affected by cancer, offering weekly support, friendship and music across Wales.
• Mobile Cancer Support Units
• Tenovus Cancer Care Support Line

Products and services

• Nurse-led Support Line A free helpline (0808 808 1010) staffed by trained nurses providing advice on cancer diagnosis, treatment, side-effects, and emotional support, available 365 days a year.
• Ask the Nurse An online service allowing people affected by cancer to submit written questions to nurses, who respond via email or phone call.
• Cancer Callback Service A proactive series of regular calls from nurses to support patients going through cancer treatment.
• Mobile Support Units Four mobile cancer treatment units delivering chemotherapy and lymphoedema treatment in local communities across South Wales and some English locations.
• Sing with Us Choirs A network of 16 community choirs across Wales plus a virtual choir, providing weekly support, friendship and music for anyone affected by cancer.
• Counselling Service Emotional support through professional counselling services for cancer patients and their loved ones.
• Money Matters and Practical Support Benefits advisors providing support with welfare benefits, travel insurance, blue badges, emergency grants, and practical matters including help with NHS costs and home adaptations.
• Information about Cancer Comprehensive cancer information covering various cancer types, signs and symptoms, and health guidance.
• Tenovus Lottery Weekly 'make a smile lottery' offering cash prizes while supporting cancer patients.
• Donation Services Various donation options including one-time donations, regular giving, memory donations, Gift Aid, lottery, payroll giving, and leaving gifts in Wills.
• Friends of Tenovus Cancer Care Groups Approximately 30 community fundraising groups across Wales that raise funds and awareness locally, generating around £150,000 annually.
• More than Singing Research Research programme conducted with Royal College of Music, Cardiff University and Imperial College London studying the biological and psychological benefits of choir singing for cancer patients, carers, and the bereaved.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of patients travel less than 10 miles to receive treatment on Mobile Support Units
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Royal College of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Research partnership to study biological effects of singing in choirs for people affected by cancer. Conducted detailed studies on cortisol, cytokine and neuropeptide activity in choir members. Published peer-reviewed research showing mental health benefits.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on choir singing study investigating mental health and wellbeing benefits for cancer patients and carers over six-month period.
• Royal Marsden HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on singing interventions for cancer patients, working together on controlled studies measuring psychological and biological outcomes.
• NHS Health BoardscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormal working relationships with local health boards enabling Mobile Support Units to operate from community locations and provide NHS-funded treatments closer to patients' homes.
• Cardiff UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partner, including Dr Alan Parker's viral cancer research and Rochelle Ahmed's PhD on breast cancer spread. Multiple research collaborations on cancer treatment.
• Healthcare ProfessionalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNHS staff refer patients to Tenovus services including welfare benefits advice, cancer callback, mobile unit treatment, and Sing with Us choirs.
• Dr Daisy FancourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Research Fellow at Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care who led major 2016 research project on singing and mental health benefits for cancer patients and carers.
• Channel 4notableGTM or Marketing PartnerDocumentary 'Sing for your Life' featured Tenovus Cancer Care choir, following journey from first rehearsal in Cardiff to Royal Albert Hall performance.
• Institute of Welsh AffairsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'Let's Talk Cancer' project to engage people affected by cancer and influence Welsh cancer policy development.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• British Heart Foundation: One of the UK's largest charities, combining research funding, patient support, and a national chain of charity shops. Comparable to Tenovus as a large UK health charity with a multi-channel fundraising model including a substantial retail estate and research grants, though focused on cardiovascular rather than cancer conditions.
• Sue Ryder: UK healthcare charity providing hospice and neurological care, plus community-based support services. Comparable to Tenovus as a UK healthcare charity operating a diversified retail and fundraising model (charity shops, donations, lottery, legacies) to fund care services.

Direct peers

• Cancer Research UK: The UK's leading cancer research charity, with overlapping objectives around cancer research funding and public health information. Directly comparable to Tenovus's research funding and cancer information services, though operating at far greater scale and focused more heavily on research than community support.
• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families, offering clinical, emotional, and financial support. Comparable in providing integrated cancer support services including benefits advice and emotional support, though focused on a younger demographic.
• Maggie's: UK cancer charity providing emotional, practical and social support to people with cancer through centres and online. Comparable to Tenovus's choir programme and counselling services in offering community-based emotional support for cancer patients and families, though delivered via physical centres rather than choirs.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: The UK's largest cancer charity, providing similar services to Tenovus including a nurse-led support line, financial guidance, and information services for cancer patients and families. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary base, but operates at significantly greater national scale.
• Blood Cancer UK: UK charity dedicated to beating blood cancer through research, support and influence. Comparable to Tenovus in funding cancer research and providing patient support services, though focused on a specific cancer category.
• Marie Curie: UK charity providing care and support for people with terminal illness including cancer, with nursing services, a support line, and community-based care models. Comparable to Tenovus in offering nurse-led support and community care, though Marie Curie's focus is more weighted toward palliative and end-of-life care.
• Pancreatic Cancer UK: UK charity supporting people with pancreatic cancer through research, information, and patient services. Comparable in mission and structure to Tenovus as a UK cancer charity with research funding and patient support services, though focused on a specific cancer type.
• Prostate Cancer UK: UK charity focused on prostate cancer research, support, and awareness. Comparable to Tenovus's research funding and patient information services, with a similar UK-wide community-based approach to cancer support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TenovusCancerCare
• Facebookfacebook.com/tenovuscancercare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tenovus
• Instagraminstagram.com/tenovuscancer
• Xx.com/tenovuscancer

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 Tenovus Cancer Care