Caudwell LymeCo Charity

What Caudwell LymeCo Charity does

Caudwell LymeCo Charity is a UK-registered nonprofit organisation (charity number filed under entity name Caudwell LymeCo) founded by billionaire entrepreneur John Caudwell in 2013 after eleven members of his family were diagnosed with Lyme disease. The charity is headquartered in Broughton, Staffordshire, operates with a small team of 1-10 staff, and is governed by a Board of Trustees under Veronica Hughes as Chief Executive. Its stated vision is that every Lyme disease patient in the UK can be diagnosed, treated and completely cured on the NHS, and its core mission is to fund research into a more accurate diagnostic test and more effective treatment protocols for Lyme disease. The charity does not develop its own technology platform; instead it operates an Innovation Fund grant programme (launched January 2021) that awards small research grants to accredited laboratories, academic institutions, and small commercial enterprises in the UK and Europe, with its first grant awarded to Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in July 2021 for work on a more sensitive diagnostic test.

The organisation's commercial activity consists of fundraising and donor engagement rather than product sales. Revenue is generated through individual one-time and recurring donations, the LifeLyme monthly membership programme (with tiered giving levels of £5, £10, £20, and £50 per month each tied to a specific research outcome), charity merchandise (organic cotton t-shirts at £19 and silicone wristbands at £5) sold via a Teemill storefront, passive donation channels including Amazon Smile and easyfundraising (over 3,500 retailers), text-to-donate, and corporate CSR partnerships. It also distributes free educational resources — leaflets, rash identification guides, primary school teaching materials, and the Tick Detectives children's resources co-developed with Kidunk — and runs free online events (yoga classes, researcher Q&As) for patients. Marketing is community-led and event-driven, concentrated around Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May and amplified by John Caudwell's personal media presence. The charity holds registered membership of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and has been an active participant in NICE guideline development, contributing to the first UK Lyme disease NICE guideline in 2018 and the NICE Quality Standard in 2019.

Name

Caudwell LymeCo Charity

Legal name

Caudwell LymeCo Charity

Website

https://caudwelllyme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Caudwell LymeCo Charity is a UK nonprofit founded by John Caudwell in 2013 that funds Lyme disease diagnostic and treatment research via its Innovation Fund, supports patients with free educational resources and online events, and advocates for improved NHS care, primarily serving UK Lyme disease patients, their families, and the medical research community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Lyme disease research
• Medical research charity
• Patient support services
• Health awareness campaigns
• Research grant funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Broughton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting Lyme disease research. Includes online donations, text donations, and cheque donations. UK taxpayers can Gift Aid donations for additional 25% tax recovery.
2. LifeLyme Membership: Monthly subscription programme where members make recurring donations of any size. Provides quarterly e-newsletter, priority event invitations, and awareness bracelet as member benefits.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of charity merchandise including t-shirts (£19) and silicone awareness wristbands (£5) through Teemill store. All profits go directly to research and awareness activities.
4. Retail Donation Programmes: Registered with easyfundraising (over 3,500 retailers) and Amazon Smile (0.5% minimum donation) enabling supporters to generate free donations through everyday online shopping.
5. Innovation Fund Grants: Awarding small grants for innovative research projects into improving testing and treatment of Lyme disease to accredited laboratories, academic institutions, and small commercial enterprises in UK or Europe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Caudwell LymeCo Charity is a UK nonprofit that raises funds to finance research into reliable diagnostic tests and effective treatment protocols for Lyme disease, while also delivering patient support, public awareness campaigns, and free educational resources. It operates a recurring LifeLyme membership programme, sells awareness merchandise, runs the Innovation Fund research grant programme, and provides free online events, leaflets, and teaching resources for schools.

Product overview

Caudwell LymeCo Charity operates as a nonprofit organization focused on funding Lyme disease research, raising awareness, and providing patient support. Their offerings include the LifeLyme Membership monthly donation program, awareness merchandise (t-shirts and wristbands) sold through Teemill, free educational resources (leaflets, rash guides, teaching materials, Tick Detectives resources for children), the Innovation Fund research grant program for scientists, and free online events for patients. The charity does not operate a technology platform but provides charitable services focused on medical research funding and public health education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LifeLyme Membership Monthly recurring donation programme for supporters of the charity. Members contribute any amount, with suggested tiered levels (£5, £10, £20, £50 per month) each linked to specific research priorities such as funding reliable diagnostic tests, understanding Lyme harm, finding proven cures, and identifying UK hotspots. Members receive a quarterly e-newsletter, priority event invitations, and an awareness bracelet.
• Awareness T-Shirts
• Silicone Awareness Wristbands
• Tick Detectives Resources for Kids
• Lyme Disease Information Leaflets
• Rash Resource for Patients
• Primary School Teaching Resources
• Innovation Fund Research Grant Programme
• Free Online Events for Lyme Patients

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of Lyme disease patients unable to work at all; 18% part-time; only 16% full-time
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AstriidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2021Astriid supports those with long term health conditions in gaining employment. Caudwell LymeCo patient survey found 50% unable to work and 18% part-time due to Lyme disease. Partnership raises awareness of employment support available.
• Dr Ray PerrinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2021Hosted discussion and Q&A with Dr Ray Perrin on the Perrin Technique for ME/fibromyalgia treatment and its application to Lyme disease symptom management.
• John Hopkins Lyme Disease Research CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2021Hosted online discussion and Q&A with John Hopkins researchers John Aucott MD and Mark Soloski PhD. Researchers shared findings on immune dysfunction, gut microbiome and metabolic response in Lyme disease. Session explored how findings might impact patient treatment pathways.
• Wild Wolf MovementminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2021Partnership with Wild Wolf Movement (Marie) for online yoga class especially catered for Lyme patients. 1-hour mindful movement, breathing and meditation session designed for those with chronic pain, fatigue, and limited mobility.
• Aroga YogaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2021Partnership with Kayla at Aroga Yoga for free online gentle yoga class for people living with chronic illness including Lyme disease, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue.
• SimplyV (Tick Twister)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2020August campaign partnership with SimplyV, makers of Tick Twister tick removal tool. SimplyV donated 10% of all purchases made during August to Caudwell LymeCo's research fund. Joint social media awareness campaign for Lyme disease prevention during peak tick season.
• KidunkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2020First collaboration between a UK Lyme disease charity and outdoor clothing company. Kidunk makes protective, breathable, practical clothing for children. Partnership includes Tick Detectives Initiative for children's outdoor safety education. Joint efforts during Lyme Awareness Month.
• TeemillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-commerce platform for charity merchandise. T-shirts made from 100% organic cotton, printed in factory using renewable energy, sent in recyclable packaging. All profits go to research and awareness activities.
• Amazon SmileminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Smile programme where Amazon donates 0.5% minimum of eligible purchases to Caudwell LymeCo when shoppers select the charity as their designated recipient.
• easyfundraisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegistered with easyfundraising enabling supporters to generate free donations through everyday online shopping with over 3,500 retailers including major brands.
• Liverpool School of Tropical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded first ever research grant to Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for project piloting a more sensitive and accurate diagnostic test for Lyme disease through the Innovation Fund.
• Oliver Barnett (London Clinic of Nutrition)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK health expert in Lyme disease, nutrition and functional medicine. Hosted free online Q&A on diet and nutrition effects on managing Lyme symptoms.
• DontSendMeACardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEcard partnership allowing supporters to send digital cards instead of paper cards. Donations support the charity while saving the planet.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS): International professional medical society focused on Lyme and associated tick-borne diseases. Comparable mission around improving diagnosis and treatment, but operates as a physician membership body rather than a research-funding charity.
• LymeDisease.org: US-based Lyme disease patient advocacy and research nonprofit. Similar mission of patient empowerment and research advancement, but US-focused and operates the MyLymeData patient registry as its signature asset.

Broad incumbents

• Versus Arthritis: Large UK medical research charity funding research into arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions. Much larger than Caudwell LymeCo but follows the same model of combining research grants, patient information, and NHS-advocacy work.

Direct peers

• Pancreatic Cancer UK: UK disease-specific research charity funding research into pancreatic cancer and supporting patients. Similar in scale, structure, and the model of small innovation grants to UK/European research institutions.
• Meningitis Research Foundation: UK-based medical research charity funding meningitis research and supporting affected families. Highly comparable in scale, structure, and AMRC-aligned model of funding research while running patient support programmes.
• Caudwell Children: Another charity founded by John Caudwell, supporting children with disabilities and autism. Direct peer in founder, funding model, and operational structure, though focused on a different disease/population.
• Coeliac UK: UK charity for people affected by coeliac disease, funding research, providing patient resources, and advocating for better NHS diagnosis and treatment. Direct structural and operational peer in the under-diagnosed chronic disease space.
• British Liver Trust: UK charity addressing liver disease through research funding, patient support, and awareness. Comparable in operational model and target audience of patients and families affected by an under-diagnosed condition.
• Lyme Disease UK: UK-based patient advocacy and support organization for people affected by Lyme disease. Direct peer in mission and geography, although it focuses more on patient support/awareness while Caudwell LymeCo focuses on research funding.

Regional players

• Tick-Borne Disease Association (TBDA): US-based tick-borne disease advocacy and research organization. Operates in an adjacent disease space with comparable patient advocacy and research funding focus, but US-focused rather than UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/clymeco
• Facebookfacebook.com/lymeco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caudwell-lymeco-charity
• Instagraminstagram.com/caudwelllymeco

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Caudwell LymeCo Charity