Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

What Childhood Eye Cancer Trust does

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is a UK-registered charity (No. 327493), founded in 1987 originally as The Retinoblastoma Society and rebranded under its current name in 2004. It is the only UK charity solely dedicated to supporting anyone affected by retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer diagnosed in approximately one child per week in the UK and affecting children typically under six. The charity delivers its mission through three pillars — lifelong support, awareness, and research — via a staff of approximately ten people, including support workers integrated into the two NHS retinoblastoma treatment centres at the Royal London Hospital and Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital.

The charity operates no technology products; its core offerings are direct one-to-one and face-to-face support (2,500+ hours and 1,300+ sessions annually), financial support grants for affected families (the website indicates over £30,000 in grants distributed), the bi-annual InFocus magazine published in accessible formats including Braille and large print, awareness leaflets, community meet-ups for families, teens and adults, and an assistive device gifting programme (OrCam MyEye devices donated by Essilor Ltd). It also operates a research grant programme that has invested over £1,000,000 in 30 retinoblastoma research projects since 1997, including grants of up to £25,000 per project.

CHECT's revenue model is entirely donation-dependent — the charity receives no government funding and is financed through seven streams: individual one-off and regular donations (including payroll giving), challenge and community events (London Marathon, Great North Run, skydives, cycling), a £1-per-entry weekly lottery with prizes up to £25,000, corporate partnerships (long-standing relationship with Vision Express since 2010), grants from charitable trusts and foundations (Eveson, Lord Austin, William A Cadbury, James Tudor, plus Covid-era grants from Contact/Pears/DCMS), legacy giving, and merchandise sales. Distribution and beneficiary reach are UK-domestic only.

Name

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Legal name

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Website

https://chect.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is the only UK charity solely dedicated to retinoblastoma, providing lifelong support, awareness and research funding to children, families and adults affected by the disease through embedded NHS clinic support workers and diversified donation streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Cancer Charity Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer support
• Retinoblastoma awareness
• Charity support services
• Cancer research funding
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and regular donations from individuals, including payroll giving programmes. Donors can give via the website, text messaging, or direct bank transfer.
2. Events and Challenges: Fundraising through challenge events including London Marathon, Great North Run, skydives, cycling events, and community fundraising activities.
3. Lottery: CHECT lottery with weekly prizes up to £25,000. For every £1 spent, 50p goes directly to CHECT.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Long-term partnerships with companies like Vision Express (since 2010) including Joyous Fundraising campaigns, store events, andRide4Sight cycling challenges.
5. Trusts and Foundations: Funding from charitable trusts including Eveson Charitable Trust, Lord Austin Trust, William A Cadbury Charitable Trust, James Tudor Foundation, and Contact/Pears Foundation/DCMS.
6. Legacy Giving: Inheritance gifts and bequests from supporters who have remembered CHECT in their wills.
7. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including T-shirts, running vests, pin badges, wristbands, Christmas cards, balloons, stickers, and collection boxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is the UK's only charity dedicated to supporting children, families, and adults affected by retinoblastoma (a rare childhood eye cancer). Its core offering comprises lifelong direct support services delivered by dedicated support workers embedded within NHS retinoblastoma clinics in London and Birmingham, supplemented by financial support grants, awareness publications, peer community meet-ups, and a research funding program. The charity is funded entirely through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, lottery proceeds, merchandise sales, and legacy giving.

Product overview

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) operates as a charity offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on lifelong support for those affected by retinoblastoma. The core offering includes direct support services with dedicated support workers integrated into NHS clinics, providing one-to-one care and face-to-face sessions. Supporting services include CHECT Support Grants for financial assistance, the InFocus Newsletter (published bi-annually in multiple accessible formats), and awareness publications and leaflets. The organization also facilitates community connection through CHECT Meet-ups and Events for families, teens, young adults, and adults. Additional programs include access to OrCam MyEye assistive devices, the CHECT Lottery (with prizes up to £25,000), CHECT Merchandise, and a Research Funding Program that has invested over £1,000,000 in retinoblastoma research since 1997.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Support Services One-to-one care, face-to-face support sessions, and emotional guidance provided by dedicated CHECT support workers integrated within NHS retinoblastoma clinics in Birmingham and London, offering lifelong support to those affected by retinoblastoma.
• CHECT Support Grants Financial support grants provided to families struggling with the costs associated with retinoblastoma treatment and care, including travel expenses to hospital visits.
• InFocus Newsletter Bi-annual magazine publication available in multiple accessible formats (physical copy, large print A3, Braille, PDF via email, and plain text) containing news, family stories, fundraising updates, and support information for members.
• Awareness Publications and Leaflets Downloadable and printable educational materials including signs and symptoms leaflets to raise awareness of retinoblastoma among parents and healthcare professionals.
• OrCam MyEye Device Access Programme Free OrCam MyEye wearable AI device gifted to CHECT members via lucky dip; the device attaches magnetically to eyeglasses and assists individuals with visual impairments.
• CHECT Lottery Weekly lottery programme with prizes up to £25,000; 50p of every £1 spent goes directly to supporting CHECT's charitable activities.
• CHECT Merchandise Branded merchandise including T-shirts, running vests, pin badges, wristbands, balloons, stickers, and collection boxes with 100% of profits supporting the charity.
• CHECT Meet-ups and Events Family meet-ups, online meet-ups, teen and young adult meet-ups, and adult meet-ups providing community connection, peer support, and fun activities for those affected by retinoblastoma.
• CHECT Research Funding Programme Research grant funding programme inviting applications up to £25,000 for projects improving understanding of retinoblastoma, developing kinder effective treatments, and reducing negative impact on those affected.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% survival rate for children diagnosed with retinoblastoma
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vision ExpresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Long-term corporate partnership since 2010. Vision Express supports CHECT through Joyous Fundraising campaigns, Ride4Sight cycling events, store ribbon cuttings for store openings, and ongoing fundraising activities. Executive team participates in fundraising challenges.
• Fight For SightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of research projects. Jointly funded research with CHECT including £14,851.26 contribution to Gerrish research project.
• Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS clinic where CHECT support workers are integrated, providing consistent care throughout the long treatment process for retinoblastoma patients.
• Royal London Hospital (Barts Health NHS Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS hospital where CHECT support workers are based, integrated with retinoblastoma clinic. CHECT offices are located near the hospital.
• National Artificial Eye Service (NAES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS service that manufactures and fits artificial eyes. Related organization that many CHECT members interact with for prosthetic eye care.
• Ellen MacArthur Cancer TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity running sailing trips for children and young people who have, or have had, cancer. CHECT members participate in these sailing day trips.
• HavenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday park company offering CHECT members 5% discount on UK school and bank holidays and 10% discount on other breaks.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children with Cancer UK: UK charity focused specifically on childhood cancer, including research funding and family support. Closest direct peer to CHECT in mission, supporter base, and fundraising model, though it covers a wider cancer portfolio rather than retinoblastoma alone.
• Teenage Cancer Trust: UK charity providing specialized support, nursing, and research funding for teenagers and young adults with cancer. Comparable to CHECT's teen/young adult segment and similar NHS-embedded nursing model within hospital settings.
• Fight for Sight: UK charity funding eye research and supporting those affected by sight loss. Directly comparable as CHECT's named research co-funder (jointly funded the Gerrish research project) and shares both the eye-health research-grant model and donor-base overlap.
• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families — including financial grants, social workers, and clinical liaison. CHECT's support worker Lena Copley previously worked there, and it serves an overlapping beneficiary population with comparable support service models.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK's leading sight-loss charity supporting people with vision impairment. Comparable as an eye-condition charity serving overlapping adult beneficiaries of CHECT (those who lost an eye to retinoblastoma) and a likely donor/referral network partner.
• Cancer Research UK: The UK's largest cancer research charity and a broad incumbent across all cancer types. Comparable as a major cancer research funder and awareness campaigner, though not a specialist in retinoblastoma or pediatric oncology.
• Blood Cancer UK (formerly Bloodwise): UK charity dedicated to a single disease area (blood cancer) with research funding, family support, and awareness campaigns. A comparable disease-specific charity model even though the underlying medical condition differs.

Emerging players

• Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust: UK charity running sailing trips for young people who have had cancer. Named CHECT partner with member participation; comparable in providing post-treatment psychosocial support and community-building for young cancer survivors.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities UK: UK charity providing free 'home away from home' accommodation for families with sick children receiving hospital treatment. Comparable charitable mission addressing the financial and emotional burden of pediatric treatment, including retinoblastoma families traveling to Birmingham or London.

Others

• Mumsnet: UK parent-focused online community and media platform. A confirmed CHECT awareness campaign partner (per disclosed marketing channels) and a relevant ecosystem player for parent-targeted awareness campaigns and donor acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChectUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CHECTUK/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/123729324370622
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childhood-eye-cancer-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/chect_uk
• TikToktiktok.com/@chect_uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Childhood Eye Cancer Trust