The ITP Support Association

What The ITP Support Association does

The ITP Support Association is a UK registered charity (Charity Number 1064480) founded in 1995 by Shirley Watson MBE, dedicated to supporting individuals affected by Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), a rare autoimmune bleeding disorder. The organization serves the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 ITP patients in the United Kingdom through peer support, education, and advocacy. Headquartered in Bolnhurst, it operates with 11-50 employees and is led by CEO Mervyn Morgan and Chair Professor Adrian Newland, the latter embedding clinical hematology expertise into governance.

The Association delivers its mission through a portfolio of programs including The Platelet Journal (a recurring publication), regional and online support groups, an annual convention, patient toolkits on shared decision-making (SDM), and a Young Adults Group. It also produces educational materials such as books and self-help guides. Its digital infrastructure runs on WordPress with WooCommerce for membership management and merchandise sales; no proprietary technology platform is disclosed. Programs are organized by volunteer-led committees and patient representatives, consistent with a community-association model.

Revenue is generated through three primary channels: individual memberships priced at £15 (UK) and £20 (overseas) annually, donations and fundraising events, and corporate sponsorship from pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. Named sponsors include argenx (Platinum tier), Grifols (Website tier), Fortrea (Bronze tier), SOBI, and Novartis. The organization is also a founding member of the International ITP Alliance, signaling cross-border engagement in the broader ITP patient advocacy ecosystem.

Name

The ITP Support Association

Legal name

The ITP Support Association

Website

https://itpsupport.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The ITP Support Association is a UK registered charity founded in 1995 that supports the estimated 3,000-4,000 British patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia through publications, support groups, advocacy, and education, funded by memberships, donations, and pharmaceutical sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rare Disease Patient Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Rare disease charity
• Patient support groups
• Immune thrombocytopenia support
• Patient advocacy services
• Health information resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Bolnhurst

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscriptions at £15 per annum for UK members and £20 per annum for overseas members, providing access to support, groups, forum, and the Platelet specialist magazine.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Primary funding source from donations and fundraising activities of volunteers and friends of the Association. Individuals raise funds through various events including marathons, cycling challenges, and community events.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies involved in research and treatment of ITP, including Platinum Sponsors (argenx), Website Sponsors (Grifols), and Bronze Sponsors (Fortrea).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The ITP Support Association is a UK registered charity that supports patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and their families. It delivers this support through a quarterly journal ('The Platelet'), annual patient conventions featuring ITP specialists, regional support group meetings across Scotland, England & Wales, and All-Ireland, dedicated young adult and school resources, and clinical tools such as the Shared Decision Making Toolkit and ITP Discussion Guide. Membership is offered at £15 per annum for UK members and £20 per annum for overseas members, providing access to support groups, forums, and the quarterly publication.

Product overview

The ITP Support Association offers a comprehensive portfolio of patient support and educational services centered on Immune Thrombocytopenia. The core offerings include The Platelet Journal (quarterly publication), annual patient conventions with ITP specialists, and regional support group meetings (Scotland, All-Ireland, England & Wales). Additional services include the Young Adults Group for ages 18-30, educational resources including books for different age groups (ITP and Me for teenagers, Living with ITP, ITP and Pregnancy), and clinical tools like the Shared Decision Making Toolkit and ITP Discussion Guide. Membership provides access to resources, support groups, and the quarterly Platelet journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Platelet: The quarterly journal/magazine of the ITP Support Association providing ITP information and patient stories.

Products and services

• The Platelet Journal A quarterly journal providing ITP news, patient stories, research updates, and medical information for ITP patients and their families, distributed in print and digital formats.
• ITP Patient Conventions Annual patient conventions featuring leading ITP specialists, providing education, networking, and support opportunities for ITP patients and families.
• Regional Patient Support Group Meetings Regular virtual and in-person meetings for ITP patients across Scotland, All-Ireland, and England & Wales, featuring presentations from expert medical professionals.
• ITP and Me Book A book specifically written for young adults and teenagers to help them understand and cope with ITP, available as a downloadable resource.
• Shared Decision Making Toolkit A collaborative toolkit developed with the UK ITP Forum to help patients and healthcare professionals make informed decisions about ITP treatment and care, available in multiple languages.
• ITP Young Adults Group A dedicated support group for young adults aged 18-30 living with ITP, providing peer connection and discussions on topics affecting young patients.
• School Resources Pack Information packs and guidelines for schools to support children with ITP, including the downloadable ITP School Info Pack and Captain Platelet and the Hemoheroes educational materials.
• Living with ITP Book A comprehensive guide helping ITP patients understand and manage their condition daily, available as a downloadable resource.
• ITP and Pregnancy Book A specialized resource addressing the unique challenges and considerations for women with ITP during pregnancy.
• ITP Discussion Guide A guide developed in partnership with healthcare professionals to help patients discuss their care goals and preferences with their doctor.
• UK Annual Membership Annual subscription at £15 per annum for UK residents, providing exclusive access to support groups, forum, and The Platelet magazine.
• Overseas Annual Membership Annual subscription at £20 per annum for international members, providing the same access as UK members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regional support groups have been running since January 2019, with over 50 meetings held
• +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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered platinum sponsor, website sponsor, bronze sponsor, founding member, core partner, non-commercial partner, member, co-development partner and event sponsor.

• argenxplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing Partnerargenx is a Platinum Sponsor of the ITP Support Association, providing corporate sponsorship as one of the pharmaceutical companies involved in ITP research and treatment.
• Grifolswebsite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrifols is a Website Sponsor of the ITP Support Association and supported the translation of the Shared Decision Making toolkit into several languages.
• Fortreabronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerFortrea is a Bronze Sponsor for the ITP Annual Patient Convention and hosted a Living Well with ITP webinar featuring ITP Ambassador Jonny Mellor.
• International ITP Alliancefounding memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ITP Support Association is a founding member of the International ITP Alliance, which includes PDSA (USA/Canada), ITP Australia, and AIPIT (Italy). The alliance holds joint webinars during ITP Awareness Week.
• Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDSA is the US/Canada counterpart to ITPSA, co-creating the I-WISh patient survey and collaborating on international awareness initiatives.
• ITP Australiacore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance partner representing Australia, collaborating on shared decision-making resources and patient support initiatives.
• Associazione Italiana Porpora Immune Trombocitopenica (AIPIT) - Italycore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian ITP patient advocacy organisation that is part of the International ITP Alliance.
• NIHR Research Delivery Networknon-commercial partnerOthersThe ITP Support Association is an NIHR RDN Non-commercial Partner, meaning studies they fund may be eligible to access the NIHR Study Support Service.
• EURORDISmemberOthersThe ITP Support Association is a member of EURORDIS, the European Organisation for Rare Diseases.
• Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI)co-development partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSOBI co-created the ITP Discussion Guide in partnership with the ITP Support Association. They also supported ITP Awareness Week 2022.
• UK ITP Forumcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative group of UK ITP medical specialists; jointly developed the Shared Decision Making toolkit with the ITP Support Association and UK ITP Clinical Forum.
• Novartis UKevent sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis UK engaged ITPSA Patient Advocate Rhona Bowie to participate in a panel discussion at the British Society for Haematology's 65th annual convention in Glasgow.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Associazione Italiana Porpora Immune Trombocitopenica (AIPIT): Italian ITP patient advocacy organisation and fellow founding member of the International ITP Alliance. Direct international peer with the same disease-specific patient support mission.
• ITP Australia: Australian ITP patient advocacy organization that is part of the International ITP Alliance alongside ITPSA, collaborating on shared decision-making resources and patient support initiatives. Direct international peer with identical disease focus.
• Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA): The US/Canada counterpart to ITPSA, co-creating the I-WISh patient survey and collaborating on international awareness initiatives. Same disease focus, same operating model (charity, support groups, journal, fundraising), and co-founding member of the International ITP Alliance.

Emerging players

• Blood Cancer UK: Major UK blood cancer charity with similar patient support services, fundraising model, and research funding approach; much larger in scale but operating in the same hematological disease advocacy category.
• Sickle Cell Society: UK patient support charity for sickle cell disease, comparable in operating model: small team, regional support groups, community fundraising, and pharma partnerships for a rare hematological condition.
• Anthony Nolan: UK charity supporting patients with blood disorders (bone marrow/stem cell), with similar support services, fundraising model, and registry-driven research partnerships at a larger scale.
• Leukaemia Care: UK-based national charity for blood cancer patients with comparable patient support, information services, regional networks, and pharma-funded programs; broader disease focus but similar charity structure.
• The Haemophilia Society: UK-based patient support charity for another hematological condition, comparable in structure (charity, regional support groups, journal), scale, and operating model including pharma partnerships and community-led fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK cancer support charity offering information, support, fundraising, and partnerships analogous to ITPSA's portfolio, but at vastly larger scale and broader disease scope; useful as a reference point for what scaled rare-disease support can become.
• EURORDIS: European Organisation for Rare Diseases, of which ITPSA is a member. Acts as an umbrella advocacy body across thousands of rare disease patient organizations; broader in scope and does not focus on ITP specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ITPSAUK/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ITPSuppAssoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/109215903/admin/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/itpsupportassoc
• Xx.com/ITPSupportAssoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The ITP Support Association