British Lung Foundation

What British Lung Foundation does

The British Lung Foundation, now operating as Asthma + Lung UK, is a UK-registered charity founded in 1985 and headquartered in London. The organization serves the 12 million people in the UK affected by lung conditions, including asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia, along with their carers and healthcare professionals. Its core offerings include a national helpline (phone and email), support groups (online, in-person, and singing groups), clinically-reviewed health information leaflets, a healthcare professionals' hub with training and development programs, a respiratory champions network, and a research funding portfolio. The organization also conducts policy campaigning for improved respiratory health legislation and cleaner air policies.

The business model is donation-driven rather than revenue-generating. Income streams include one-time and recurring donations, events fundraising (TCS London Marathon, Team Breathe, cycling, trekking, skydiving), legacy giving, corporate partnerships, and merchandise sales through an online shop. All core services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization holds registered charity status in England and Wales (326730), Scotland (SC038415), and the Isle of Man (1177), and operates as a company limited by guarantee. Sarah Woolnough serves as Chief Executive Officer. The charity has no proprietary technology platform and does not rely on AI or software products; its value proposition rests on information quality, community networks, brand trust, and advocacy presence.

Name

British Lung Foundation

Legal name

Asthma and Lung UK

Website

https://blf.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

British Lung Foundation (Asthma + Lung UK) is a UK-registered charity providing free helpline support, support groups, health information, and research funding to people with lung conditions and healthcare professionals across England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable health services and respiratory research

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Asthma & Allergy-Related Pulmonary Care (HLAKANAD), COPD & Chronic Bronchitis Management (HLAKANAE), Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) & Respiratory Diagnostics (HLAKANAC), Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs (HLADAJAK), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB)

Keywords

• Respiratory health charity
• Lung disease research
• Patient support services
• Health advocacy
• Medical research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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. Donations: Individual donations received through the organization's website and fundraising platform. One-time and recurring donation options available.
2. Events and Challenges: Fundraising through events including TCS London Marathon (Team Breathe), running events, trekking, cycling, skydiving, and adventure challenges.
3. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving program where supporters leave gifts in their wills to support the charity's ongoing work.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships involving fundraising activities, events, and volunteering opportunities tailored for partner companies.
5. Merchandise and Resources: Sale of leaflets, booklets, and health advice resources through the online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The British Lung Foundation, now operating as Asthma + Lung UK, is a UK-registered charity that funds medical research into lung diseases, provides direct support and information to people affected by respiratory conditions, and campaigns for improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment policies. It offers a helpline, online support communities, health information resources, and respiratory research grants while advocating on air quality and tobacco control issues.

Product overview

Asthma + Lung UK (formerly British Lung Foundation) is a UK-based charity organization, not a technology product company. Its offering is a portfolio of health information and support services rather than a unified software platform. The core services include a helpline (phone/email support), support groups (online, in-person, and singing groups), downloadable health advice leaflets and resources, a healthcare professionals' hub with training and development programs, respiratory champions network, research programs, blog content, and email newsletter subscriptions. These services collectively support people living with lung conditions (including asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia) with practical advice, emotional support, and health education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Helpline Support Service Telephone helpline providing information and support to people affected by lung conditions and respiratory diseases, staffed by respiratory specialist nurses and advisors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free helpline available for support with any aspect of living with a lung condition

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Diabetes UK: UK charity for a single chronic condition providing helpline, online information, support groups, research funding, and campaigning; directly comparable service mix and audience.
• American Lung Association: US national respiratory health charity providing education, helpline, research funding, and advocacy; the most direct international counterpart in the respiratory disease charity space.
• British Red Cross: Major UK charity delivering health-adjacent support services, training, volunteer programs, and fundraising events at national scale; comparable size, reach, and operating complexity.
• Cancer Research UK: Large UK health charity combining research funding, patient information, fundraising events, and policy advocacy for a single disease area; comparable mission, model, and donor base.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK disease-specific charity offering a helpline, information resources, support services, fundraising events, and policy advocacy; structurally and operationally comparable to Asthma + Lung UK.
• Mind (UK): UK mental health charity offering helpline, information, peer support groups, and policy campaigning for a chronic condition population; analogous operating model to Asthma + Lung UK.
• British Heart Foundation: UK's largest cardiovascular charity operating a near-identical model of patient information, helpline, retail shops, research funding, and corporate partnerships; the closest analogue by structure, scale, and donor model.
• Alzheimer's Research UK: UK single-disease charity combining research funding, public-facing information, fundraising events, and policy advocacy; structurally aligned with Asthma + Lung UK.
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust: UK charity dedicated specifically to a respiratory condition, providing patient information, helpline, support groups, and research funding; highly comparable niche-disease charity model.
• Samaritans: UK charity operating a national helpline, volunteer network, and donor-funded services; comparable direct-to-consumer helpline-driven service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lunguk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 British Lung Foundation