What The Mulberry Centre does

The Mulberry Centre is an independent, UK-registered cancer support charity (Charity No. 1108999) founded in 2000, headquartered at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, Hounslow. It provides a comprehensive suite of free services to anyone affected by cancer - patients, family members, carers, and the bereaved - through seven core programmes: Psychological Support (counselling, support groups, coaching), Complementary Therapies (massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Reiki), Informative Workshops (stress management, welfare benefits, legal, nutrition), Social and Creative Activities, Wellbeing Classes (yoga, tai chi, Pilates, QiGong), drop-in and library support, and Community Engagement. Funded by Hounslow Council, it also extends selected services to non-cancer chronic illness end-of-life care and bereavement for Hounslow residents and West Middlesex Hospital inpatients. Over 25 years it has supported more than 15,000 people; in 2023/24 it served 1,598 clients across 6,041 sessions including 881 welcome sessions, 2,181 counselling sessions, 455 support groups, 2,124 complementary therapy sessions, and 400 palliative care sessions. All services are delivered free of charge with no postcode restriction for cancer-affected users.

The business model is a donation-and-grant-funded charity operating two channels: in-person delivery at the hospital-based Centre and remote delivery (online workshops, telephone support, virtual groups). The go-to-market is community-led, with active outreach to GP surgeries, libraries, faith groups, schools, and social care providers, complemented by inbound referrals from healthcare partners and a digital presence on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Revenue sources include individual donations, charitable trusts and foundations (National Lottery Community Fund, City Bridge Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, St James's Place Charitable Foundation, The Big Give), corporate partners (British Airways, GSK, Ecclesiastical, Fuller Smith & Turner, Waitrose), and limited statutory funding from Hounslow Council. The Centre is governed by its own board of trustees, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity investors. Operating costs are approximately £3,000 per day, with annual fundraising needs of £737,000-£800,000 to sustain operations.

Name

The Mulberry Centre

Legal name

The Mulberry Centre

Website

https://themulberrycentre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mulberry Centre is an independent UK cancer support charity providing free psychological, therapeutic, and wellbeing services to cancer patients, carers, and the bereaved across West London from its hospital-based centre in Isleworth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Complementary therapy services
• Psychological counselling support
• Wellbeing programmes
• Community health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Isleworth

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. Charitable Donations and Grants: The Mulberry Centre is an independent charity that relies on donations and grants from individuals, charitable trusts, foundations, companies, and government funding to cover operating costs and provide free services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Mulberry Centre is an independent cancer support charity that provides free psychological support, complementary therapies, informative workshops, wellbeing classes, and social/creative activities to anyone affected by cancer, including patients, their carers, and the bereaved. Services are delivered in person at the Centre located within West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, with additional remote/online options, and selected services are extended to Hounslow residents with non-cancer chronic illness through Hounslow Council funding.

Product overview

The Mulberry Centre is an award-winning, independent cancer support charity offering a comprehensive suite of free support services. The organisation provides services through seven interconnected programme areas: Psychological Support (counselling, support groups, and coaching), Complementary Therapies (massage, reflexology, Shiatsu, Reiki), Informative Workshops (stress management, welfare benefits, legal support), Social and Creative Activities (art, creative writing, table tennis), Wellbeing Classes (yoga, tai chi, Pilates, QiGong), Other Support and Information (drop-in, library, telephone support), and Community Engagement (outreach and awareness workshops). Additionally, funded by Hounslow Council, the Centre extends some services to individuals with non-cancer chronic illness requiring end of life care, their carers, and those bereaved by any illness. All services are provided free of charge to anyone affected by cancer, with no postcode barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Psychological Support Individual counselling sessions, support groups for patients and bereaved individuals, and coaching services designed to help clients gain clarity and develop strategies for moving forward. Delivered free of charge to anyone affected by cancer (patients, carers, and the bereaved) in person at the Centre and remotely.
• Complementary Therapies Complementary therapies including massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, Shiatsu, and Reiki, practised to induce relaxation and improve wellbeing for those affected by cancer. Delivered free of charge by trained therapists at the Centre.
• Informative Workshops Rolling programme of workshops covering topics such as managing stress, welfare and benefits support, legal sessions, cancer nutrition, sleep management, and emotional freedom technique. Delivered free of charge to anyone affected by cancer.
• Social and Creative Activities Social and creative activities including watercolour and drawing classes, art class, mandala class, knit and natter, book group, creative writing class, table tennis, and coffee mornings, designed to reduce isolation and support wellbeing.
• Wellbeing Classes Wellbeing classes including yoga, tai chi, guided meditation, seated yoga, Pilates, QiGong, and specialised programmes such as yoga for breast cancer and men's yoga for prostate health, offered free of charge to those affected by cancer.
• Other Support and Information Drop-in support, outdoor garden space, library resources, online activities, telephone support, and self-help tools such as guided meditation and yoga therapy. Provided free of charge as part of the Centre's wraparound support model.
• Community Engagement Community outreach activities including workshops on cancer awareness, information stalls at health events, presentations to community groups, and complementary therapy taster sessions for the wider community, aimed at raising awareness of cancer signs, symptoms, screening, and prevention.
• Non-cancer End of Life Care and Bereavement Support End of life care and bereavement support for Hounslow residents and West Middlesex University Hospital inpatients who are not cancer patients, including counselling, support groups, wellbeing classes, and social activities. Delivered free of charge and accessed by those who live or work in Hounslow or have been a recent inpatient at West Middlesex University Hospital.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,598 people supported in 2023/24
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Foundation Trust partner providing support and collaboration.
• West Middlesex University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for The Mulberry Centre and partner for healthcare coordination.
• Complementary Health ProfessionalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body supporting volunteer therapists at the Centre.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Hospice UK: National hospice and end-of-life care charity. Comparable bereavement and palliative care focus, but operates primarily at advocacy and infrastructure level rather than direct service delivery to beneficiaries.
• Marie Curie: Major UK charity providing hospice and end-of-life care plus bereavement support, including non-cancer patients. Directly comparable bereavement and palliative services component delivered at significantly greater national scale.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK's largest cancer support charity offering information, financial guidance, and direct support to people affected by cancer. Overlaps significantly in mission and service offering but operates at national scale with vastly greater fundraising capacity and brand recognition.
• Sue Ryder: UK charity providing hospice, neurological, and bereavement support. Comparable bereavement and palliative support services delivered through a network of hospice locations, with a broader healthcare focus.

Others

• Mind: UK mental health charity providing counselling, support, and information services. Comparable counselling and mental health support delivery infrastructure but focused on mental health broadly rather than cancer-affected populations specifically.

Direct peers

• Young Lives vs Cancer: UK cancer charity for children and young people affected by cancer, providing emotional, financial, and practical support. Comparable cancer support mission but focused on a different age segment and with a national rather than local footprint.
• Penny Brohn UK: Cancer support charity providing complementary therapies, counselling, nutrition advice, and wellbeing classes to people affected by cancer in the Bristol area. Closely comparable holistic support model to The Mulberry Centre's seven-program portfolio.
• Maggie's Centres: UK cancer support charity operating hospital-based centres offering psychological support, complementary therapies, and practical advice for people affected by cancer. Most directly comparable operational model to The Mulberry Centre's hospital-integrated cancer support approach, with a national network of similar sites.

Emerging players

• Carers Trust: UK charity supporting unpaid carers, including those caring for cancer patients. Directly comparable in addressing the carer support component of The Mulberry Centre's services but operates as a network of local carers' organisations rather than direct service delivery.
• Trekstock: UK cancer charity for young adults aged 20-40 affected by cancer, providing exercise, wellbeing, and social programmes. Comparable wellness and complementary approach for cancer patients but with a focused demographic segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MulberryCentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMulberryCentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_mulberry_centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Mulberry Centre