Ayrshire Cancer Support

What Ayrshire Cancer Support does

Ayrshire Cancer Support is a Scottish registered charity (Charity Reg. No. SC016098; OSCR oversight) founded in 1982, headquartered at 5 Dundonald Road, Kilmarnock, and operating a second purpose-built centre in Ayr from 2025. It provides a free, integrated portfolio of cancer support services to people affected by cancer across Ayrshire, including door-to-door volunteer patient transport to hospitals such as the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow, professional counselling, complementary therapies (oncology massage, reflexology, reiki, Indian head massage, holistic facials), drop-in support, a specialist Children & Young People service for ages 5–25, peer support groups and educational courses, patient information services, and respite accommodation at The Moorings in Largs in partnership with Gillian's Saltire Appeal. Service delivery is human-led by 11–50 staff and a volunteer driver fleet that completes 1,000–1,500 patient journeys per month.

The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary and standard for a UK third-sector charity: third-party payment and donation infrastructure (PayPal, CAF Direct Debits, JustGiving, Blackbaud-hosted donation forms), e-commerce through eBay for Charity (including the Touch of Luxe luxury store) and easyfundraising affiliate commission, Eventbrite for event ticketing, Google Analytics for web analytics, and YouTube for self-help video content. There is no proprietary technology product; the core asset is the integrated service network and its integration with NHS Ayrshire & Arran referral pathways.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual donations (including the Hope Heroes monthly regular giving programme), legacy gifts, fundraising events (Masquerade Ball at £85/ticket, Big Boxing Day Dip, Kiltwalk, Edinburgh Marathon, skydives, Colour Dash), corporate partnerships (e.g., Eureka Solutions, Ayr Racecourse, EDF Energy, ABP, Vaultex), a physical charity shop on Newmarket Street in Ayr, and grant funding from The Robertson Trust, North Ayrshire Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, NHS Ayrshire & Arran Endowment Fund, Foundation Scotland, Carrick Futures and Scottish Power Renewables. All services are free to end users, and the charity reports a £1.36m revenue base in 2023/24 with a ≥10% annual growth target and an operating requirement of approximately £3,457 per day.

Name

Ayrshire Cancer Support

Legal name

Ayrshire Cancer Support

Website

https://ayrshirecs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ayrshire Cancer Support is a Scottish registered charity, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Kilmarnock, that delivers free practical and emotional cancer support services — including patient transport, counselling, complementary therapies, and a specialist Children & Young People programme — to patients, families and carers across Ayrshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Patient transport services
• Cancer counselling services
• Complementary therapy services
• Bereavement support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ayr

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and regular donations from individuals. The Hope Heroes regular giving programme allows monthly contributions starting from £1. Single donations via credit/debit card through website.
2. Legacy/Gift in Wills: Legacy donations left in Wills. Described as making up one fifth of all funding for Scottish charities. Gifts range from under £100 to several thousand pounds.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue from events including Masquerade Ball (£85/ticket, £850/table), Big Boxing Day Dip, Kiltwalk, Edinburgh Marathon, skydives, and challenge events.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Partnership programme with businesses including event sponsorship, charity partnerships, team challenges, and in-kind support donations.
5. Retail/Charity Shops: Revenue from charity shops selling donated items. Physical shop at 43 Newmarket Street, Ayr. Online eBay stores (main store and Touch of Luxe luxury store).
6. Grant Funding: Funding from trusts, foundations, and public bodies including The Robertson Trust, North Ayrshire Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, NHS Ayrshire & Arran Endowment Fund, Foundation Scotland, Carrick Futures, and Scottish Power Renewables.
7. Easyfundraising: Commission from online shopping through easyfundraising platform when supporters shop at participating retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ayrshire Cancer Support is a registered charity that provides free practical and emotional support services to people affected by cancer in Ayrshire, Scotland. Its core offering combines direct client-facing services — drop-in centres in Kilmarnock and Ayr, professional counselling, complementary therapies (oncology massage, reflexology, reiki, Indian head massage), a volunteer-driven patient transport service to hospital appointments, specialist Children & Young People support for ages 5–25, peer support groups and educational workshops, and a respite getaway flat at The Moorings in Largs. All services are free to end users and funded through donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, retail, and grants.

Product overview

Ayrshire Cancer Support is a charitable organisation providing a unified portfolio of free cancer support services across Ayrshire, Scotland. The core offering combines direct client services (drop-in centres, counselling, complementary therapies, patient transport, and support groups) with supplementary programmes (children & young people services, respite accommodation, information services, and legacy giving). Services are delivered through two physical support centres in Kilmarnock and Ayr, with the second purpose-built centre opening in 2025. The organisation relies on voluntary donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and legacy gifts to fund its operations, raising approximately £3,457 daily to deliver life-changing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drop-in Centre Informal drop-in space at the Kilmarnock and Ayr centres where visitors can meet support staff, learn about services, or relax in the centre and outdoor space without needing an appointment. Available to anyone affected by cancer in Ayrshire.
• Cancer Support Specialists Registered health professionals with oncology experience who assess client needs, develop tailored support plans, and liaise with clinical teams on behalf of cancer patients and their families.
• Children & Young People Services Bespoke therapeutic support for children and young people up to age 25 affected by or bereaved from cancer, including one-to-one counselling, group sessions, creative therapies, memory box work, and family peer support.
• Counselling Services One-to-one emotional support provided by qualified, accredited counsellors to help cancer patients and families develop coping strategies, improve communication, reduce anxiety and depression, and promote emotional wellbeing. Available in-person at centres, by home visit, by telephone or video call.
• Complementary Therapies Range of complementary therapies including oncology massage, Indian head massage, reiki, reflexology and holistic facials designed to help clients relax and manage cancer symptoms or treatment effects.
• Patient Transport Service Door-to-door volunteer driver transport service providing reliable transport to hospital appointments and centres, including to the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow. Over 1,000 patient journeys are completed each month and 99.7% of transport requests were fulfilled in 2023/24.
• Groups, Courses & Workshops Peer support groups, educational courses (e.g. fear of recurrence, living well with prostate cancer, bereavement), and workshops (e.g. Look Good Feel Better, prehabilitation, menopause and cancer) delivered at the Kilmarnock and Ayr centres, often in partnership with organisations such as Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Scotland.
• Patient Information Services Library of up-to-date, accessible resources providing information on cancer types, treatment options, support services, complementary therapies and welfare benefits, with signposting to local and national organisations.
• Getaway at The Moorings Cosy two-bedroom respite apartment in Largs on the seafront, offered in partnership with Gillian's Saltire Appeal for people affected by cancer and their families or carers, subject to eligibility criteria.
• Helpline Freephone telephone helpline (0800 254 5580) providing information and emotional support to people affected by cancer in Ayrshire who cannot attend a centre in person.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.7% of patient transport requests fulfilled (2023/24)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Gillian's Saltire AppealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer respite getaway at The Moorings flat in Largs for cancer patients and families in Ayrshire.
• Ayr RacecoursemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner hosting annual events including Masquerade Ball.
• EDF EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• TCS Construction ConsultantsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• CoshNivenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• Associated British Ports (ABP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• Eureka SolutionsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner and principle sponsor of Masquerade Ball 2025.
• LMA ArchitectsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• Nolan Wealth ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• Armour Home ImprovementsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate supporter.
• Monarch Financial ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate supporter.
• Regency Facilities ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate supporter.
• Vaultex UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner providing positive feedback about working with the charity.
• Marine FitnessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal business supporting the charity after staff member was affected by cancer.
• Breast Cancer NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Moving Forward Course delivered at the charity's centres.
• Prostate ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Living Well with Prostate Cancer programme.
• Ellis WhittamminorOthersHR and employment law services provider.
• COSCAminorOthersCounselling organisation providing professional support and accreditation guidance.
• OSCRminorOthersOffice of the Scottish Charity Regulator - regulatory oversight.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maggie's: UK-wide charity operating free drop-in cancer support centres built alongside NHS hospitals, offering counselling, wellbeing programmes, and financial guidance. Directly comparable operating model — drop-in centres, professional support, and NHS co-location — at a national scale.
• CLAN Cancer Support: Northeast Scotland cancer support charity offering wellbeing centres, counselling, complementary therapies, and transport to hospital appointments. Closely comparable service portfolio and free-to-user model to Ayrshire Cancer Support, with overlapping NHS partnerships and community-led referral channels.
• Wessex Cancer Trust: Southern England regional cancer charity offering drop-in centres, transport, counselling, and complementary therapies to patients and families. Closely comparable regional operating model, though geographically distant from Ayrshire.
• Cavendish Cancer Care: Sheffield-based cancer support charity providing free counselling and complementary therapies to cancer patients and families. Comparable therapeutic service model and NHS-referral channel, focused on the South Yorkshire region.
• The Big C: Norfolk-based cancer charity operating drop-in support centres, transport, counselling, and complementary therapies. Highly comparable regional charity model with similar free-to-user service portfolio and community fundraising base.

Emerging players

• Hope for Tomorrow: UK charity providing mobile chemotherapy units to bring treatment closer to patients. Addresses a related but narrower problem (treatment access rather than wraparound support), offering partial overlap with ACS's transport service mission.

Broad incumbents

• Marie Curie: UK charity providing hospice care, nursing services, and a support line for people with terminal illness including cancer. Comparable in emotional and bereavement support delivery, though its core offering centres on clinical hospice care rather than free community drop-in services.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: The UK's largest cancer charity, providing information, financial guidance, nursing services, and local specialist support. Overlaps significantly with ACS's information service and patient support but at a national, multi-channel scale with broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Cancer Focus NI: Northern Ireland's local cancer charity providing counselling, support groups, and a wellbeing centre. Comparable regional cancer-support charity structure and service mix, but operating in a different UK jurisdiction.
• Tenovus Cancer Care: Welsh cancer charity providing mobile support units, counselling, and benefits advice. Comparable service mix (transport-equivalent via mobile units, support line, counselling) but focused on Wales rather than Scotland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ayrshirecancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/AyrshireCancerSupport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ayrshirecancersupport

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Ayrshire Cancer Support