Cambridge Cancer Help Centre

What Cambridge Cancer Help Centre does

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1188745) founded in 1986 by Marilyn Barnes to provide free, holistic support to individuals and families affected by cancer across Cambridgeshire. The Centre operates from the David Rayner Building on the Scotsdales Garden Centre site at 120 Cambridge Road, Great Shelford, and delivers services three days a week (Monday–Wednesday, 10am–4pm) without public funding, relying entirely on voluntary contributions, donations, and fundraising activities.

The service portfolio is built around three pillars: (i) support groups — peer and condition-specific groups covering breast, prostate, lymphoma, myeloma, head and neck, urostomy, chemo, secondary cancer, and living-with-cancer cohorts, plus a carers' corner; (ii) 1:1 complementary therapies delivered by professional therapists under medical consent from the patient's hospital consultant or GP; and (iii) activities and fitness — yoga, tai chi, dance, art, crafts, and a new Fitness Hub opened in March 2026 in a refurbished summerhouse. Educational and welfare programmes include the Macmillan HOPE 6-week course, the Macmillan Take Control short course, Macmillan Benefits Advisor access, and Look Good Feel Better workshops delivered in partnership with Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) Cancer Support Service.

The Centre is staffed by 21 employees and supported by approximately 40 weekly volunteers, governed by a Board of Trustees currently chaired by Graham Howell (since January 2025). Go-to-market is community-led: services are accessed without referral, awareness is built through Facebook, Instagram, website content, email, community events, local PR (Cambridge Independent), and referrals from healthcare partners. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, membership contributions, and community fundraising events including an annual cycle ride and Cambridge Half-Marathon partnership, with multiple local corporate sponsors underwriting events.

Name

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre

Legal name

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre

Website

https://cambridgecancerhelp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre is a UK-registered charity in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, founded in 1986, that delivers free holistic cancer support — including peer groups, complementary therapies, fitness, and Macmillan educational courses — to individuals and families affected by cancer, funded entirely by donations and fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Complementary therapies
• Peer support groups
• Holistic wellness programmes
• Community cancer care

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge , Cambridgeshire

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. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Centre receives no public funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions, donations from supporters, and fundraising activities. Services are provided free of charge to members.
2. Fundraising Events: Income generated from organized events including cycle rides, half-marathons, fayres, and other community fundraising activities.
3. Membership Contributions: Becoming a member is a way to support the Centre financially while accessing services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre is a registered UK charity that provides free, holistic support to people affected by cancer and their families. Core offerings include peer support groups, 1:1 complementary therapies, group activities (yoga, tai chi, dance, fitness, art, crafts), and educational programmes such as the Macmillan HOPE Course and Take Control Programme. All services are delivered in person at the Centre in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, and are funded entirely through donations, fundraising events, and corporate sponsorship.

Product overview

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre operates as a single, unified charitable organization providing holistic cancer support services. The core offering comprises Support Groups (peer and condition-specific), 1:1 Therapies (professional complementary therapies with medical consent), and Activities including the newly launched Fitness Hub (opened March 2026). Supporting programmes include the Macmillan Take Control Programme (short course on cancer symptom management) and the Macmillan HOPE Course (6-week emotional wellbeing programme). The Centre also provides access to Macmillan Benefits Advisors. All services work together to support the mind, body, and spirit of those affected by cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Groups Peer support groups offering the opportunity to meet others going through a similar cancer experience, facilitated by specialist facilitators covering treatments, nutrition and self-help techniques. Includes condition-specific groups (e.g., breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, myeloma, head and neck, urostomy, secondary cancer, chemo support, living with cancer) and a dedicated Carers' Corner.
• 1:1 Therapies Professional complementary therapies delivered 1:1 to support and enhance well-being during and following clinical treatment programmes. Medical consent from a hospital consultant or GP is required. Services include relaxation and support for body, mind and spirit.
• Activities and Fitness Group activities and social programmes including yoga, tai chi, dance and fitness, art, guided imagery and mindfulness, craft group, plus social events such as quiz nights, film afternoons, summer seaside trips and coffee mornings. Delivered at the Centre.
• Fitness Hub Newly opened exercise facility offering 1-hour bookable slots and a small range of exercise equipment in a calm, garden-view setting designed for people affected by cancer. Located in a refurbished summerhouse on the Centre's garden area.
• Take Control Programme Macmillan-run short course providing tools and strategies to enhance and maintain health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer. Focuses on symptoms after diagnosis, including fatigue, stress, diet, exercise, sleep and fear of recurrence. A shorter version of the 6-week HOPE programme, delivered at the Centre.
• Macmillan HOPE Course Help Overcome Problems Effectively (HOPE) 6-week course designed to help participants regain confidence and manage stress and emotional difficulties after a cancer diagnosis, combining shared support with practical strategies.
• Macmillan Benefits Advisor Access to a Macmillan Benefits Advisor providing guidance on benefits and financial support available to people affected by cancer, delivered fortnightly at the Centre.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly £20,000 raised through inaugural cycle event in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bottisham Women's InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026Bottisham Women's Institute provided financial support to the Centre, with Janet Hickman (trustee) receiving a cheque presented by Ann Meade who helps run the HOPE courses.
• Chris Hoy Tour de 4minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 August 2025Centre manager Julie Paterson participated in the Chris Hoy Tour de 4 fundraising cycle event in September 2025, raising money for the Centre. The event was organized by professional cyclist Chris Hoy who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
• Breast Cancer NowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Breast Cancer Now hosts a Secondary Breast Cancer Support Group at the Centre on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 11am to 1pm. This provides specialized support for people living with secondary breast cancer.
• Look Good Feel Better UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025Look Good Feel Better UK partners with CUH Cancer Support Service and the Centre to host workshops focused on helping people manage the cosmetic and physical impact of cancer treatment.
• Savills CambridgeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2025Savills Cambridge sponsored the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025, contributing to the nearly £20,000 raised.
• Scotsdales Garden CentreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2025Scotsdales Garden Centre sponsored the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025 and hosts the Centre at their site. Caroline Owen, Managing Director of Scotsdales, officially opened the new Fitness Hub in March 2026.
• Mantle SpaceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• Hill DemolitionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• Galileo PublishingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• KB Carpentry & HandymanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• FourwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• The Cycle GuyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Sponsor of the inaugural Cambridge Cancer Help Cycle event in 2025.
• CUH Cancer Support ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Cancer Support Service collaborates with the Centre on wellbeing events, including Mental Health Awareness Week activities and Look Good Feel Better workshops.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2024Partnership with Macmillan to offer HOPE (Helping Overcome Problems Effectively) courses and Take Control workshops at the Centre. Macmillan also provides Benefits Advice at the Centre fortnightly from 9th July 2024. These programs help people affected by cancer manage symptoms such as fatigue, stress, diet, exercise, sleep and fear of recurrence.
• AstraZenecaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2024AstraZeneca employee volunteers conducted a spring clean of the Centre in May 2024, demonstrating corporate community involvement and support.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Cancer Focus Northern Ireland: Cancer Focus NI offers counselling, complementary therapies, and support groups across Northern Ireland—another regional cancer-support charity with a comparable mix of services and reliance on donations.
• CLAN Cancer Support: CLAN provides free emotional and practical support to cancer patients and families in north-east Scotland, including complementary therapies and support groups—a regional peer with a comparable holistic service model.
• Tenovus Cancer Care: Tenovus Cancer Care is a Wales-based charity offering cancer support, counselling, and benefits advice; while regionally distinct, its service model and free-to-user ethos are structurally similar to Cambridge Cancer Help Centre.

Emerging players

• Look Good Feel Better UK: A UK charity that runs wellbeing and beauty workshops for cancer patients to manage treatment side effects—directly partnered with Cambridge Cancer Help Centre and a partial-overlap peer in the supportive care niche.
• Hospice UK (member hospices such as Arthur Rank): Arthur Rank Hospice and other Hospice UK members deliver complementary therapies, counselling, and day-services support to people with life-limiting illnesses including cancer—overlapping with CCHC's complementary therapy and emotional support offering.

Direct peers

• Maggie's Centres: Maggie's Centres is a UK charity operating a network of drop-in centres providing free emotional, practical, and social support to people with cancer, including complementary therapies, benefits advice, and peer groups—closely mirroring the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre model.
• Penny Brohn UK: Penny Brohn UK provides holistic cancer support (complementary therapies, nutrition, exercise, counselling) free of charge, funded by donations—directly comparable to Cambridge Cancer Help Centre's holistic, mind-body-spirit offering.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Macmillan is the UK's largest cancer charity and a strategic partner of Cambridge Cancer Help Centre, delivering benefits advice, HOPE courses, and information services to cancer patients nationally—overlapping significantly in mission and service mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/cambridgecancerhelp
• Facebookfacebook.com/CambridgeCancerHelpCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-cancer-help-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambridgecancerhelp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Cambridge Cancer Help Centre