Something To Look Forward To

What Something To Look Forward To does

Something To Look Forward To is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity No. 1164960) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Cambridge, England, that provides free donated gifts and experiences to people financially affected by cancer, along with their families and carers. Eligible beneficiaries — cancer patients currently in treatment or within one year of completing treatment, including those with secondary or terminal diagnoses — apply through a WordPress-based online platform and receive items from a three-tier structured catalogue: Main Gifts (larger one-off items such as cottage holidays, up to 1 per year), Additional Gifts (smaller recurring items such as restaurant meals, up to 2 per year), and Extra Gifts (last-minute and bulk-donated items, unlimited). The charity does not purchase these items; it curates in-kind donations from over 40 named partners across holiday cottages, hotels, restaurants, attractions, wellness providers, and entertainment venues, including anchor relationships with PureGym, Parkdean Resorts, the Pink Ribbon Foundation, 4 Cancer Group, and multiple national attractions.

The organisation is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee with a 5-person team led by Managing Director Francesca Abery and Co-founder Andy Coldron. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth and referrals from healthcare professionals and other support organisations, amplified through Facebook, Instagram, email, and community fundraising events (skydives, tea parties, the Climb For Cancer challenge, and the planned Cambridge Half Marathon 2027). Revenue mechanics are entirely donation-based: a Memory Makers monthly subscription programme at £2/month, a £1-per-ticket charity lottery launched in 2026 in partnership with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (£25,000 jackpot), individual one-off and legacy giving, corporate donations, payroll/workplace giving, and event sponsorship. Disease-specific projects (breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, male engagement, carers, children) and regional projects across Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Essex, Kent, Midlands, Suffolk, Norfolk, Surrey, and Sussex reflect an increasingly segmented delivery model.

Name

Something To Look Forward To

Legal name

Something To Look Forward To Ltd

Website

https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Something To Look Forward To is a UK charity that provides free donated gifts, experiences, and respite breaks to cancer patients in financial hardship and their families, operating a three-tier online gift catalogue and curating in-kind donations from corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Party Favors, Gifts & Custom Merchandise (HSACACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Client Gifting Programs (HSACANAE), Group Gifting & Registry Fulfillment (HSACANAL)

Keywords

• Cancer patient support
• Charity gifting platform
• Donated experiences
• Wellness programmes
• Cancer financial hardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donated gifts and experiences: Hotels, cottages, restaurants, attractions, and experiences are donated directly by individuals and companies. These in-kind donations are distributed to eligible cancer patients at no cost. The charity does not purchase these gifts; they are given freely by donors.
2. Memory Makers subscription: Monthly subscription programme where supporters contribute as little as £2 per month. Members receive exclusive updates on the charity's work. This is a recurring revenue stream from individual donors.
3. Lottery partnership: Partnership with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation lottery where tickets are sold for £1 each with a £25,000 jackpot. Proceeds support the charity's operations and gift programme.
4. Individual monetary donations: Direct donations from individuals, including one-off gifts, funeral collections, and tributes in memory of loved ones.
5. Corporate partnerships and fundraising: Companies support through corporate donations, employee fundraising events, payroll giving schemes, workplace giving, event sponsorship, and matched giving programmes.
6. Legacies and bequests: Gifts left in wills by supporters, including residuary legacies, pecuniary legacies, and specific legacies of property or items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Something To Look Forward To is a UK charity that provides free gifts and experiences to people financially affected by cancer, their families, and carers. It operates an online application portal where eligible cancer patients (currently in treatment or within one year of completing treatment) can browse and apply for donated gifts organised in three tiers: Main Gifts (high-value one-off items like cottage holidays, up to 1 per year), Additional Gifts (smaller items like restaurant meals, up to 2 per year), and Extra Gifts (unlimited last-minute items such as event tickets). Gifts are donated by companies and individuals and include holiday cottages, static caravans, gym memberships, wellness sessions, dining experiences, attraction tickets, and entertainment events distributed across the UK.

Product overview

Something To Look Forward To is a UK charity operating a gift catalog and application platform for people affected by cancer. The core offering consists of three gift tiers: Main Gifts (larger one-off items like cottage holidays, up to 1 per year), Additional Gifts (smaller regular items like restaurant meals, up to 2 per year), and Extra Gifts (unlimited last-minute items). Products span accommodation (holiday cottages, static caravans, hotel stays), dining experiences, wellness services (PureGym memberships, oncology massage, Glo wellness platform), entertainment (comedy tickets, festival tickets, National Trust passes), and days out (RHS gardens, farm parks). The platform also includes a Memory Makers monthly giving program and a charity lottery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Gifts Higher-value, one-off gifts such as cottage holidays, retreats, and hotel stays. Eligible cancer patients and their families may apply for up to 1 Main Gift per year.
• Additional Gifts Smaller, regular or lower-value gifts such as restaurant meals, jewellery, and complementary therapy. Eligible applicants may apply for up to 2 Additional Gifts per year.
• Extra Gifts Last-minute gifts or bulk-donated items such as tickets to shows or beauty bundles. Unlimited applications per year are allowed.
• Holiday Cottage Stays Holiday cottage stays across the UK and internationally, donated by cottage companies. Includes properties in Scotland, Devon, France, Isle of Wight, and other UK locations, provided to eligible cancer patients and families.
• Static Caravan Holidays Static caravan holiday stays at Parkdean Resorts locations including Hunstanton and Whitley Bay, including breast cancer-specific caravan projects ('Eve's Place' and 'Eve & Philip's Place') for cancer patients.
• Annual PureGym Membership Annual gym membership at any PureGym of choice across 420 UK locations, donated by PureGym, available to eligible beneficiaries aged 16+.
• National Trust Admission Pass Unlimited admission passes to National Trust properties including Blickling Estate, allowing 2 adults and up to 3 children free entry for eligible cancer patients and families.
• Glo Online Wellness Platform Membership One-year membership to Glo's online wellness platform offering yoga, meditation, Pilates, and fitness classes including classes for recovery and chronic health conditions.
• Oncology Massage Sessions Specialist 1-hour oncology massage sessions provided by trained therapists for cancer patients in Lincolnshire (donated by Amy Lambley ISRM).
• Comedy Show Tickets Comedy show tickets donated by venues including Just The Tonic (Nottingham, Reading, Birmingham) and Soho Comedy House London.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival Tickets Free tickets to Edinburgh Fringe Festival via the Community Ticketing Initiative, for people who live in or receive treatment in Edinburgh or Lothians.
• Memory Makers Subscription Monthly giving programme starting at £2 per month with exclusive updates on charity work. Donations provide 3x value in gifts and experiences due to partner support.
• Gift Application Platform Online platform for cancer patients to browse, apply for, and receive donated gifts and experiences. Includes account registration, eligibility verification, and application tracking.
• Charity Lottery Lottery operated in partnership with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation offering a £25,000 jackpot for £1 per ticket. All proceeds support the charity's gift programme for cancer patients.
• Restaurant Meals Restaurant meals donated by various pubs and restaurants across the UK, typically valued up to £50 per couple, provided to eligible cancer patients and families.
• RHS Garden Tickets Admission tickets to RHS Gardens including Wisley, Hyde Hall, and Harlow Carr, donated for eligible cancer patients and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every £100 raised through tea parties, the charity provides nearly £300 worth of gifts and experiences
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• PureGymcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPureGym donated annual gym memberships available at any of their 420 gyms across the UK. The memberships are for one year and are available to beneficiaries aged 16+. This is a flagship partnership providing significant wellness benefits to cancer patients.
• Cambridgeshire Community FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to operate the charity's first ever lottery. Participants can win a £25,000 jackpot for £1 per ticket. All proceeds support the charity's work providing gifts and experiences to cancer patients.
• Aspects HolidaysmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday cottage company helping source donated holiday stays for people affected by cancer.
• The Cottage CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday cottage company donating stays for cancer patients.
• Sowerbys Holiday CottagesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday cottage company donating accommodation for cancer patients.
• Stay CotswoldmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCotswold holiday cottage company donating stays.
• Keys Holiday CottagesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday cottage company donating accommodation.
• Red KitemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday cottage company donating accommodation.
• Whitstable Holiday HomesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday home company donating stays in Whitstable.
• The Curated Property CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty company donating holiday accommodation.
• SnaptripmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHolidaycottage platform donating stays.
• Independent CottagesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHolidaycottage network donating accommodation.
• National Trust Blickling EstatemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated unlimited admission passes for Blickling Estate (2 adults and up to 3 children) during 2025.
• RHS Garden WisleymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated pairs of tickets to RHS Garden Wisley, valid for one year.
• RHS Garden Hyde HallmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated pairs and family tickets to RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex.
• RHS Garden Harlow CarrmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated family tickets (2 adults, up to 3 children) to RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
• Dalscone Farm ParkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated family of 4 tickets to the award-winning attraction in Dumfries, Scotland.
• Fringe Society (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Community Ticketing Initiative, providing free tickets for cancer patients in Edinburgh or Lothians.
• Just The Tonic Comedy ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated comedy show tickets at venues in Nottingham, Reading, and Birmingham.
• Soho Comedy HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated pairs of tickets to their London comedy venue.
• JK Comedy ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated regular weekly tickets to shows in Soho, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square.
• Laura SmythminorGTM or Marketing PartnerComedian donated tickets to her Born Aggy tour shows in Liverpool, Southport, Lancaster, Salford, Dublin, and Belfast.
• World Yoga FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 2 adult tickets (with camping) to the Henley-on-Thames festival in July.
• Great British Food FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated family tickets to events at Lydiard Park (Wiltshire), West Horsley Place (Surrey), and Margam Park (South Wales).
• The Shuttleworth TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated pairs of tickets to Comedy Nights at Shuttleworth House.
• Glo (online wellness platform)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated one-year memberships to their online yoga, meditation, Pilates, and fitness platform with classes for recovery and chronic health conditions.
• The Hoste ArmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated Sunday night stays at their Burnham Market hotel in Norfolk.
• 4 Cancer GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated respite properties including caravans in Pagham (West Sussex) and a house in Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) with free ferry crossings.
• Parkdean ResortsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost holiday caravans at their Manor Park (Hunstanton) and Whitley Bay parks for cancer patients.
• Garforth Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated rounds of golf with a one-course meal for two.
• Amy Lambley ISRMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOncology massage therapist donating 1-hour specialist massage sessions in Lincolnshire.
• Sanctuary In SoundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated sound bath experiences in Kemberton, Shifnal, Shropshire.
• Novi CambridgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated evening meals and drinks up to £80, and brunch up to £50.
• Claudia MundimajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated a 7-night stay at Chateau Mont Joly in Gan Aquitaine, France.
• John CrowthermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 7-night stays at The Coach House in Coldstream, Scotland.
• Tony NewmanmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 7-night stays at Hidden Valley Farmhouse in Devon.
• Bucklebury Farm Deer & Safari ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) to their deer and safari park in Reading.
• Cambridge University Botanic GardenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 2x adult community admission tickets.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Willow Foundation: UK charity that organises Special Days and experiences for seriously ill adults (including cancer patients). Direct peer because it shares the same model of providing donated positive experiences to medically-affected adults at no cost to beneficiaries.
• The Lewis Foundation: UK charity that provides gift packs and comfort items to adult cancer patients in hospital. Closest direct peer in terms of in-kind gifting specifically targeted at UK cancer patients.
• Make-A-Wish UK: UK charity that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses, including cancer. Direct peer in granting experiential wishes to medically-vulnerable children, with comparable donated-experience model.
• Dreams Come True: UK charity fulfilling dreams for seriously ill children. Operates a similar donated-experience model for the medically-vulnerable population.
• Spread a Smile: UK charity that sends entertainers, magicians, and gifts to seriously ill children in hospital. Comparable gifting-and-experiences model aimed at medical populations, though focused on paediatric oncology rather than adult cancer.

Broad incumbents

• Maggie's Centres: UK charity running cancer support centres across the UK. Shares the mission of improving quality of life for cancer patients through free support services and experiences.
• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families. Overlaps on cancer patient population, particularly the family's role addressed in the subject charity's offering.
• Cancer Research UK: Largest UK cancer charity focused on research; tangential peer that shares the same beneficiary audience but operates at vastly different scale and mission.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Largest UK cancer charity, providing financial, emotional and practical support to cancer patients. Broad incumbent covering the same beneficiary population with a much wider service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Pink Ribbon Foundation: UK breast cancer-specific grant-making charity that has already partnered with the subject charity to fund the Hunstanton caravan project. Adjacent funder serving an overlapping beneficiary subset.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Something-To-Look-Forward-To-604770109626034
• Instagraminstagram.com/something_to_look_forward_to
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/something-to-look-forward-to

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 Something To Look Forward To