What Alopecia UK does

Alopecia UK is a UK-registered charity (Charity Commission number 1111304 in England and Wales; SC044702 in Scotland), founded in 2004/2005 and headquartered in Shipley, West Yorkshire, that provides support, community, education, and research funding for people affected by alopecia. Its mission is delivered to a national beneficiary base spanning adults, children, and young people aged 3-23, with a primary segment of individuals living with all forms of alopecia and a secondary segment of schools, dermatology clinics, and businesses serving the alopecia community.

The charity's core products include nationwide face-to-face and online peer support groups, private Facebook communities hosting 24,625+ beneficiaries, a Youth Network for ages 13-17 with an associated Youth Voice Board, and a Service Directory listing wig, headwear, and permanent-makeup providers. Educational outputs comprise Schools Packs (developed with the British Association of Dermatologists), the award-winning 'Talking about alopecia' animation film, four rhyming story booklets aimed at children aged 3-7, and a comprehensive online information library covering types of alopecia, treatments, and advocacy. The charity also operates a research programme that has awarded £585,165 in cumulative grants to investigate causes and impacts of alopecia, supported by a Lay Research Panel.

Alopecia UK's revenue model is multi-stream and typical of a small UK charity: individual donations and the AUK Ally regular-giving programme (£3-£100/month), fundraising activities, Service Directory membership fees paid by businesses, merchandise and story booklet sales through an e-commerce shop, the AUK Community Card annual subscription (~£35), and restricted grants from funders including the National Lottery Community Fund, Pfizer, the British Association of Dermatologists, VTCTF, Ecclesiastical Insurance, and Avast. All information and core support services are free at the point of access; the charity explicitly states it is not a membership organisation.

Name

Alopecia UK

Legal name

Alopecia UK

Website

https://alopecia.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alopecia UK is a UK-registered charity, founded 2004/2005, that provides peer support, education, and research funding for individuals of all ages affected by alopecia through nationwide support groups, online communities, schools resources, and a Service Directory of related businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Alopecia patient support
• Peer support services
• Community health charity
• Patient advocacy services
• Dermatology nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Shipley

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and fundraising: Alopecia UK relies on public donations, regular giving (AUK Ally programme), and fundraising activities to fund its operations and research grants.
2. Service Directory membership fees: Businesses pay a fee to list their products and services on the Alopecia UK Service Directory, generating a funding stream for the charity while providing visibility for alopecia-related businesses.
3. Merchandise and shop sales: The charity sells branded merchandise including wristbands, tube scarves, story booklets, greeting cards, and the AUK Community Card through its online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Alopecia UK is a registered charity that provides peer support, community, education, and research funding for people affected by alopecia. Its core offerings include a nationwide network of face-to-face and online support groups, private Facebook peer support communities, a Service Directory of alopecia-related businesses, educational resources (Schools Packs, story booklets, animation film), a Youth Network for ages 13-17, and a research grant programme.

Product overview

Alopecia UK is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of support services, educational resources, and community programs for those affected by alopecia. The core offerings include peer support through private Facebook groups and face-to-face support groups across the UK, a Service Directory connecting people with alopecia-related businesses, and an AUK Community Card discount program. Educational resources include the Schools Pack for educational settings, the award-winning 'Talking about alopecia' animation film, and a range of story booklets (Ben's, Belle's, Finn's, and Faye's First Day) for children. Youth-specific services include a Youth Network for ages 13-17 with online meet-ups, events, and a Youth Voice Board. The organization also funds research into alopecia causes and impacts, having awarded £585,165 in research grants. Merchandise such as wristbands, scarves, and awareness cards are sold through the online shop to raise funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service Directory A directory listing businesses that provide products and services related to alopecia, including wig suppliers, headwear providers, and permanent makeup services. Businesses pay a fee to be listed, creating a funding stream for the charity while helping those with alopecia find relevant providers.
• Peer Support Services Peer support through private Facebook groups (24,625 people benefiting), online support meetings, and face-to-face support groups across the UK. Staff and volunteers provide a listening ear from those with lived experience of alopecia.
• Schools Pack Educational materials for schools to help teachers and peers understand and support students with alopecia. Funded by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
• AUK Community Card A discount card that replaced the VIP card, providing cardholders with discounts from participating businesses listed in the Service Directory. Supports the charity's work while providing savings to members. Purchased for approximately £35.00 annually.
• Youth Network Support program for young people aged 13-17 with alopecia, including online meet-ups, face-to-face events, new resources, and research participation opportunities. Includes a Youth Voice Board that helps steer the charity's services.
• Story Booklets (First Day Range) Rhyming story booklets (Ben's First Day, Belle's First Day, Finn's First Day, Faye's First Day) produced by those with alopecia for others with alopecia. Written by Amy Johnson and Kate Harrison, illustrated by Mandy Eaton-MacLean, aimed at children aged 3-7 to help explain alopecia. Priced at £2.75 per single copy, £4.25 for complete set of four, with bulk pricing available.
• Events Program Regional and national events including the annual Big Weekend, Alton Towers trips, Kingswood Residential, and online youth sessions. Provides opportunities for those with alopecia to meet others and build confidence.
• Research Program Alopecia UK awards research grants to researchers to understand and address the causes and impacts of alopecia. Has awarded £585,165 in research grants. Includes a Lay Research Panel and participation opportunities for patients.
• 'Talking about alopecia' Animation Film Award-winning short animation film featuring voices of young people with alopecia, created through online animation workshops with Lydia Hibbert from Young Animators Club. Won 'Best Animation' at the London Web & Short Film Festival in April 2021.
• Merchandise Branded items including wristbands (youth and adult sizes), tube scarves, alopecia awareness cards, and greeting cards. Proceeds support the charity's work.
• Information & Advice Resources Comprehensive online resources covering types of alopecia, treatments, advocacy guidance, living well with alopecia, FAQs, appearance tips, and resources for specific demographics (children, parents, men).

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,805 adults and children attended support groups or events in 2025/26
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 2025 Big Weekend Event SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Various businesses sponsor Alopecia UK's annual 2025 Big Weekend event. Specific sponsor names are shown in a collage image on the partners page but are not individually named in the accessible text.
• British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020BAD supported Alopecia UK in 2020 with a grant to develop the Schools' Pack. BAD also supports the printing of children's story booklets. Alopecia UK participates in BAD's Patient Support Group Network.
• Diamond Hair Solutions (Linzi Brack)minorOthersLinzi Brack of Diamond Hair Solutions runs a wig bank and has raised over £15,000 for Alopecia UK by recycling unwanted wigs and donating a percentage of proceeds. Referenced in the FAQ about wig donations.
• Lydia Hibbert / Young Animators ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Lydia Hibbert from Young Animators Club to run animation workshops and create the award-winning 'Talking about alopecia' animation film.
• MyNewHair (Trevor Sorbie MBE charity)minorOthersMyNewHair is a charity providing a network of salons and professionals who offer wig styling services for people with medical hair loss. Alopecia UK's FAQ recommends MyNewHair's salon finder as a resource for people with alopecia seeking hairdresser support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• British Skin Foundation: British Skin Foundation is a larger UK charity funding dermatology research and public skin-health education. It overlaps with Alopecia UK's research-grant funding and dermatology-facing education remit, though it operates across all skin conditions rather than alopecia specifically.
• Mind (UK mental health charity): Mind is a large UK mental health charity offering peer support, information, and advocacy. While not alopecia-specific, it operates a comparable model of community-led peer support, helpline services, and information resources that Alopecia UK's community programmes structurally resemble.

Direct peers

• National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF): NAAF is the primary US-based patient advocacy and research funding organisation for alopecia areata. It is the most direct international peer to Alopecia UK, operating peer support, advocacy, and research grant programmes for the same condition.
• Changing Faces: Changing Faces is a UK charity supporting people with visible differences including scarring and hair loss. It overlaps directly with Alopecia UK's emotional support, advocacy, and Schools-facing education work, and is a strong UK-based adjacent peer.
• MyNewHair (Trevor Sorbie MBE): MyNewHair is a UK charity providing a network of salons and professionals trained in wig styling for people with medical hair loss. It is a direct referral partner listed in Alopecia UK's own resources and serves the same beneficiary population.
• Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation (CANAAF): CANAAF is a Canada-based support and advocacy organisation for people affected by alopecia areata. It mirrors Alopecia UK's peer-support, education, and awareness mandate at a similar scale, making it a strong international direct peer.

Emerging players

• Autoimmune Association (formerly AARDA): The Autoimmune Association is a US-based advocacy organisation for patients with autoimmune conditions, including alopecia areata. It is a partial overlap peer operating in the same disease category but with a broader autoimmune remit than Alopecia UK.
• Look Good Feel Better (UK): Look Good Feel Better is a UK charity providing appearance and confidence support for people experiencing the visible effects of medical treatment. Its model of community workshops and educational content for visible-difference beneficiaries parallels Alopecia UK's core service design.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alopeciauk
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlopeciaUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/alopeciauk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alopecia-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alopecia UK