What Kidney Wales does

Kidney Wales is a registered charity (Charity No. 700396) headquartered in Cardiff, Wales, founded in 1966 to support people affected by kidney disease across Wales. The charity delivers a portfolio of direct patient services including emergency financial assistance grants (£42,385 distributed to 268 people), wellbeing food vouchers (£10,300) and carers' wellbeing vouchers (£18,000), emotional support, fistula cap keyrings for dialysis patients, and children's art therapy delivered with the Tea Pot Trust. It also funds kidney disease research through its "Kidney Wales Develop" arm and operates a Volunteer Ambassador Programme of 30+ trained individuals with lived CKD experience. The addressable population served includes approximately 20,000 kidney patients in Wales — 2,478 with kidney failure and an estimated 377,000 with chronic kidney disease — alongside families, carers, and living kidney donors, with services coordinated through renal social workers and partnerships with NHS renal units at University Hospital Wales, Ysbyty Gwynedd, and Llantrisant.

The organization runs a diversified income model combining individual donations, a weekly lottery, legacies, corporate partnerships, payroll giving, fundraising events, and grants from trusts and government bodies. Its flagship fundraising asset is the Cardiff 10K, launched in 1986 and now in its 40th anniversary year as headline charity partner, managed operationally by Run 4 Wales with 9,500+ runners participating across 10K and 2K events. Distribution of services is primarily through NHS referrals and renal social workers, augmented by a volunteer-led ambassador programme, a webinar series, digital channels (kidneywales.cymru website, email newsletters, Facebook/Instagram/TikTok), and an online merchandise shop launched in May 2026 in partnership with Agilis to mark the charity's 60th anniversary.

Major institutional partners include NHS Blood and Transplant (£10,000 grant for ethnic minority organ donation outreach), Kidney Care UK (joint #BloodyAmazingKidneys campaign), Kidney Research UK, Carers Trust Wales, the Welsh Government Short Breaks Scheme, and The National Lottery Community Fund (£150,009 over four years from 2022). The organization is led by CEO Ross Evans, operates with 1–10 employees, and is structured as a company limited by guarantee (no. 02268003) with no parent organization.

Name

Kidney Wales

Legal name

Kidney Wales Charity

Website

https://kidneywales.cymru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kidney Wales is a Cardiff-based charity, founded 1966, that delivers financial assistance, wellbeing support, education, and research funding to the approximately 20,000 kidney patients and their families across Wales, primarily funded through donations, the Cardiff 10K, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Support Charity Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dialysis Services (Hemodialysis & Peritoneal Dialysis) (HLAKAHAC), Pediatric Nephrology (HLAKAHAH)

Keywords

• Kidney patient support
• Chronic kidney disease charity
• Patient financial assistance
• Dialysis awareness programs
• Kidney health research

Headquarters

HQ city

Wales

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. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the kidney community in Wales. Donors can give online, set up regular monthly donations, donate by phone/post/bank transfer, or donate in memory of loved ones.
2. Weekly Lottery: Kidney Wales operates a weekly lottery program as a sustainable fundraising mechanism.
3. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: The charity encourages supporters to leave legacy gifts in their wills, described as 'Leaving a gift in your will' on their website.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate organizations partner with Kidney Wales for CSR objectives, including charity of the year partnerships, fundraising events, and awareness talks. Income generation and events manager handles corporate relationships.
5. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated through participants hosting their own fundraisers, participating in challenge events (running, cycling, etc.), and community-organized events.
6. Payroll Giving: Corporate workplace giving program allowing employees to donate directly from their salary.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise shop launched in 2025 featuring retro-style celebration running vests, t-shirts, and bucket hats in partnership with Agilis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kidney Wales is a Welsh registered charity that provides patient support services, financial assistance grants, wellbeing vouchers, education and awareness programs, research funding, and advocacy for people affected by kidney disease in Wales. Its service portfolio includes direct grant aid to kidney patients and their families, art therapy for children with CKD, fistula caps for dialysis patients, the Cardiff 10K fundraising event, a volunteer ambassador program, and an online merchandise shop.

Product overview

Kidney Wales operates as a unified charity providing a comprehensive suite of support services for kidney patients and families in Wales. The organization's offerings center on direct patient support (financial assistance grants, wellbeing vouchers, emotional support), community engagement (volunteer ambassador programs, corporate partnerships, fundraising events), education and awareness (school talks, community outreach, webinars), and research funding. Key programs include the annual Cardiff 10K event, children's art therapy courses, transplant football, and life-saving fistula caps distributed to dialysis patients. The charity recently launched an online merchandise shop in partnership with Agilis to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kidney Wales Develop: Research and development arm of Kidney Wales focused on investing in innovative programmes of research for the benefit of kidney patients in the Welsh community.

Products and services

• Patient Support Services Comprehensive support services for kidney patients in Wales, including emotional support, patient information, and assistance navigating the healthcare system. Delivered via renal social worker referrals and direct engagement with the Patient Information and Support Manager.
• Financial Assistance Awards Grants and emergency financial aid provided to kidney patients and families in Wales to help cover costs associated with treatment, including hardship grants (£42,385+ distributed), wellbeing food vouchers, and carers' wellbeing vouchers.
• Kidney Wales Cardiff 10K Annual flagship running event celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026 with Kidney Wales as headline charity partner, including 10K and 2K family runs. First 25 Team Kidney Wales entries are £1, thereafter £5, with a £125 fundraising pledge; general entries are £34.
• Kidney Wales Online Merchandise Shop Online shop operated in partnership with Agilis offering exclusive Kidney Wales merchandise, including retro-style limited-edition celebration running vests, running t-shirts, and Kidney Wales bucket hats.
• Fistula Caps (Bottle Cap Keyrings) Life-saving rubber bottle cap keyrings distributed free of charge to dialysis patients in Wales (1,000+ distributed) to stem bleeding from fistula or graft sites in emergency situations.
• Children's Art Therapy Programmes

Quantifiable outcome

• £42,385 in financial assistance grants distributed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Kidney Care UKflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Joint nationwide #BloodyAmazingKidneys awareness campaign across Wales. First widespread pan-Wales kidney disease awareness campaign. Campaign appearing at 12 railway stations reaching 1.6 million+ people over 4 weeks.
• NHS Blood and TransplantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2023Kidney Wales awarded £10,000 in NHSBT funding to work with Kidney Research UK on improving organ and tissue donation awareness within ethnic minority communities in Wales. Project includes 4 online webinars, social media campaigns, and video content tackling organ donation myths during key awareness days.
• Tea Pot TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver 8-week art therapy courses for children living with chronic kidney disease. Courses cover themes including safe places, feeling different, and masks. Funded by One Stop Community Grants and Tesco Community Grants.
• Carers Trust WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Short Breaks Scheme (Welsh Government funded, £9M total budget) to support unpaid carers of children with kidney disease. Kidney Wales providing £30,450 to support 120 carers with wellbeing vouchers up to £150.
• Ysbyty Gwynedd Renal UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with Anglesey Council and Ysbyty Gwynedd Renal Unit to support home dialysis patients with payments up to £500 per household.
• Run 4 WalesflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent management partnership for Cardiff 10K. Run 4 Wales took on management of the historic event in 2023 while Kidney Wales remains lead charity partner. 2026 marks 40th anniversary with Kidney Wales as headline partner.
• Children's Kidney Unit, University Hospital WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting over 500 families from South, West, and East Wales. Kidney Wales funds art therapy courses and provides various support services.
• Kidney Research UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on NHSBT-funded project to improve organ donation awareness in ethnic minority communities. Working with Dr Farah Latif, transplant teams, and faith leaders.
• AgilisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to launch online merchandise shop celebrating 60 years of Kidney Wales and 40 years of Cardiff 10K. Exclusive items including retro running vests and t-shirts.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• American Kidney Fund: The largest US nonprofit serving kidney patients, providing financial assistance, education, and advocacy. AKF provides a comparable model for kidney-focused patient support and fundraising that operates in a different geographic market but addresses similar patient segments.
• Welsh Kidney Patients Association: A Wales-based kidney patient association representing patients served by Welsh renal units. Highly comparable regional peer within the same service territory, addressing many of the same patient advocacy and support needs as Kidney Wales.
• Welsh Blood Service: The Wales regional arm of UK blood, organ, and tissue services providing donor recruitment and transplantation support. Operates in overlapping health-territory with Kidney Wales but focuses on clinical supply rather than patient support.

Direct peers

• Kidney Research UK: The largest UK charity dedicated to funding kidney disease research and supporting patients. Kidney Research UK is a direct peer collaborating with Kidney Wales on the NHSBT-funded organ donation project for ethnic minority communities, with overlapping patient support and research funding mandates.
• Kidney Care UK: The leading UK-wide charity for kidney patients, providing information, support, advocacy, grants, and campaigning on kidney-related issues. Kidney Care UK is the most directly comparable peer to Kidney Wales, partnering with it on joint campaigns such as #BloodyAmazingKidneys while operating a broader national footprint.
• British Kidney Patient Association (BKPA): UK charity that provides financial grants, information, and welfare support to kidney patients and their families, especially those on dialysis. BKPA is a direct peer in the patient financial-assistance and welfare segment of the kidney charity sector.
• National Kidney Federation (NKF): The national UK patient-led kidney charity representing patients through local kidney patient associations. NKF is a direct peer in patient advocacy, policy representation, and support network building for kidney patients.

Others

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT): UK national authority for blood, organ, and tissue donation. NHSBT is a direct partner of Kidney Wales on organ donation awareness projects (£10,000 grant) and operates in adjacent areas of kidney transplantation and donor recruitment.
• Carers Trust Wales: Wales-based charity supporting unpaid carers, partnered with Kidney Wales on the Short Breaks Scheme. Operates in adjacent caring/wellbeing space with overlapping beneficiary populations but focuses on carers rather than kidney patients specifically.

Emerging players

• PKD Charity (Polycystic Kidney Disease): UK charity focused specifically on polycystic kidney disease, providing patient support, information, and research funding. PKD Charity has meaningful overlap with Kidney Wales but focuses on a single disease subtype rather than the full spectrum of kidney conditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kidneywales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kidney-wales-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kidney Wales