The Paul Ackrill Fund
Charity 1090118
Overview
Summary
The Paul Ackrill Fund appears to occupy a focused, supplementary role within cancer support for younger people: it provides direct financial help to enable access to medical treatments beyond those available through the NHS. Its remit is geographically rooted in the West Midlands but organised around treatment need as well as residence, suggesting an attempt to reduce barriers created by specialist care pathways. The available evidence indicates a narrowly targeted grant-making model rather than a broad support service.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as one of the local-authority areas in which the charity operates, but do not identify any Birmingham ward, recognised place, treatment venue or grant-recipient location. There is therefore no evidence sufficient to assign activity to a Birmingham area.
- The charity's work is delivered through grants to individuals rather than through a publicly evidenced service venue. Its registered address should not be treated as a Birmingham operational site.
- No current official evidence was found of delivery partnerships, referral partners or treatment-provider relationships that materially locate the charity's work within particular parts of Birmingham.
- The available evidence supports a West Midlands regional beneficiary footprint, including Birmingham City, but does not show the volume, regularity or precise location of Birmingham grants.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, grant-making report or anonymised grants summary showing the Birmingham locations or treatment settings in which grants have been made.
- Official information from the charity identifying any referral or working arrangements with Birmingham hospitals, cancer services or other partner organisations.
- Confirmation from the charity of whether it has any regular physical delivery, fundraising or administrative venue in Birmingham.
Areas of work
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Children/young People
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A gap-filling fund rather than a general cancer charity
The Fund appears designed to address a specific point of unmet need: treatments that supplement NHS provision for people diagnosed with cancer before age 30.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from charities providing emotional support, information or general welfare assistance. Its value may lie in helping individuals pursue options that fall between statutory healthcare and personal affordability.
Show evidence
“The charity provides funding to enable access to medical treatments in augmentation of those provided by the National Health Service.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity makes grants to individuals.”
Source:Charity Commission
Eligibility follows specialist treatment networks as well as local residence
Although centred on the West Midlands, the Fund may recognise that younger cancer patients can receive treatment outside their home area, making treatment location relevant to access.
Why it matters
This suggests the Fund’s practical geography may be wider than a simple regional-boundary charity. It may be connected to referral pathways, specialist hospitals or cross-boundary care relationships that are not yet visible in the evidence.
Show evidence
“Helping young people diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 living or being treated in the West Midlands.”
Source:Organisation“In exceptional circumstances the trustees may provide funding to persons diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 who are being treated but do not reside in the West Midlands area.”
Source:Charity Commission
The age boundary creates a distinctive transition point
By limiting support to people diagnosed under 30, the Fund appears to concentrate on children, teenagers and younger adults, a group that may sit across paediatric and adult cancer systems.
Why it matters
The under-30 threshold may make the Fund particularly relevant where service transitions, age-specific treatment options or financial support needs are poorly aligned. It also raises a useful question about what support exists once beneficiaries age beyond this remit.
Show evidence
“The charity relieves persons who are diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps children/young people.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which treatments, costs or circumstances are eligible for funding.
- How people are referred, assessed and connected to the Fund.
- Whether grants are commonly used for treatment itself, travel, private access or related clinical costs.
- Which hospitals, clinicians or other charities form part of its operating network.
Remaining uncertainties
- Grant criteria, application process and examples of funded support.
- Annual reports or accounts showing grant volume, value, geography and changes over time.
- Information about referral partners, treatment providers and beneficiary experiences.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Helping young people diagnosed with cancer under the age of 30 living or being treated in the West Midlands
Charity objects
(1) THE RELIEF OF PERSONS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER UNDER THE AGE OF 30 (IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA) BY THE PROVISION OF FUNDING TO ENABLE THEM TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENTS IN AUGMENTATION OF THOSE PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE; (2) IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE TRUSTEES MAY PROVIDE FUNDING TO RELIEVE PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER UNDER THE AGE OF 30 WHO ARE BEING TREATED BUT DO NOT RESIDE IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA