Azaylia Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.1 million+ donated to date (since 2021)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Determined by board of trustees on case-by-case basis
• Grant Range: £10,000 (individual treatment) - £282,000+ (institutional research)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

Website: www.theazayliafoundation.com

Email: info@azaylia.org

Phone: 020 7101 4586

For institutional funding proposals: Email info@azaylia.org to the attention of CEO Dominik Byrne

Overview

The Azaylia Foundation was established in August 2021 by Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee following the death of their 8-month-old daughter, Azaylia Diamond Cain, from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in April 2021. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1195195), the foundation has donated over £1.1 million to date towards childhood cancer research, treatment, and individual family support. The foundation's dual mission focuses on advancing early diagnosis and new treatment availability in the UK, while simultaneously supporting children fighting cancer to access treatments not covered by the NHS. In 2024, co-founder Safiyya Vorajee received a Points of Light award from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, presented at a Downing Street reception, recognizing the foundation's exceptional work. The charity operates with zero trustee remuneration - all founders and trustees serve without salary or financial benefit.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Azaylia Childhood Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme (Flagship programme, launched 2022)

• Fully funded PhD scholarships in paediatric oncology at leading UK universities
• Five scholarships awarded to date at University of Birmingham and Oxford University
• £280,000+ per scholarship commitment
• Partnership with Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity (matched funding)
• Goal: Fund 20 PhDs over 5 years to create next generation of childhood cancer leaders

2. Institutional Research, Training, Equipment and Clinical Trials Funding

• Research grants for UK medical institutions
• Equipment donations (e.g., £20,000 for augmented reality precision surgery equipment at Birmingham Children's Hospital)
• Clinical trial support (e.g., £60,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital for groundbreaking trial)
• No fixed application deadlines - rolling discussion-based process

3. Individual Treatment Case Funding

• Up to £10,000 per case
• Referral-based system only (not open applications)
• Supports treatments not covered by NHS
• Via GoFundMe UK submissions portal

Priority Areas

• Childhood cancer research: Paediatric oncology, particularly leukaemia and rare childhood cancers
• Clinical training: Supporting clinician-scientists who bridge clinical practice and laboratory research
• Treatment access: Helping UK children access experimental treatments abroad
• Equipment and facilities: Innovative surgical and diagnostic equipment for paediatric cancer care
• Early diagnosis: Raising awareness of signs and symptoms to enable earlier intervention
• Systemic change: Addressing the severe underfunding of childhood cancer (currently receives less than 3% of cancer research funding)

What They Don't Fund

• Individual treatment cases without proper referral from UK hospitals, cancer research institutes, or GoFundMe UK
• Cases where NHS treatment is already available
• Direct applications from families (must go through referral system)
• Non-UK institutions or non-childhood cancer projects

Ready to write a winning application for Azaylia Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Ashley Cain (Co-founder & Trustee)

Former professional footballer and reality TV personality. Focuses on creating and participating in physical challenges to raise awareness and funding while combating grief. Ashley stated: “Just three percent of cancer research funding goes into childhood cancer which means survival rates stay low, and we feel our children are worth more than three percent.”

Safiyya Vorajee (Co-founder & Trustee)

Bestselling author and social media influencer. Manages awareness-raising through brand collaborations, her “Sit Down With Safiyya” Instagram series, and the annual “Wear Orange for Azaylia” school campaign. She shared: "Being able to have Azaylia's Foundation now and work so hard to help families and children that were in the same position as ours, is something that gets us out of bed in the morning."

Dr. Francis Mussai (Trustee)

Consultant in Paediatric Oncology at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Brings clinical expertise focused on “bringing new therapies to the clinic rapidly and improving outcomes for children with cancer.”

Dr. Anindita Roy (Trustee)

Associate Professor of Paediatric Haematology at University of Oxford. Research focuses on “understanding the origins and biology of childhood leukaemia.”

Staff

Dominik Byrne (Chief Executive Officer)

Experienced charity leader with background in UK charity sector and international development. Responsible for overall strategy, day-to-day operations, fundraising, institutional partnerships, and governance.

Billie Brown (Head of Community and Social Media)

Manages community engagement, social media channels, and liaison with supporters.

Important Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. All serve on a voluntary basis.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Medical Institutions (Research, Training, Equipment, Clinical Trials):

• Email info@azaylia.org to the attention of CEO Dominik Byrne
• Include proposal outlining the childhood cancer research, training, equipment, or clinical trial project
• Discussion-based approach - initial contact opens dialogue about potential funding
• No formal application forms or fixed deadlines
• Rolling basis

For Individual Treatment Cases:

• NOT open to direct family applications
• Referral-only system through:
• UK hospitals
• Cancer research institutes
• GoFundMe UK submissions portal
• Requires verified cancer diagnosis and evidence that treatment is not available via NHS
• GoFundMe campaigns must be created by immediate family members
• Funding typically up to £10,000 per case

Decision Timeline

• All funding decisions made at the discretion of the board of trustees
• Decisions made in compliance with UK Charity Commission guidance
• Consultation with cancer research and medical experts informs decision-making
• Timeline varies by project scale and complexity
• No fixed decision cycles

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation operates through a combination of proactive strategic partnerships and responsive grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the discussion-based approach for institutional funding, unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to maintain dialogue with the CEO about future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

For Medical Institutions:

1. Alignment with Core Mission: Projects must directly address childhood cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, or care. The foundation is particularly interested in work that addresses the systemic underfunding of childhood cancer research in the UK.

1. Partnership Approach: The foundation values collaborative working. They created “The Azaylia Network” with founding members including Birmingham Children's Hospital, University of Birmingham, Oxford University Paediatrics, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, and University College London. Proposals that involve or complement this network may be well-positioned.

1. Rapid Clinical Impact: As expressed by trustee Dr. Francis Mussai, focus on “bringing new therapies to the clinic rapidly” is key. Projects should demonstrate clear pathways to improving outcomes for children with cancer.

1. Understanding Disease Biology: Research proposals should address fundamental questions about childhood cancers, as exemplified by Dr. Anindita Roy's focus on “understanding the origins and biology of childhood leukaemia.”

1. Next Generation Training: The flagship PhD programme demonstrates commitment to building long-term capacity. Proposals that develop future leaders in childhood cancer research align with strategic priorities.

1. Innovation: Recent grants for augmented reality surgical equipment show interest in innovative technologies that can revolutionize care.

1. UK Focus: The foundation specifically supports UK medical institutions and UK children, reflecting founders' desire to improve the system that treated their daughter.

Key Insight from Founders: Ashley Cain emphasized awareness and early detection: “We want to make people aware of the signs and the symptoms of childhood cancer so then parents if they do see something they can catch it early. If they do get turned away from the doctors they can go back in and push for another opinion or a second opinion because a matter of weeks is crucial.” Projects addressing diagnostic delays may resonate.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with dialogue, not a formal application: Email the CEO to discuss your proposal before investing significant time in detailed applications - this is a relationship-based funder
• Emphasize UK childhood cancer impact: The foundation exists to address the fact that childhood cancer receives less than 3% of cancer research funding in the UK - demonstrate how your work addresses this gap
• Consider matched funding opportunities: Major PhD scholarships involved matched funding from Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity - explore whether your institution can offer co-funding to leverage their support
• Highlight clinical translation pathways: The foundation values research that can “rapidly” bring new therapies to children - show clear routes from research to clinical benefit
• Connect with The Azaylia Network: If your institution is already part of the network or could collaborate with network members, this strengthens your proposal
• Range of grant sizes: Don't assume only large grants - they've funded everything from £20,000 equipment to £280,000+ PhD scholarships, plus major clinical trial support
• Personal mission-driven charity: Founded by bereaved parents who experienced the limitations of NHS childhood cancer treatment firsthand - proposals should acknowledge this lived experience context and demonstrate genuine commitment to changing outcomes for families like theirs

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Little Princess Trust
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• Dan's Fund for Burns
• The Urology Foundation
• Matchroom Charitable Foundation
• Histiocytosis UK
• WELLBEING OF WOMEN
• British Skin Foundation
• The Nagle Family Foundation
• The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: AZAYLIA FOUNDATION (Charity Number 1195195)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5184024

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• The Azaylia Foundation Official Website: “What We Fund”

https://theazayliafoundation.com/what-we-fund/

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• The Azaylia Foundation Official Website: “Our Team”

https://theazayliafoundation.com/our-team/

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• The Azaylia Foundation Official Website: “The Azaylia Network”

https://theazayliafoundation.com/the-azaylia-network/

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• Points of Light UK: “The Azaylia Foundation - Points of Light award”

https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/the-azaylia-foundation/

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• University of Birmingham: “Birmingham joins charity to create next generation of leaders in childhood cancer” (2022)

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/next-generation-of-leaders-in-childhood-cancer

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity: “Future Cancer Research Leader”

https://www.bch.org.uk/funding-the-next-generation-of-leaders-in-childhood-cancer

Accessed: December 8, 2024

• Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust: “Gift from The Azaylia Foundation to help revolutionise surgical care for children with cancer at our hospital”

https://bwc.nhs.uk/news/gift-from-the-azaylia-foundation-to-help-revolutionise-surgical-care-for-children-with-cancer-at-our-hospital-3975/

Accessed: December 8, 2024