The British Kidney Patient Association (BKPA) is a charity which works to improve the quality of life for adults and children with kidney disease. Founded in 1975 by Elizabeth Ward, the mother of a young kidney patient, it is based in Alton in Hampshire.

BKPA is a UK-wide charity which provides information and advice for people with kidney disease, gives grants to help patients and families with kidney disease, and financially supports kidney units throughout the country in order to improve kidney services and patient care.

BKPA says what distinguishes it from other kidney charities is the level of financial support it gives to patients, families and kidney units during times of financial difficulty. In 2014, BKPA provided a total of nearly £1m in individual grants, assisting over 1,500 patients. Its aim is to increase the number of people helped and the value of the grants awarded.

Grants are available for dialysis patients and families with low income. Other patients, such as transplant patients and those receiving conservative care are also candidates for grants, provided their health and quality of life is seriously affected by their renal condition.

Individual grants are extremely diverse and reflect a huge range of needs. They can provide help with the cost of domestic bills such as car insurance and heating costs, travel costs to hospital, university or college fees and basic holidays in the UK and overseas.

BKPA also provides essential funding and support to improve professional renal services, deliver better patient care and fund research. It has a research partnership with the British Renal Society and, in 2014, funded 60 renal staff posts.

Since 2012, BKPA has run a counselling and support service in the form of a telephone helpline. The service gives patients and relatives the opportunity to talk to a trained counsellor about personal issues related to kidney disease.

A National Advocacy Service is also run by BKPA. Operating since 2011, the advocacy service represents the views and needs of patients to decision-makers at all levels, helps them navigate the system and ensure their wishes are heard at all times.

Fundraising has an important role in ensuring that BKPA is able to provide multiple services and give financial assistance. Some supporters hold social events in their local area while others take on running, cycling or climbing challenges. Their efforts are supported by the fundraising team at BKPA.