Help Alopecia UK and save yourself some money too!

Our AUK VIP Cards give cardholders access to many discounts on offer from participating businesses in our Service Directory, as well as entry into our free prize draws, a copy of our new ‘Blue Pages’ resource and our Charity Impact report! (and we hope to introduce further benefits too!)

We really hope many of you will want to become an AUK VIP. Not only is it an opportunity to grab some discounts and save some money, it’s a fantastic way to show your support to Alopecia UK and help us to achieve our aims around Support, Awareness and Research. And supporting a small charity brings unlimited amounts of warm fuzzy feelings!

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR 2021 VIP CARD 

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AUK VIP Card FAQs

Why does Alopecia UK have VIP Cards? 

Historically, Alopecia UK operated a membership scheme whereby, in return for a small annual payment, a membership card was issued. This was introduced at a time when Alopecia UK was run entirely by volunteers. It subsequently became too much work for the volunteer team to administer. 

In early 2018, we decided to reintroduce this idea as a Cardholder Scheme. This is partly due to requests from the suppliers who offer discounts via our Service Directory. Business owners wish to only offer discounts to those who they know are supporting Alopecia UK. We also hope that with our Cardholder Scheme we can create a stream of regular income that can be used towards our aims of support, awareness and research. The renaming to ‘VIP Cards’ in 2019 reflects how much we value those who have chosen to support Alopecia UK. Our supporters are VIPs!

Why is it called a VIP Card and not a Membership Card? By purchasing an AUK VIP Card, am I a member of Alopecia UK? 

We’ve named the cards ‘VIP Cards’ because, simply speaking, our supporters are Very Important People to us. Alopecia UK couldn’t continue its work without the support of VIPs like YOU!  Our VIP Cards help us to increase our regular annual income (something that is so important to a small charity) whilst also giving something back with discounts for our valued supporters.

Many of our supporters and followers consider themselves to be members of the charity but Alopecia UK is not a membership charity. As a charity we are committed to having information, support and advice free at the point of access and available to all. We do not want to have separate offerings for members and non-members. However, we want to work with businesses to create a comprehensive Service Directory that will be an invaluable resource to many with alopecia, and we'd like to pass on a few perks in the form of discounts to those of you participating by getting your VIP Card! 

If I choose not to become an AUK VIP, can I still access the information, support and advice available? 

Yes, absolutely, you do not need to become an AUK VIP to access our support services. You can still attend our support groups, contact the charity team and access all areas of our website. We are proud that all our support resources are free to access. However, if you wish to receive the discounts and special offers available to AUK VIPs, you will need to purchase one of the Alopecia UK VIP Cards. Remember, the cost of your VIP card supports the charitable work of Alopecia UK.

When does the AUK VIP Card year run until? 

For 2021/22 the AUK VIP Card runs from 1st February to 31st March 2022. (This has been extended slightly to bring some things in line with our financial year for 2022!)

You will need a new card each VIP Card Year. Regardless of the month you join, your card will expire on 31st March 2022. You may wish to bear this in mind when considering when to join. If purchasing in February 2022 for example you may wish to wait until the new cards are available to purchase in April 2022.Or However, if you are making an expensive purchase with a supplier who offers a discount to AUK VIPs, it might be that the savings far outweigh the cost of the card in which case you might wish to purchase a VIP Card even if the year is about to end. 

How do I claim an AUK VIP Card discount? 

If a Service Directory supplier offers discounts to AUK VIP Cardholders, this can be obtained by simply showing a participating supplier your AUK VIP Card. If a participating supplier is an online retailer, you will need to use the discount code provided to you in your joining letter (and on your card). 

What happens if I lose my AUK VIP Card? 

Please keep your AUK VIP Card safe. If you lose it, we are able to issue a replacement card but there will be an admin charge payable of £10. Please email us at [email protected] to request a replacement card. 

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR 2021 VIP CARD