The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance

Sector: Charities & not-for-profit organisations

Just one year on from the pandemic, renowned tattoo artist, Tanya Buxton founded the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance (MTA).

As a charity, the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance supports those with breast cancer, and the BRCA and transgender/non-binary communities, in their healing journey following mastectomy, reconstructive and gender affirming surgery.

As well as offering mastectomy and 3D areola-nipple tattoos, Tanya and the MTA provide training to tattoo artists wanting to expand their skillset into medical tattooing.

Willans’ client relationship with the MTA began when a friend recommended the firm to Tanya; suggesting that we could help with its transition from a non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

After an initial meeting, Willans’ charity specialist Charlotte Cowdell and corporate and commercial specialist, Helen Howes were able to help Tanya with the application process and transition to become a registered CIO. Helen also helped by putting together contracts for MTA’s artists, advising on the general structure of the charity and making sure that its processes were transparent and clear.

Four years on from the charity’s incorporation, it has funded over 100 areola-nipple tattoos and mastectomy tattoos for the breast cancer and BRCA community, and added artists from across the UK, Europe and America to its directory. The MTA is also connected to multiple hospitals and is being signposted to by organisations such as the NHS and Breast Cancer Now.

With a SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Award under her belt, Tanya continues to expand and raise awareness of the MTA’s tattooing services, alongside working with hospitals and running her tattooing business, Paradise Tattoo Studio. Her hope is to connect more people with approved artists and make these tattoos more widely available to the communities that need them.

As a result of its growth, Tanya is currently refreshing the MTA brand, and with plans to focus on fundraising and raising awareness, as well as getting some corporate sponsors behind the charity, she expects to use Willans for further legal advice in the future.

To find out more about the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance, visit: https://mastectomytattooingalliance.org/