After launching Paradise Tattoo Studio from a small, single room in Cheltenham, tattoo artist Tanya Buxton was keen to explore how tattooing could help and empower people, both physically and emotionally.
Just one year on from the pandemic, Tanya founded the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance (MTA) to support 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).
“We knew we wanted to achieve proper charitable status but needed to meet certain criteria and have a certain amount of funding behind us,” explains Tanya.
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.
“Both Charlotte and Helen were super helpful. Helen’s been brilliant at answering any questions I’ve had, and she has gone above and beyond to help me as I’ve navigated learning to run a charity,” continues Tanya.
“I think it’s important to learn and understand how things work, but it’s equally important to know when to outsource to the experts. I felt like Helen was as passionate about the charity as I am and that she really understood the importance of the work we were doing.”
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 is connected to multiple hospitals across the UK. The MTA has added artists from across the UK, Europe and America to its directory 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 is continuing to expand and raise awareness of the MTA’s tattooing services. 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 feels like now is the perfect time to refresh the MTA brand.
“It just feels like the right time to give everything a revamp and put a few more structured processes in place. Our main focus now is to continue fundraising and raising awareness of what we do, as well as hopefully getting some corporate sponsors behind us to help us to grow.”
When asked if she would work with Willans again, Tanya said: “Absolutely. Now that I work with hospitals and when it comes to expanding the business [Paradise Tattoo Studio], I’ll need legal advice and help with putting contracts together, so I’ve already asked Helen if I could use your services again because I’ve been so happy with everything!”
Willans’ corporate & commercial team is rated by national legal guides The Legal 500 and Chambers UK. The department’s expert lawyers can help businesses big or small on a variety of challenges that may arise.
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