Breast Cancer Care has made a surplus for the first time in four years, declaring its performance last year as a turning point in the organisation’s progress.

Total income at the breast cancer charity increased by 5 per cent year on year to £13.4m, buoyed by a 6 per cent improvement in fundraising. It also managed to reduce expenditure by 4 per cent to £13.2m, a move it attributed to improved efficiencies.

In her introduction to the charity’s accounts for 2012/13, chair Jane Hinnrichs said: “2013/13 marks a turning point for Breast Cancer Care. We have achieved not only an operating surplus (for the first time since 2008/09) but also, perhaps even more excitingly, a total income that is the second-highest in our 40-year history.”

Fundraising income accounted for £12.4m of all incoming resources to Breast Cancer Care. The charity, which recently re-branded and stepped away from the pink colour scheme of many other breast cancer charities, reported that challenge and mass participation events were particularly strong in 2012/13. This performance was bolstered, no doubt, by the charity being co-Virgin London Marathon charity of the year with Prostate Cancer UK. The fundraising department reduced costs by £655,000 over the year, to £4.1m. Fundraising in 2011/12 had fallen short of target.

The charity, which intends to re-launch its website, also remarked on a significant trend within its advice services. While calls to its helpline fell, there was a 66 per cent increase in use of its ‘Ask a Nurse’ breast cancer advice service.