About Asthma UK

Asthma UK logo. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.4 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.

We work together with people with asthma, health professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.

Our vision
‘Control over asthma today, freedom from asthma tomorrow.’

Our mission
‘Improving the health and well-being of people with asthma by building and sharing expertise about asthma.’

Asthma UK
  • is the voice of people with asthma in the UK
  • raises awareness among healthcare professionals, health services and politicians of the seriousness of asthma and influences healthcare policy for asthma 
  • is the source of independent advice and information on asthma for everyone
  • has spent to date nearly £50 million on vital research to investigate the causes and treatments of asthma as well as trying to prevent it developing in the first place; each year we support 10 -20 new research projects (frequently asked questions about research).
  • is funded by voluntary donations

Our organisational values - what we believe and value

Ensuring fairness
We believe in challenging injustice and in acting fairly and responsibly which means we value ensuring fairness. This shows our commitment to stand up on behalf of people with asthma, championing those most in need, perhaps because they have severe asthma or because they are excluded by poverty or discrimination. It also reflects our desire to be a good and responsible employer, promoting equality and diversity.

Advancing knowledge
We believe in scientific and professional excellence and in advancing solutions which means we value advancing knowledge. This demonstrates our commitment to excellence, both scientific and professional. We are striving to create an environment that is conducive to creative thinking, innovation, challenging the norm. It also reflects our desire to measure and evaluate our work, ask questions, reflecting on and sharing learning based on experience, and to find new solutions.

Developing potential
We believe in encouraging personal development and in continuous learning and improvement which means we value developing potential. Asthma UK is dedicated to helping people with asthma overcome barriers and realise their potential. It also demonstrates our commitment to become a learning organisation where we grow our skills, seek to improve and listen and learn to ensure that we give people with asthma what they want and expect from Asthma UK

Promoting quality of life
We believe in seeing the whole person and in building healthy environments which means we value promoting quality of life. This shows that our goal is to achieve more than good health, it’s to enable people with asthma to lead full and active lives. This means we need to see the whole person and support them in school, or in the workplace, or the benefits system, as required. Internally, we wish to promote quality of our working lives by creating a positive working environment, preventing stress and considering flexible working where we can.

Asthma UK would like to work with you. Please email our Supporter & Information Team to find how you can get involved, or call 0800 121 62 55.

Chief Executive

Asthma UK's Chief Executive, Neil Churchill

Asthma UK’s Chief Executive, Neil Churchill, joined the charity in August 2007.

Before joining Asthma UK, Neil was the External Affairs Director at Age Concern England where he was responsible for policy, public affairs and information services. Previously, Neil was Deputy Chief Executive at Crisis and he has also held senior communication roles at Barnardo's and the Policy Studies Institute.

Chair

Dr Rob Wilson was appointed as Chair in July 2009. He is a Consultant Physician, Director of Lung Division and Associate Medical Director at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital.

Dr Wilson says: ‘My mother has bad asthma and as a respiratory physician I see how asthma affects the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds, and how severe asthma continues to kill patients every year. I believe that our charity can improve the lives of sufferers of asthma now, and via research we can find better ways of treating patients in the future.’

Chief Medical Advisers

Asthma UK's Chief Medical Advisers are Professor Ian Pavord – from Glenfield Hospital – whose focus is on secondary care, and Dr Mike Thomas – a practising GP and clinical fellow at the University of Aberdeen – who concentrates on primary care issues. 

Trustees

Asthma UK is a membership-based charity managed by a council of directors (known as trustees). The Council comprises up to 12 trustees elected by members for three years and up to four trustees co-opted by the elected trustees. All must be members of Asthma UK and receive no remuneration other than for professional services when instructed by the charity. 

Annual General Meeting

Asthma UK's Twentieth Annual General Meeting took place in June 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions

Transparency and accountability are central to Asthma UK's work. Our Frequently Asked Questions section provides information on our fundraising activities, expenditure, staffing and governance - as well as advice on how people affected by asthma and can get involved with our work.