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 exist to reduce the impact of asthma on people’s lives. We have invested over £50 million into research into better treatments and into ultimately finding a cure; we provide expert information, advice and support and create local solutions for people most affected by asthma.

Our Impact Report 09-10 [pdf] summarises our achievements over the past year.  And you will find more detailed information in our Annual Report & Accounts 2009/10  [pdf].

By listening carefully to the issues people with asthma face, we make sure their concerns are understood by healthcare professionals, educationalists and policy makers and steps are taken to improve the lives of everyone living with asthma today.

We could not achieve what we do without the support of ordinary and extra-ordinary members of the public, so if you’d like to get involved Asthma UK would like to hear from you. Please contact our Supporter Care Team if you’d like to find out more, or call them on 0800 121 62 55.

Our vision is to give people

Control over asthma today, freedom from asthma tomorrow.

All that we do aims to significantly reduce the numbers of people dying, being hospitalised and living lives compromised by their asthma.

Our values

  • We will ensure fairness by challenging injustices, standing up for people with asthma and championing those in greatest need.
  • We will advance knowledge by valuing scientific and professional excellence.
  • We will develop potential in the people we help so they can overcome barriers, and also in our staff.  We will be a  learning organisation to give people with asthma what they want and expect from Asthma UK.
  • We will promote quality of life. This is more than good health. We want people with asthma to lead full and active lives, supporting them in school, or in the workplace, or with 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Chief Executive

Asthma UK's Chief Executive, Neil Churchill

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

Neil has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, after being introduced to campaigning by Iris Bentley, whose brother was wrongly hanged for a murder he didn't do in 1953. Prior to joining Asthma UK, Neil led Age Concern's policy and influencing work and before that was Deputy Chief Executive at Crisis, the charity for single homeless people.

Neil is a Non Executive Director for the NHS and a Research Fellow for the Smith Institute, where he follows health policy.
Neil has asthma and you can contact him via his blog or through Asthma UK's Facebook page.

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 has two Chief Medical Advisers. Professor Ian Pavord works from Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. Professor Pavord has a long career in respiratory medicine is an honorary professor at The Institute of Lung Health. His focus is on secondary care.  Dr Mike Thomas is a GP and Hospital Practitioner and a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen.  His focus is on primary (GP) care.

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 twenty-first Annual General Meeting took place in June 2010.