Asthma UK’s effectiveness

Asthma UK is a membership-based charity. It is legally a company limited by guarantee. It is managed by the 'Council of trustees', who are the legal directors of the company. Trustees are members of Asthma UK and give their time voluntarily to ensure that directors and staff effectively deliver Asthma UK’s mission and vision. Day-to-day management is delegated by the Trustees to an executive of full time employees who operate within defined terms of reference and authority. The charity is organised into four directorates: Research and Policy; Nations, Regions and Services; Marketing; and Operations, each headed by an Executive Director who reports to the Chief Executive.

In England and Wales Asthma UK is registered with the Charity Commission, and in Scotland, with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Their role is to regulate charities in order to increase their effectiveness and to ensure public confidence by promoting a successful, flourishing and accountable voluntary sector.

What is the Fundraising Standards Board and is Asthma UK a member?
Asthma UK is a member of the Fundraising Standards Board. This means we agree to the ‘Fundraising Promise’, which represents our commitment to the highest standards of good fundraising practice, ensuring all our activities are open, legal and fair. For more information on the Fundraising Promise visit www.fsboard.org.uk.

What is the ImpACT Coalition and is Asthma UK a member?
Asthma UK is a member of the ImpACT Coalition. The Coalition aims to increase public trust and confidence in charities by raising awareness of the nature and activities of charities and communicating with clarity and openness about our achievements and challenges. This includes being transparent about the fundraising process, how much is invested in raising money and how this helps us meet the needs of our beneficiaries. For more information about the ImpACT Coalition visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/impact.

Asthma UK professionally recruits staff into paid roles in the same way that other organisations do. Applicants are attracted through internal and external advertising in relevant publications and by using specialist recruitment agencies. New members of staff are recruited if they match the specific skills, knowledge and experience required for the role, following assessment by application form and an interview process. All staff are regularly reviewed and appraised against set targets.

Recruitment of trustees is by an electoral process amongst the members. To find new candidates to become trustees we advertise in Asthma Magazine, other Asthma UK publications and, if appropriate, in the national press. Occasionally we also use specialist recruitment agencies. This recruitment process may be designed to encourage applicants with specific skills, or from under-represented groups, to ensure the Council of Trustees has an appropriate mix of skills and experience. Any remaining gaps may be addressed by co-opting suitably qualified individuals. Co-opted trustees can only stay for a maximum of three years before seeking formal election.

• By electing Trustees who form the governing body of Asthma UK.
• By attending the Annual General Meeting.
• By receiving and considering the Annual Report and Accounts and voting on them at the AGM.
• By participating in the Users and Carers Advisory forum and Youth forum which advises on the work we do.
• By responding to specific invitations to comment on the work of Asthma UK.

In 2006/7 Asthma UK’s total income was £9.1m, of this £8.4m was raised through fundraising activity.

Asthma UK is currently working within a five year strategic plan which focuses our work on five key aspirations (below). These aspirations guide the decisions we make on what we spend the money we raise on. Each year staff recommend projects, based on the needs of people with asthma, these are then presented to the Board of Trustees, which approves the plans and budgets.

In healthcare - we want all people with asthma to have access to the best possible healthcare – including early and accurate diagnosis of their condition – to enable them to have control over their asthma today.

In childhood – we want all children with asthma to achieve their full potential free from the impact of asthma – in the pre-school setting and at school. We want all parents of children with asthma to be confident that their children are in a safe, asthma-friendly place whenever they are at play, in pre-school or at school – giving them real peace of mind.

At work – we want all adults with asthma to have the opportunity to perform to their full economic potential, in a work environment that is asthma-friendly; for an employer who is asthma-aware; and where employment is not denied through a misunderstanding of asthma and its impact on people’s working lives.

At leisure and in life – we want every person with asthma to be able to make lifestyle choices free from the fear that asthma will hold them back – and to enjoy leisure activities free from the impact of asthma.

In the future – we want to give people with asthma freedom from asthma in the future. We will continue to fund research into the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of asthma in the hope of an asthma-free tomorrow.

Yes, Asthma UK receives funding from a range of pharmaceutical companies but these contributions are capped at 10% of total income. In 2006/7we received a total of £160,000, 1.8% of our total income, from seven different companies. Pharmaceutical companies that fund Asthma UK initiatives are acknowledged appropriately in materials and publications arising from the project, and gifts over £5,000 received from pharmaceutical companies are put in the public domain including the Asthma UK website and annual report to ensure transparency.

How can you maintain independence if you receive money from pharmaceutical companies?

Asthma UK is an independent charity and we work in partnership with pharmaceutical companies because it helps us to represent the views of people with asthma to them as well as to raise funds for our work to improve the health and well being of people with asthma. In 2006/7 1.8% of our income came from seven different pharmaceutical companies and we have a policy that caps income from this source at 10% to maintain our independent voice. 

We adhere strictly to guidance produced by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) in its Code of Practise, the Institute of Fundraising  (IoF)Codes of Practice and the Charity Commission guidance on working with business. In 2007 we were commended for our transparency and good practice in this area in a report published in Which? magazine (‘Under the Influence’ Which? magazine, July 2007)

Asthma UK's acknowledgement of a pharmaceutical company's support should not be considered an endorsement of that company's products and services. Asthma UK is proud of its partnerships with industry and believes that people with asthma have benefited from them.

In 2006/7 we received £88,000 from statutory sources (less than 1% of our total income). Not being heavily funded by government allows Asthma UK the independence to campaign and influence decision makers across the UK to ensure the interests of people with asthma are considered in policy making.