At Asthma + Lung UK, we’re fighting for a world where everyone has healthy lungs.
Where lung health is prioritised through better understanding, research, treatment and support. Our mission is to be the driving force behind the transformation of lung health. We do this by changing perceptions of lung health and campaigning for its prioritisation. We push forward research and the development of new treatments and best practice. We support those affected with information, advice and practical help, and we mobilise and connect people to drive real change.
Our Values
At Asthma + Lung UK, we have five values, which support our strategy and brand. Our values are underpinned by behaviours and enablers.
Behaviours are how our people work to support the values. Enablers are what the organisation provides to foster those behaviours. Together, they support and embed the values upon which they’re based.
We have Courage
We are tenacious, making things happen and removing barriers to success. When things are difficult, we keep pushing. Sometimes we fail, but we try again and learn from our mistakes.
Behaviours
- Determination.
- Courage to try new things, risk failure and try again.
Enablers
- Freedom within boundaries.
- Celebrate mistakes as well as successes and learn.
We Always Push For Better
We think big and always look for better ways to do things. And better never stops! We encourage innovation and new ideas. We challenge things that are not right and celebrate great work.
Behaviours
- Determination.
- Courage to try new things, risk failure and try again.
- Bringing our true and best selves.
- Push the boundaries.
- Making things happen.
Enablers
- Freedom within boundaries.
- Celebrate mistakes as well as successes and learn.
- Development, trust and performance.
- Reward and recognise.
- Recruit for attitude, train for skill.
- Valuing leadership.
- Accountability and responsibility.
We Empower Our People To Be Their Best
We support each other to be our best and do great things to transform lung health. We value diversity and inclusivity and are always true to ourselves and fair to others.
Behaviours
- Courage to try new things, risk failure and try again.
- Bringing our true and best selves.
- Push the boundaries.
- Making things happen.
- Working collaboratively.
Enablers
- Freedom within boundaries.
- Celebrate mistakes as well as successes and learn.
- Development, trust and performance.
- Reward and recognise.
- Recruit for attitude, train for skill.
- Valuing leadership.
- Accountability and responsibility.
- Inclusive culture.
We Work As One
We work as one team towards one goal. We collaborate with each other and with our partners to achieve it. We hold each other to account and support each other to deliver the very best.
Behaviours
- Making things happen.
- Working collaboratively.
- Using insight effectively.
Enablers
- Accountability and responsibility.
- Inclusive culture.
We Listen and Understand
We listen to people affected by lung conditions to understand their views and needs, informing everything we do. We listen to other experts to add to our knowledge. We take the time to see things from other people’s perspectives.
Behaviours
- Working collaboratively.
- Using insight effectively.
- Stay focused.
Enablers
- Valuing leadership.
- Inclusive culture.
Whoever said, “We all breathe the same air” didn’t grow up in any of the places in the UK where air pollution exceeds the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits. Didn’t have to worry about being one of the 36,000 early deaths attributed to air pollution every year. Wasn’t the 1 in every 5 people who will have a lung condition in their lifetime. Or one of the 5.4 million people in the UK living with asthma.
Why We’re Fighting for Breath
- In the UK, respiratory care simply isn’t good enough.
- Even before Covid-19, NHS hospital admissions for lung conditions were rising three times faster than average admissions.
- Lung disease is now the third most common cause of death, costing the NHS more than £9 billion every year. So this issue needs to be at the top of the health agenda.
- People living with lung conditions are often overlooked and being left behind. Their condition isn’t accurately diagnosed at an early stage – and even when they are diagnosed, they’re not given the care they need.
Our Vision
At Asthma + Lung UK our vision is for a world where everyone has healthy lungs. A world where lung health is prioritised through better understanding, research, treatment and support. We are dedicated to helping create a world where good lung health and the ability to breathe freely are a basic right enjoyed by all.
And we will be the driving force behind the transformation of lung health.
From research and campaigning to advice and support, as the nation’s lung charity we are on a mission to change the way that lung health is perceived.
Right now, the situation needs drastic improvement. We need change to improve the lives of millions of people with lung conditions.
To make this happen, at Asthma + Lung UK we have a five-year plan based on achievable goals. This will help us shift attitudes about the way lung health is seen in the UK – and drive real progress. View the strategy at a glance. Please find the full strategy on the Further Reading tab.
Our Goals
Our ambition is for no one to develop a lung condition that could have been prevented. We will work with others to:
- Triple public funding for respiratory research to £150 million each year and increase our own investment in pioneering research.
- Fight for clean air to reduce the number of hospital admissions linked to spikes in air pollution and the number of early deaths linked to long-term exposure.
- Increase public awareness of the symptoms of lung conditions and improve access to NHS service to develop methods to diagnose lung conditions with greater accuracy and speed.
- Provide 90% of those who are newly diagnosed with asthma and COPD with support to manage their condition, resulting in 30% fewer unplanned hospital admissions for COPD and 40% fewer visits to A&E for asthma each year.
