At The Brain Tumour Charity, we’re relentless in our mission to improve survival and quality of life for everyone affected by a brain tumour. And, ultimately, to find cures for this awful disease.
Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 in the UK. Yet they receive a fraction of the funding and attention of other cancers. This imbalance shouldn’t exist and we’re here to change this.
We’re already the largest dedicated funder of brain tumour research globally and the only UK charity tackling the disease on three vital fronts – funding pioneering research, providing life-changing support and campaigning for meaningful policy changes.
Since our formation in 2013 through the merger of a number of charities brought together by shared experience and determination, we’ve grown in scale, reputation and impact. What unites us is our community: people living with a brain tumour, their loved ones, clinicians, researchers, volunteers and supporters. Their insight and energy shape every decision we make.
Our work is comprehensive and wide-reaching:
- Transforming the research landscape: We fund an extensive and diverse portfolio of research across the UK and internationally from early discovery to clinical trials. This research aims to transform the research landscape for people with brain tumours and give rise to the best chance of finding the cures that are so desperately needed.
- Improving quality of life – providing support and best care for everyone: We offer a comprehensive Support and Information service for anyone affected by a diagnosis, for however long they need. This includes our Support and Information Line, free counselling service, online peer-to-peer support and a dedicated Children and Families service.
- Raising voices to campaign for change: We raise the voices of our community to ensure that brain tumours remain a national priority – securing policy change to support our community to live longer and better.
In 2023 alone, we funded over £5.5 million in research, supported more than 4,500 people through our Support and Information services and reached millions through our awareness and advocacy campaigns. Our team works across the UK, with our headquarters in Fleet, Hampshire. We’re governed by a highly engaged Board of Trustees and supported by an expert Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.
We’re proud of our impact to date, but we’re not standing still. We have a five-year strategy to deliver against our strategic priorities above and we continue to invest in programmes that push boundaries and address unmet need. This includes strengthening our research portfolio, internal research to understand and address underserved need, and building an evidence-based and sustainable organisation that is fit for purpose for the future.
Our values guide everything we do:
- We put our community first: We put the brain tumour community’s needs first, amplifying their voices and uniting in our shared purpose to create change.
- We’re bold: We are unapologetically ambitious and true to ourselves, fuelled by a desire to make things better, faster.
- We’re collaborative: We bring people together to solve problems and spark innovation – across disciplines, sectors and experiences.
- We’re innovative: We challenge assumptions, try new things and embrace bold thinking if it means getting closer to a cure.
The appointment of a new Chair comes at a significant time for us. We’re in a position of strength – with an outstanding charity team, a clear vision and sense of purpose, and a powerful community to support us. We’re seeking a Chair who shares our ambition and values, and who will continue to bring strategic clarity, excellent governance, and a collaborative approach to guide the next phase of The Charity’s journey.
Together, we can transform the future for everyone affected by a brain tumour.