Deafness charities suffering from lack of awareness and funding
Howard Lake | 5 November 2008 | News
Less than £2 per capita funding for deafness research
Research published today by the AMRC (Association of Medical Research Charities) shows a worrying lack of awareness of the work of medical research charities. A survey of more than 2,000 British adults has revealed huge gaps in knowledge about medical research charities, even though these now top the list of charitable causes to which we give money.
Deafness and deafness-related conditions affect one in seven of the UK population, a staggering 9 million people, yet the charity Deafness Research UK estimates that less than £2 per person affected is spent on medical research into deafness each year – less than the cost of a pint of beer!
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “The survey reveals a worrying lack of public awareness about the extent to which medical research and better health care in this country relies on the research charities. It is of particular concern to Deafness Research UK because, despite the fact that 9 million people suffer hearing loss or a related condition, the funding for deafness research is woefully inadequate.
“According to Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) figures, deafness is one of the least supported causes in the UK; we urgently need to alert people to the devastating impact of deafness, the potential that exists to find medical cures and the fact that this relies enormously on public support.”
Over half the respondents to the AMRC’s survey had donated to a medical research charity at some point, almost half said they would be more likely to give if they knew a charity funded medical research and nearly two thirds said they are interested in medical research. However, fewer than half could remember the last medical research story they had read or heard about and, when asked to name three medical research charities, the second most frequent mention (17% of those polled) was Cancer Research Campaign, a charity that has not existed under that name for over six years.
The poll also gave a picture of those most (and least) likely to donate. Londoners were significantly the least likely to support medical research whilst the top supporters were likely to be female; aged 15-34yrs; married; living in Scotland.
Vivienne Michael added: “It seems from the research that northerners are more generous when donating to medical research charities, with Scottish women being the most generous of all. We still have a lot of work to do to get our message across, not only in London and the home counties where lack of support is most apparent, but across the entire country.”
For further information on deafness and deafness-related conditions, call freephone 0808 808 2222 or visit Deafness Research UK’s website at
www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
ENDS
About Deafness Research UK
Deafness Research UK is the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people.
The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222
For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can access a wide range of information.
Alternatively you can e-mail Deafness Research UK at in**@de**************.uk
One in seven people in the UK – almost nine million people – suffer hearing loss.
Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord (Jack) and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
In January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) was linked with Deafness Research UK under a uniting direction order under section 96(6) of the Charities Act 1993.
Press enquiries
Jon Gardner, BeyondPR. Direct line 0114 275 6996. e-mail: jo*********@be******.uk
Ref: DRUK0095 – AMRC research findings Nov 2008
www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.