Meningitis charities merge to become Meningitis Now
Howard Lake | 21 October 2013 | News
Following their merger in April this year, Bristol-based Meningitis UK and Gloucester-based Meningitis Trust have now become Meningitis Now. The charity will fund pioneering research to eradicate the disease, support those affected and raise awareness.
Founder Steve Dayman MBE, who launched his fight against the disease after losing his baby Spencer to meningitis over 30 years ago, said: “It feels amazing to launch after months of preparation. Meningitis Now can comprehensively fight the horrific disease on all fronts – we exist to save lives and rebuild futures.”
The fundraising department in the merged charity has around 20 fundraisers, and the charity is now hosting and taking part in more events that the two charities used to do separately.
The charity aims to raise nearly £3.5million in its first year, from April 2013 to March 2014. This is close to what the two charities generated in total when separate.
The Meningitis UK office in Bristol will close from 1 November in order to reduce costs. All staff are moving to the Stroud office.
The individual charities’ running vests and other fundraising and promotional material are being used until they run out.
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.