Accountability and transparency

Operating with integrity is one of our core values

We are a trusted organisation for those we work with and for, and for those who support us. We always strive to meet and exceed expectations of accountability and transparency set for the charity sector.

As a charity and a company, there are legal frameworks that govern what we may and may not do.

More information on these, and other regulators and membership organisation we sign up to to ensure we deliver excellent services are listed below.

Board governance
Audit Sub Committee Terms of Reference
Finance and Risk Sub Committee Terms of Reference

Partnerships, funders, and financial interests

We receive funding from a range of commercial organisations for areas of our work where we have shared interests. We ensure these partnerships are open and transparent at all times.

Trusts, Foundations & grant givers

In our last full financial year trusts, foundations and grants were received from: A M Pilkington Charitable Trust, The Beale Trust, D M Charitable Trust, Edgar Lee Foundation, Emily’s Dash Foundation, G F Eyre Charitable Trust, G M Morrison Charitable Trust, Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Foundation, Hobson Charity, John M Archer Charitable Trust, Merkle Foundation, Mrs Vera Leigh’s Charity, the National Lottery Community Fund, Tableau Foundation, Vera Outhwaite Charitable Trust, Wyndham Charitable Trust and UNICEF.

Law firms who support families affected by meningitis

Law firms is a sector represented amongst our corporate supporters. We are committed to offering the best advice and support possible to our beneficiaries, and this network of independently accredited experts help us to provide up-to-date and accurate information, and signpost to high quality specialist advice where appropriate.

Other corporate support

Companies that have supported us through generous gifts in kind, corporate donations, payroll giving, Charity of the Year relationships, and by supporting and enabling their teams to fundraise for us in our last full financial year are: Bord Na Mona, Bristows LLP, Computer World, Deloitte, Hawk Incentives, HB Projects, The Information Lab, Media Lab, MFS Assets Management, and Owens.

Pharmaceutical companies working to prevent meningitis through vaccination

In the last financial year, we received support from Pfizer, GSK, Sanofi and Serum Institute of India, as pharmaceutical companies who share our aim of preventing people from getting meningitis. Our policy is to receive no more than 25% of our total income from pharmaceutical companies. These sponsors do not influence the work we provide but fund specific projects, which are transparently listed in our policy on Funding from pharmaceutical companies (below).

Full disclosure of our income is available for anyone to read in our annual accounts.

GSK and Meningitis Research Foundation Collaboration Statement
MRF funding from pharmaceutical companies 2021-2023
Pfizer and Meningitis Research Foundation Collaboration Statement
Pharmaceutical Company Policy for Contributions
Sanofi Pasteur and Meningitis Research Foundation Collaboration Statement

Regulation 

Meningitis Research Foundation is registered as a charity and a company, and there are legal frameworks for both that govern what we may and may not do.

In addition, there are several other regulatory bodies and sector groups which set standards for many aspects of our work. We see this as incredibly important. By committing to these organisations and the principles they uphold we set expectations for you and all our staff. And by openly reporting on our behaviour and activity against these standards we make ourselves accountable to both these organisations, and to you.

Companies House

Companies House keeps a register of all UK-based companies.

You can view the principles of our constitution, find out about our Directors, and download our financial accounts and Trustees’ annual reports, also available on this website here

Charity Commission

The Charity Commission is a UK government body that holds charities to account for acting in accordance with charity law.

Outside England and Wales

Meningitis Research Foundation’s main office and operations are in Bristol, UK so The Charity Commission is our principal regulator.

We also have offices and staff in Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin, Ireland. Therefore we are also registered as a charity in these countries and are committed to adhering to the principles set out by their equivalent regulators. These are:

Association of Medical Research Charities

The AMRC is the national membership organisation for health and medical research charities. We pay to be a member of the AMRC and are bound by the standards it sets for delivering high-quality research.

Fundraising Regulator

The Fundraising Regulator is the independent regulator of charitable fundraising. We pay a voluntary fee for this regulation and have committed to operate to the standards it sets. Members of the public can complain to the Fundraising Regulator.

Gambling Commission

Our Summer and Winter raffles are regulated, and we report on these to the Gambling Commission.

Helplines Partnership

This is the membership body for organisations that provide helpline services, ensuring high-quality service delivery.

Information Commissioners Office

We are answerable to the ICO for how we protect and use personal information. This is very important given the sensitive information we hold on families affected, and the fundraising work we carry out.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations

The NCVO champions the voluntary sector by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations.

International Aid Transparency Initiative

MRF publish information through IATI about our overseas projects and spending to improve transparency about our work to defeat meningitis here.

Dochas

Dóchas sets a standard for the use of imagery relating to international aid. We use these standards for all of our work whether in the UK, Ireland, or globally.

CFG Counter Fraud Pledge

Fraud costs the charity sector an estimated £1.9 billion every year. No organisation can be completely immune to fraud, but we can take steps to minimise the risks.

Therefore we have signed up to the CFG Counter Fraud Pledge, which helps us to raise awareness amongst our staff, reduce the risks, and build trust in Meningitis Research Foundation.

Complaints

These regulators ensure that we maintain the highest standards. If you do not feel we have met your expectations, you can contact us at any time with any concerns or complaints 

Complaints Policy

Safeguarding

MRF is committed to safeguarding and to protecting everyone that we assist, and all those in contact with MRF’s work from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury or any other harm. We firmly believe it is unacceptable to abuse power and positions of trust.

Equally, each MRF staff member, volunteer or associate must have the opportunity to contribute fully to our work in a safe and dignified environment.  

MRF safeguarding policy
MRF safeguarding procedures
A global vision for meningitis by 2030 and an action plan to get there.
We fund research into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and sepsis

The MRF Membership and Support team are here for you for any questions you might have about meningitis and septicaemia and their effects on you or your family and friends.

90p/€1 produces a detailed ‘Your Guide’ information pack for parents when a child is recovering from meningitis
Carol Currie
Director of Finance and Administration

If you'd like to know anything more about this aspect of MRF's work, do get in touch

Tel: 0333 405 6273