Women's Royal Voluntary Service

 
 
 
 
Today's WRVS (Women's Royal Voluntary Service) can be found caring in communities across England, Scotland and Wales, improving the quality of life of older people and giving practical help to families and to those affected by disasters.

Over 100,000 caring and committed volunteers support older people by providing lunch and social clubs, Meals on Wheels and Books on Wheels, social transport and Good Neighbours schemes. Families benefit from toy libraries, child contact centres, and visitors' centres in prisons and in an emergency we are always there. In addition, WRVS cafés and shops in hospitals and courts are a welcome break during what might be a stressful time.

By working in partnership with local authorities, hospital trusts, businesses and other charities we hope to make a difference. In a society where one in four children are brought up by lone parents and half of pensioner households depend on state benefits for at least seventy five percent of their income, WRVS simply care for those who needs them.

If you want to find out more about the 100,000 men and women who already volunteer with us, or how you can support our work, visit our website at www.wrvs.org.uk

The National Autistic Society

 
 
 
 
 
Autism is a life-long development disability which affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them.
Asperger syndrome is a condition at the more able end of the spectrum. There are over 500,000 people in the UK with autism. 

Facts about Autism:

• Whilst autism, as a term, was only defined 50 years ago, it has probably been part of the human condition throughout history.
• Autism is prevalent in four times as many males as females (in Asperger syndrome the ratio appears to be around 9:1).
• Autism is still a relatively unknown disability. A recent survey found that 65% of parents see three or more health professionals before getting a diagnosis for their child – and 40% wait more than three years for a diagnosis.
• Autism is a spectrum disorder – comprising of individuals with profound learning difficulties through to people with average or above average IQ.
• Many adults with autistic spectrum disorders are intellectually able, but less than 25% are employed.

The National Autistic Society is the UK's foremost organisation for people with autism and those who care for them, spearheading national and international initiatives and providing a strong voice for autism. The organisation works in many areas to help people with autism live with as much independence as possible.

The National Autistic Society:

• Owns and runs 22 education and adult centres directly providing services to over 600 people with autism.
• Operates an outreach team of Development and Project Officers working in conjunction with Local Authorities to improve services locally for people with autism.
• Runs the Autism Helpline; a free telephone help service which acts as a first point of contact for many families.
• Provides a diagnostic and assessment service run and managed by leading experts in the field of autism.
• Distributes the latest information on research findings into the causes of autism.
• Where possible, encourages research into the causes of autism.
  

To find out more about us and autism, or ways in which you can support us, please visit our website at www.autism.org.uk

The Prostate Cancer Charity

 
 
 
Prostate cancer kills over 10,000 British men each year. This figure is set to double in the next two decades. The Prostate Cancer Charity provides support for those affected by prostate cancer via their helpline, free information on the facts about prostate cancer and funds quality research, both to an inhouse team of researchers and external research. If you would like further information or would like to make a donation to support the work of The PCC, please go to our website.

The Prostate Cancer Charity, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN.

Tel : 020 8383 8124

Fax : 020 8383 8126

Email : alba@prostate-cancer.org.uk

Website : www.prostate-cancer.org.uk

The Cystic Fybrosis Trust

 
 
 
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common, life threatening inherited disease.

CF affects vital organs in the body, especially the lungs and pancreas, by literally clogging them with a thick, sticky mucus.

One person in 25 is a carrier of the faulty CF gene –more than 2.3 million people in the UK.

If both parents are carriers of the faulty CF gene, there is a one in four chance that the child be born with CF.

In the UK, five babies are born with CF every week.

Each week, three young people die from CF, usually as a result of lung damage.

Average life expectancy is around 30 years.

At present there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

The CF Trust is the only national charity in the UK funding research aimed at understanding, treating and curing Cystic Fibrosis.

To fund our vital work, the CF Trust needs to raise at least £5 million every year.

www.cftrust.org.uk

The Arthritis Research Campaign

Arthritis Research UK
Copeman House
St Mary's Gate
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S41 7TD
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 300 790 0400
+44 (0) 300 790 0401
enquiries@arthritisresearchuk.org

Founded in 1936, the arthritis Research Campaign (arc) raises funds to promote medical research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions; to educate medical students, doctors and allied healthcare professionals about arthritis; and provide information to the general public.

arc is the fourth largest national medical research charity in the UK, and the only one soley dedicated to funding research into all types of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis to lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis and arthritis in children. Research is carried out in medical schools and universities across the UK and includes both basic science and clinical research.

The charity is currently expanding towards more community based research which will have a more direct approach on patients' lives, for example research carried out by nurses, GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and podiatrists and including clinical trials of treatments such as acupuncture, exercise and weight loss.

The other charitable remit of arc is to improve the knowledge of medical students, doctors and allied healthcare professionals about these conditions and to provide information for the general public.

As well as providing more than 90 information booklets and leaflets for people with arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions (free of charge) we also have a comprehensive website and information service. Our quarterly magazine, Arthritis Today, is free to all supporters who donate £15 a year or more, and contains useful information about new research, treatments, personal case histories and readers' tips and hints.

Registration with Charity Commission: Since 1962; number 207711

Company status: A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, company number 490500. The company also owns a trading subsidiary, ARC Trading Limited, company number 891517

Geographical remit: UK

Latest annual revenue: £33.5m in the year ended July 31 2007. We receive no government funding and rely entirely on the generosity of public donations to fund our research and educational activities.

Staff: 40 at head office, plus 11 regional fundraisers and 24 shops.

Volunteers: 380 fundraising branches

Members: NA

www.arthritisresearchuk.org