About Us
Just click on any of the links below to find out more information about specific parts of The Society.
- The Society
- Contact Us
- The Current Board of Trustees
- New Trustees
- Members' Help
- Patrons
- Honorary President
- Financial Matters
The Society
The Society was formed in October 1982 by a group of parents whose children were suffering from or had died from neuroblastoma, a very aggressive childhood cancer affecting children up to about the age of 14 years. The Trust Deed formally creating the charity was signed on 20 May 1983. The Society is registered as a national charity 326385 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
The charity's sole purpose is the relief of children suffering from neuroblastoma, and to achieve this it raises funds for medical research into improving both diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The Society also offers an opportunity for parents to give each other mutual help, support and comfort.
The Society is administered by a Board of Trustees made up of lay members who are parents or close relatives of children who have neuroblastoma, and senior medical staff who treat the disease. The whole administration is carried out by voluntary effort so costs are kept to a minimum, with well over 90% of funds raised being spent directly on helping to fight the disease.
Contact Us
The Society help-line is 020 8940 4353. General telephone enquiries can be made to this number, where a message can be left if you are not able to speak to anybody. Lay Trustees can be contacted by telephone at the numbers shown below during office hours, where a message can be left if the person is not able to take your call. Please direct your enquiry to the Trustee who has responsibility for the issue you want to raise.
Alternatively, please will you send your enquiry by email to any lay Trustee or Member listed below, who you think is best placed to help you? If you are unsure of who to contact send it to secretary@neuroblastoma.org.uk and it will be forwarded on to the right person.
The Current Board of Trustees
Lay Members showing Responsibilities
Chairman and Grant Administration
Mr. Stephen Smith
2 Caesar Court, Moss Street, York, YO23 1DD
Telephone: 01904 633744
Email: chairman@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Fund-Raising
Mrs. Lynne Christian
Heathercroft, 77 Grasmere Road, Lightwater, Surrey, GU18 5TL
Telephone: 01276 453227
Email: fundraising@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Membership and Christmas Cards
Mrs. Shirley Clark
54 Forest Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BZ
Telephone: 020 8948 2671
Email: membership@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Publicity and Newsletter Editor
Mrs. Susanne Davies
10 Brookland Road, Hagley, Stourbridge, DY9 0JZ
Telephone: 01562 886666
Email: publicity@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Secretary
Mr. Dennis Bignell
Beech Lodge, 22 Penrose Way, Four Marks, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 5BG
Telephone: 01420 563826
Email: secretary@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Treasurer
Mr. James Duberly
The Cottage, 25 Main Road, Stonely, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 5EH
Telephone: 01480 860225
Email: treasurer@neuroblastoma.org.uk
Medical Members (please do not contact directly, but through the Chairman)
Dr. Penelope Brock
Consultant Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist
Great Ormond Street Hospital & UCLH, London, WC1N 3JH
Mr. Keith Holmes
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon
St George's Hospital, London, SW17 0QT
New Trustees
Vacancies for Lay Trustees arise from time to time. Each Trustee takes responsibility for an area of the charity's activities and administration. Although there are only two or three formal meetings each year, usually in London, there is ongoing communication and activity all the time. So, if you are interested and can offer commitment, ideas, and are able to work as part of an enthusiastic team dedicated to finding an answer to neuroblastoma, please contact the Chairman at chairman@neuroblastoma.org.uk.
Members' Help
The Trustees are grateful for the practical help offerd by members generally in the work of the Society and in particular acknowledge the valuable assistance offered by the following:
| Activity | Member | Society Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Draw | Des Fordham | annualdraw@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Befriending | Caroline Nicolaides | befriending@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Booklets Co-ordinator | Joanne Pennells | hospitalbooklet@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Collecting Boxes | Laurie Bradshaw | collectingboxes@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Donations | Maureen Peters | donations@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Marathon Co-ordinator | Anna Beecroft | marathon@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Medical Liaison | Antonya Cooper | medicalliaison@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Monthly Draw Club | Michelle Stephenson | |
| Newsletter Distribution | Joan Brown | |
| Pin Badges | Lynne Gardner | pinbadges@neuroblastoma.org.uk |
| Website Co-ordination | Sarah Murphy |
Patrons
Trustees appreciate the support and publicity offered to the charity by our patrons Bobby Davro and Mik Scarlett. If business commitments allow they are willing to attend and speak at large scale fund-raising events for the Society. Initial enquiries about their attendance should be made to Mrs. Lynne Christian, Heathercroft, 77 Grasmere Road, Lightwater, Surrey, GU18 5TL. Telephone 01276 453227. Email fundraising@neuroblastoma.org.uk.
Honorary President
Antonya Cooper was Chairman of the Society from October 2001 to February 2007. During this time the charity thrived and when she stepped down it was in a strong financial and administrative position. In particular she developed a robust and effective application process for researchers to use when applying for grants from the Society. She also built up close working relationships with leading international neuroblastoma clinicians and researchers to the benefit of children with the disease. In recognition of her significant contribution to furthering the Society's aims, she was appointed as the charity's inaugural honorary president for an initial period of five years.
Financial Matters
The Society produces statutory accounts and financial statements in accordance with the charity's Trust Deed, The Charities Act 1993, Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005 and The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005.
The Society's statutory Annual Accounts can be viewed at the Charity Commission's website at www.charity-commission.gov.uk. A copy of the Society's latest Annual Review, providing a summary of the charity's activities and accounts for the previous calendar year, can be obtained from Mr. James Duberly, The Cottage, 25 Main Road, Stonely, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 5EH. Telephone: 01480 860225. Email treasurer@neuroblastoma.org.uk, as can a copy of the statutory Annual Accounts, if required.