Our Mission

Supporting people

with asbestos cancer

We are a national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by mesothelioma through expert care, information, and advocacy. Our mission is twofold: to improve the lives of those living with the disease today and to help prevent future cases. We do this by championing equitable access to care, advancing research, and ensuring the voices of those with mesothelioma are heard.

Founded in 2004 as a Macmillan resource centre in Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, Mesothelioma UK has grown rapidly. We became an independent Charitable Trust in 2008 and a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2018.

Since our inception, we have spearheaded efforts to improve mesothelioma care across the UK. Our work ensures that patients receive expert support, better access to treatment and clinical trials, improved symptom management, and an overall higher quality of life. A key part of this is our network of Mesothelioma Clinical Nurse Specialists, embedded in NHS hospitals across the UK, providing specialist expertise and care at the point of need.

Beyond nursing, we offer vital support services, including:

  • A Freephone Support Line

  • Specialist benefits advice

  • A travel grant for accessing clinical trials

  • A dedicated research centre at the University of Sheffield

  • Accredited patient information resources

We also work alongside partner organisations to raise awareness of asbestos exposure and its devastating legacy. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, our vision is to make preventing mesothelioma a priority.

Mesothelioma UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation is a registered charity in England & Wales (1177039).

Strategy 2025-2028

This strategy sets out our vision for mesothelioma support over the next three years.  

Research Strategy 

In 2020 for the first time we published a research strategy which covers the period 2020 – 2023. The strategy outlines the charity’s plan to offer a range of grant opportunities that will fund research and explore patients’ experiences of care, through to research on patient treatments and outcomes of care. 

Read our research strategy here.

Fundraising Regulator

Mesothelioma UK is a member of the Fundraising Regulator. We have committed to abide by the Code of Fundraising Practice and to the Fundraising Promise.  

Cancer 52

Mesothelioma UK is proud to be a member of Cancer 52. 55% of UK cancer deaths are from rare and less common cancers. 

Despite this, these cancers remain severely under represented and under-funded across all areas, including policy, services and research. 

Cancer52 is an alliance of nearly 100 organisations working to address this inequality and improve outcomes for patients with these highly challenging diseases. 

 

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