How we operate

Our charity consists of a small staff conducting fundraising and welfare initiatives, governed by our Board of Trustees.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the charity chaired by our founder, Eddie O’Gorman. The Board convenes at least three times a year to ensure the charitable objectives are being fulfilled and to discuss future initiatives.

Each individual trustee brings a special expertise to the charity.

Our trustees are committed to having the smallest possible organisation needed to deliver our objectives efficiently.

Read more: Our trustees

Grant-making

CHILDREN with CANCER (formerly CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA) has become a major funder of scientific research.

Since 2004, this funding has been granted through a peer-reviewed process as recognised by the Association of Medical Research Charities.

Funding applications are assessed by either our Scientific Advisory Panel or a specially convened grant panel; part of the assessment process is sending applications out for external peer review.

Where grants are awarded, we monitor the progress of the work to ensure that funds are spent to best effect.

This process helps to ensure that we fund world-class research that will help us understand more about childhood cancers, improve treatments and move closer to a cure for all children.

Read more: Our Scientific Advisory Panel

Our staff

CHILDREN with CANCER is dedicated to keeping administrative and staffing costs as low as possible, in order to maximise the amount we can spend on grants.

In 2010, governance costs accounted for 0.5 per cent of our total expenditure.

We have a small staff with most engaged in fundraising, but we also have resources dedicated to grant management and public policy. Additional office work is undertaken by volunteers and, when necessary, temporary staff and short term contractors.

Over three hundred volunteers are involved in the work of the charity, several of whom work in our offices on a regular basis, helping with everything from publications to filing.

Read more: Our team

Accountability

Like all registered charities we are regulated by the Charity Commission.

Our annual external audit of the Trustees Report and Accounts is undertaken by Horwath Clark Whitehill LLP.

Some aspects of our work are also subject to statutory controls - for example, our Christmas Grand Draw takes place under licence from the Gambling Commission, and is subject to separate audit and inspection.

Read more: Our Annual Report and Accounts