Trusts and foundations

In 1982 one-year-old Spencer Dayman died of meningitis, then a relatively unknown disease. His death was to change the future for thousands of people in the following years.

Devastated by the loss of his son, Spencer's father, Steve Dayman began his mission to stamp out meningitis, a journey which continues to this day. In 1999 he set up Meningitis UK and since then the charity has invested millions of pounds in pioneering vaccine research to protect future generations from the disease.

When Spencer died thirty years ago a vaccine to prevent meningitis seemed like a very distant dream. Today, we have vaccines that can protect against some forms of the disease and these have kept millions of people safe.

But we have urgent work left to do. There are still meningitis strains out there that are deadly and we won’t stop until everyone is protected from every type.

"Meningitis and septicaemia can strike and overwhelm the human body in hours. Developing a vaccine to protect against these diseases remains one of the biggest challenges to modern medicine" Professor Nigel Klein, Institute of Child Health

Funding our work

We receive no government funding and rely on the support of Trusts and Foundations to make the big breakthroughs that are so desperately needed.

If you are involved with a Trust or Foundation and would like to learn more about our lifesaving projects, you can find details of our current research programme here.

We would also be pleased to arrange laboratory visits so that you can meet our researchers and see your support in action.

For more information, please contact our Trusts and Partnerships Officer, Gemma Langley on 0117 303 3349 or email gemmalangley@meningitisUK.org

"Meningitis UK is a leading charity in helping to provide the funds to drive vaccine development forward and I know that we really are making a difference through the funds that the charity provides" Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group