Trustee Report with income and expenditure statement for the year to 31 August 2025
Trustees
Neil Bishop – Treasurer (retired 31 March 2025) David Ellis – Chairperson John Flanagan Rachel Gallagher Jeremy Hague Ed Sobczak – Treasurer (appointed 1 April 2025) Nevyn Stevenson
Support Groups – Asbestos Victims Advice Groups
(These groups offer comprehensive advice on benefits and compensation, alongside various other types of support.)
-
Asbestos Action (covering East of Scotland)
-
Asbestos Support Central England
-
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group
-
Clydebank Asbestos Group
-
East Midland Asbestos Support Team
-
Greater Manchester Victims Support Group
-
HASAG Asbestos Disease Support
-
London Asbestos Support Awareness Group
-
Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group
-
SARAG- Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Victims Support Group
Support Groups – Forum Network Members
(These groups offer various types of support. They may not offer comprehensive advice on benefits and compensation)
-
Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru
-
Cumbria and Lancashire Asbestos Support and Advice Group
-
Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group
-
READLEY Asbestos & Mesothelioma Support Group
-
South West Asbestos Support Awareness Group
Purpose
In summary, the purpose of the charity is to:
-
Relieve persons who have been injured by asbestos or who have asbestos related diseases, their families and carers, and who are in need by reason of their ill health, disability or financial circumstances or other disadvantage, in particular by the provision of support information, advocacy and advice.
-
Educate the public in the subject of asbestos, its hazards and asbestos related injury or disease with a view to reducing and helping to prevent further harm.
The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Activity
The Charity is a national umbrella organisation made up of local or regional charitable voluntary sector organisations based on communities throughout the United Kingdom that have been established particularly for the public benefit of people injured by asbestos. It promotes good practice and networking, providing a way of engaging with Parliamentarisms, the Civil Service and other asbestos related charities, disseminates relevant information. Provides a website and campaigns for the safe removal of asbestos and the fair and just treatment of those affected by it.
In this year in particular:
-
A new Constitution for the Forum was agreed allowing the Support Groups to become members with voting rights. The Constitution was registered with the Charity Commission and came into effect from 1 August 2025.
-
The Forum continued its campaign to secure a donation from Altrad/Cape for mesothelioma research of £10m for Asthma+Lung. On 24 March 2025 the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Health and Safety held a public hearing. Its subsequent report with recommendations was sent to the Government to agree in the interests of justice for asbestos victims and for the health and safety of the public.
-
Companies House was successfully challenged by the Forum when it was discovered to have introduced and was implementing a new policy to destroy old company record. The department has agreed to suspensions whilst it considers with Ministers the policy and objections raised. The current suspension lasts until 31 July 2026. Historic records can be of critical importance to victims in pursuit of civil compensation.
-
DWP The Forum continues to campaign to improve the DWP Diffuse Mesothelioma
-
Payment Scheme (DMPS) and was part of the collective effort that secured a tariff review resulting in a 49% increase in November 2025. In March 2026, confirmation was received that a biennial (two-yearly) review process can be implemented, where none previously existed. The Forum also participates in a redacted case review exercise to ensure the scheme works effectively for those we support.
-
The Forum works collaboratively to improve the DWP Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) service for beneficiaries of member charities. This includes gathering and presenting evidence of inefficiencies, working with DWP stakeholders to improve service delivery, and sharing information and best practice among members. The Forum also works collaboratively with other relevant bodies, including the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC).
-
The Forum challenged HMRC with regard to the time taken to respond to requests with the outcome that HMRC confirmed they will fast track the provision of employment history letters in both mesothelioma and lung cancer cases where individuals have been exposed to asbestos. HMRC undertook to provide work histories within 10 days of a request to do so.
Presented approved report on 14 April 2026 (AGM)
Income and Expenditure Statement
£
| Subscriptions | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Recharges | (5411) | |
| BTOG | (1158) | |
| IT support and miscellaneous | (462) | |
| Bank charges | (77) | (7108) |
| Defciency | (5108) | |
| Balance to open at 1stSept 2024 | 10956 | |
| Balance to close at 31stAugust 2025 | 5848 |
Trustee Report with income and expenditure statement for the year to 31 August 2025
Trustees
Neil Bishop – Treasurer (retired 31 March 2025) David Ellis – Chairperson John Flanagan Rachel Gallagher Jeremy Hague Ed Sobczak – Treasurer (appointed 1 April 2025) Nevyn Stevenson
Support Groups – Asbestos Victims Advice Groups
(These groups offer comprehensive advice on benefits and compensation, alongside various other types of support.)
-
Asbestos Action (covering East of Scotland)
-
Asbestos Support Central England
-
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group
-
Clydebank Asbestos Group
-
East Midland Asbestos Support Team
-
Greater Manchester Victims Support Group
-
HASAG Asbestos Disease Support
-
London Asbestos Support Awareness Group
-
Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group
-
SARAG- Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Victims Support Group
Support Groups – Forum Network Members
(These groups offer various types of support. They may not offer comprehensive advice on benefits and compensation)
-
Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru
-
Cumbria and Lancashire Asbestos Support and Advice Group
-
Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group
-
READLEY Asbestos & Mesothelioma Support Group
-
South West Asbestos Support Awareness Group
Purpose
In summary, the purpose of the charity is to:
-
Relieve persons who have been injured by asbestos or who have asbestos related diseases, their families and carers, and who are in need by reason of their ill health, disability or financial circumstances or other disadvantage, in particular by the provision of support information, advocacy and advice.
-
Educate the public in the subject of asbestos, its hazards and asbestos related injury or disease with a view to reducing and helping to prevent further harm.
The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Activity
The Charity is a national umbrella organisation made up of local or regional charitable voluntary sector organisations based on communities throughout the United Kingdom that have been established particularly for the public benefit of people injured by asbestos. It promotes good practice and networking, providing a way of engaging with Parliamentarisms, the Civil Service and other asbestos related charities, disseminates relevant information. Provides a website and campaigns for the safe removal of asbestos and the fair and just treatment of those affected by it.
In this year in particular:
-
A new Constitution for the Forum was agreed allowing the Support Groups to become members with voting rights. The Constitution was registered with the Charity Commission and came into effect from 1 August 2025.
-
The Forum continued its campaign to secure a donation from Altrad/Cape for mesothelioma research of £10m for Asthma+Lung. On 24 March 2025 the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Health and Safety held a public hearing. Its subsequent report with recommendations was sent to the Government to agree in the interests of justice for asbestos victims and for the health and safety of the public.
-
Companies House was successfully challenged by the Forum when it was discovered to have introduced and was implementing a new policy to destroy old company record. The department has agreed to suspensions whilst it considers with Ministers the policy and objections raised. The current suspension lasts until 31 July 2026. Historic records can be of critical importance to victims in pursuit of civil compensation.
-
DWP The Forum continues to campaign to improve the DWP Diffuse Mesothelioma
-
Payment Scheme (DMPS) and was part of the collective effort that secured a tariff review resulting in a 49% increase in November 2025. In March 2026, confirmation was received that a biennial (two-yearly) review process can be implemented, where none previously existed. The Forum also participates in a redacted case review exercise to ensure the scheme works effectively for those we support.
-
The Forum works collaboratively to improve the DWP Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) service for beneficiaries of member charities. This includes gathering and presenting evidence of inefficiencies, working with DWP stakeholders to improve service delivery, and sharing information and best practice among members. The Forum also works collaboratively with other relevant bodies, including the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC).
-
The Forum challenged HMRC with regard to the time taken to respond to requests with the outcome that HMRC confirmed they will fast track the provision of employment history letters in both mesothelioma and lung cancer cases where individuals have been exposed to asbestos. HMRC undertook to provide work histories within 10 days of a request to do so.
Presented approved report on 14 April 2026 (AGM)
Income and Expenditure Statement
£
| Subscriptions | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Recharges | (5411) | |
| BTOG | (1158) | |
| IT support and miscellaneous | (462) | |
| Bank charges | (77) | (7108) |
| Defciency | (5108) | |
| Balance to open at 1stSept 2024 | 10956 | |
| Balance to close at 31stAugust 2025 | 5848 |