In our ever-changing world of new restrictions and updated guidance, you’ll understand our need to act quickly to make sure we’re here for you today and in the future.
I’ve shared with you before how devastating an effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the majority of charities, with MDUK projecting a £2.8m drop in income this year. We were so very delighted on Monday 2 November to have the whole team back from furlough, and it was the first time since April that we were able to be together for our weekly virtual staff meeting.
So, on hearing the news that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would be continuing through November, we acted quickly and made plans for 96 percent of our team to go on furlough for a number of days each throughout the month. Doing this, rather than withdrawing whole teams for longer, meant there’d be less impact on the plans we’d prepared for this period. And by making use of the job retention scheme, we’re minimising the risk to our finances as we wait to see how the economic environment outside of our control continues to evolve through the pandemic.
I am immensely proud of our team, and when I say ‘our team’, it’s all of us at MDUK that make this charity succeed: fundraisers, campaigners, volunteers, donors, staff and trustees. We’ve all played our part.
We’ll continue to be here for you, and we’ll continue to deliver guidance at pace, as news is released. As I write this, we’re hearing about the Pfizer vaccine breakthrough. This information is still in its early days, and as all of us here in the MDUK community know, research takes time, but it brings us hope. We hope that this pipeline brings a treatment soon.
I want to thank you for your continued support, which enables us to continue with our programme to fund research for treatments and cures, and to provide services and information – particularly as the demand increases. We’re here for you now, as ever, whether you need clarity on government updates on the pandemic, tiers, lockdowns, access to schools, clinical appointments and specialist equipment, PIP application support or a chat after a recent diagnosis. When you get in touch with us during this period, you’re showing us what the most critical questions are, what you need information on right now, and you’re helping us continue to be relevant to your needs as the world around us keeps changing, and we all continue to stay at home.
I want to end by sharing some of your voices, and to thank you all for your support of MDUK. Last month, along with 116 members of #TeamOrange, I walked the virtual London Marathon to raise funds and the profile of MDUK. This was 10 months after fracturing my ankle, after recording only a few hundred steps (generally from my office to the kitchen) while my ankle was recovering, and after just seven weeks of training. When I walked the virtual London Marathon, my Twitter takeover team reported each mile I walked with a message recorded by 26 of you. You can see a selection of these wonderful videos here. The messages in these videos spurred me on and underlined how much MDUK Matters.
PS In the run-up to Christmas this year, we know it’s an essential time for families, retailers and charities, and we do hope that wherever you are, you’ll be safe and with your loved ones. I hope to share news with you in early January that our festive fundraising activities were successful at the end of a very challenging year.