Many people want to support charities which do not go against their pro-life values. This updated guide has been prepared to help you in deciding which charities you would like to support.
The Traffic Light Guide includes only the stated or known stance and activities of the charities listed. The following ranking system is used to score the charities:
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Neurosciences Research Foundation (NRF)
Unknown status
We do not currently have details for this charity.
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New Approaches to Cancer
Green
In a letter dated 6/6/19, the charity stated: “We do not support any of these:
- Abortion services for women or girls
- Research using human embryos
- Campaign to promote assisted dying
“
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Newlife Charity for Disabled Children
Amber
In a lettr dated 6/2/20, this charity said: “In respect of human embryo research/experimentation. We do not have a specific policy on this matter.” In the same letter they recommended looking at the list of research on their website (https://newlifecharity.co.uk/docs/medical-research/Completed-Research-New.php). This contains an extensive list of medical research projects, some of which may be of concern from an ethical perspective.
On abortion, Newlife stated in the same letter: “we do not give ‘advice’ to anyone. If we are asked for information on subjects such as pregnancy, termination or contraceptive services we always refer them back to their local GP and relevant health services.”
On assisted dying, the charity said: “We do not support directly or indirectly the promotion of assisted dying.” -
Niemann-Pick Research Foundation (NPRF)
Unknown status
We do not currently have details for this charity.
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North West Cancer Research
Amber
In a letter dated 20/05/19, the charity stated: “we are a cancer research charity and fund research withing academic institutions and/or the NHS. These organisations have their own ethical guidance and researchers adhere to and we request all potential investigators to identify their ethical processes and/or approvals within their applications.
“To my knowledge we have not funded any human embryo research.” [#AMRC#] -
Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke
Amber
In a letter dated 16/4/2019 this charity stated: “We do not carry out any direct scientific research ourselves. Our research is overseen by our scientific research committee and all funded research must meet our stringent criteria which include ethical approval… no programme of research involving investigations in humans will be funded in the absence of relevant ethical approval documentation.” [#AMRC#]
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One Foundation
Unknown status
We do not currently have details for this charity.
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Orthopaedic Research UK
Amber
In a letter dated 25/4/2019, this charity stated: “Orthopaedic Research UK is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) who guidelines we follow.” [#AMRC#]
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Ovarian Cancer Action
Amber
In a letter dated 12/12/2018, this organisation stated: “We have never and have no intention of funding any research that experiments on human embryos. We also do not support any organisations that carry out research of this kind.” [#AMRC#]
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Oxfam
Red
The following commitment to reproductive health appears in the “Oxfam Strategic Plan 2013-2019” page 19:
“Increased access to free and public quality healthcare and education (including affordable medicines and sexual and reproductive health services) for the world’s poorest and marginalised people, with no barriers for women and girls, by changing policy and practice of governments, institutions and corporations, and by citizens and civil society advocating for comprehensive, publicly financed national health and education plans.
“Support campaigns for health (including sexual and reproductive health) and education and support organizations that work with governments on innovative ways to reach women and girls.”
https://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/plans-reports-and-policies
At the time of writing there were 145 items on the Oxfam website relating to reproductive health. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/search-results?q=reproductive%20health;show_all=ogb_mixed -
Pain Relief Foundation
Green
In a letter dated 12/4/2019 the Charity Manager stated: “I can confirm that we do not conduct research using human embryos, we have not done so in the past nor do we feel that we will in the future as this does not fit in with our remit.
“Neither do we support other organisations that conduct this type of research and again we have no intention of doing so in the future.” -
Pancreatic Cancer Action
Amber
In a letter dated 17/4/2019, this charity stated: “We have a very small research portfolio, the main criteria for which is that the projects will help advance early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We invest in small (less that £40,000 each), proof of concept projects that, when successful, can go on to receive additional funding from major cancer funders such as Cancer research UK and the Medical Research Council to extend their research.
“To date, we have not, and currently do not, fund any human embryo experimentation and, due to the complexity of the science and the huge amount of funds needed for this type of research (which we don’t have), it is very unlikely that our funds will be spent in this area in the future.” [#AMRC#] -
Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund
Amber
In a letter dated 18/1/2019 this charity stated: “None of the research we fund uses human embryos. In fact, pancreatic cancer research generally does not involve the use of human embryos. Research is done using pancreatic cancer cell lines or using animal models – predominantly mice.” [#AMRC#]
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Papyrus
Unknown status
We do not currently have details for this charity.
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Parkinson’s UK
Amber
A letter dated 11/2/219 was ambiguous about whether researchers funded by Parkinson’s UK actually used embryo stem cells. Parkinson’s UK policy statement on stem cell research states: “Stem cell research has the potential to lead to new and better treatments for Parkinson’s. We understand the sensitive issues around certain areas of stem cell research, and respect the views of those concerned by the, but we firmly support the continuation of stem cell based research within the rigorous ethical and regulatory framework in place in the UK.”
More research is needed.
Parkinson’s UK policy statement – End of life care:
“Parkinson’s UK neither supports nor opposes a change in the law to allow assisted dying, although we monitor changes in legislation to ensure that people with Parkinson’s are appropriately safeguarded. Our position is neutral because we recognise that people affected by Parkinson’s have a wide range of personal beliefs on this issue.” www.parkinsons.org.uk/about-us/end-life-and-assisted-suicide [#AMRC#]