Traffic Light Guide to Charities

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:

  • Spinal Injuries Association

    Amber

    In a letter dated 18/12/2018, this charity stated: “We do not carry out any sort of research, regardless of involvement with human embryos. This is not an area of work which forms part of our aims or strategy. There are, however, other organisations who do special in this area of research and, naturally, we do welcome any progress that is made in that field.”

  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK (SMA UK)

    Green

    In a letter dated 18/12/2018, the Managing Director of this charity stated: “… regarding our position on human embryo experimentation. To date we have not funded any work on treatments for SMA relating to this field of scientific research…If a project of this type was tabled ultimately even if the scientific board supported it, the Trustees board of my charity would be given final vote by me as I am clear that this is a very new and ultimately ethically difficult area for the charity to enter into.
    “So what I am saying is no we haven’t funded this line of work and no we don’t know of any projects working on SMA in this field and hence are not knowingly supporting other organisations in this type of research.”

  • Spinal Research

    Amber

    In a letter dated 19/12/2018, this charity stated: “Spinal research is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities… We follow their guidance and best practice as part of our membership and adhere to their policies on medical research.
    “Cell lines such as those derived from embryos, are subject to strict regulation under European and UK law. Their use under appropriate regulatory and ethical control has the potential to bring about significant medical advances, particularly in tissue repair. Given this potential, Spinal Research would consider funding projects that required the inclusion of the cells in research that had undergone robust scientific and ethical review. We recognise that this is an issue that stimulates strong views.
    “At the time of writing Spinal Research doesn’t fund projects that involve human embryonic cells.” [#AMRC#]

  • Spirit Aid

    Unknown status

    We do not currently have details for this charity.

  • St John Ambulance (SJA)

    Unknown status

    We do not currently have details for this charity.

  • St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society

    Green

    In a letter dated 21/6/20, the charity stated: “As we are an adoption society, we assess applicants who wish to adopt and support the placement of children with new families.”

  • Stem 4

    Unknown status

    We do not currently have details for this charity.

  • Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR)

    Amber

    In a letter dated 15/4/2019, this charity stated: “… we don’t do any research that related to human embryo experimentation, or support any organisations involved in it, so we do not have a policy that relates to the topic.
    “We work solely with parents who are living with spinal cord injury to help understand, prevent and better treat the secondary complications of spinal cord injury such a pressure sore, urinary tract infections and pain.” [#AMRC#]

  • Street Child

    Unknown status

    We do not currently have details for this charity.

  • Stroke Association

    Red

    In a letter dated 23/4/2019, this charity stated: “Currently we only fund research involving adult stem cells, and we are not aware of any ongoing stroke research involving human embryonic stem cells. However, … we would fund research involving human embryonic stem cells if it were scientifically justifiable.”

  • Sue Ryder

    Amber

    In a letter dated 20/12/2018, this charity stated: “Sue Ryder recognises that Assisted Dying is a complex subject and we are sensitive to both sides of the debate. However, our position on these matters is always guided by the law, which currently states that Assisted Dying is not legal in the United Kingdom.”

  • Target Ovarian Cancer

    Amber

    In a letter received in December 2018, the Director of Communications at this charity stated: “I can clarify that Target Ovarian Cancer does not fund research that uses human embryos. We fund gold-standard research at universities across the UK – the universities may participate in unrelated research that use human embryos, but the research projects we fund do not.” [#AMRC#]

  • Tearfund

    Red

    In a letter dated 18/12/2018 this charity stated: “At Tearfund, we believe that limiting family size is not a frustration of the purpose of God as some have suggested, but is responsible stewardship of our resources. The responsible use of family planning within marriage is therefore an important aid to being able to make effective decisions about the future of our families so they can flourish instead of struggle. We recognise that some will prefer ‘natural’ methods while others will use modern contraceptives.”

  • Teenage Cancer Trust

    Green

    In a letter dated 14/2/19, the charity stated that the “Teenage Cancer Trust is not involved in any human embryo research, nor are we linked with any group who is.”

  • Tenovus Cancer Care

    Amber

    In a letter dated 20/12/2018 the Head of Research at this charity stated: “…to the very best of my knowledge, we do not currently fund any research using human embryos nor do we directly support other organisations that do.” [#AMRC#]