WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND (WCRF UK)ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2012 – SEPTEMBER 2013

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 2

CONTENTS

WHO WE ARE 3

WHAT WE DO 4

OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH 6

ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INFORMATION 9

INFLUENCING POLICY 12

HOW YOU CAN HELP 14

FINANCES 16

LOOKING AHEAD 17

THANK YOU 19

CONTACT US 21

WHO WE ARE

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK) has funded pioneering research for

nearly 25 years and helps people make choices that reduce their chance of

developing cancer.

As the UK charity in a network of cancer prevention organisations based in Europe,

the Americas and Asia, we’ve funded over £90 million of research that has

furthered scientific understanding of cancer prevention. We’re now the leading

authority on research into cancer and diet, weight and physical activity.

We know more than ever before about how to reduce cancer risk. But the number

of people being diagnosed with the disease continues to rise. Our work is based

on strategic goals that provide a coordinated response to this and help reduce the

devastation that the disease can bring.

With your support, we can continue learning about cancer prevention and help more

people have a healthier, cancer-free future.

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 3

“At WCRF UK we are committed to bringing clear, scientifically-sound advice to people to help them make choices about how to live healthier lives, free from cancer.

It is thanks to the dedication of our supporters that we are able to fund innovative cancer prevention research and health information programmes, which simply wouldn’t be done without you. With your continued support we can do more and help save more lives.”Marilyn Gentry Chief Executive Officer, WCRF UK

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 4

WHAT WE DO

“For more than two decades WCRF UK has taken giant steps forward with our cancer prevention research and in providing people with the information they need to help reduce their cancer risk. We are proud to be doing this vital work to tackle the world’s biggest killer.”Karen SadlerExecutive Director, WCRF UK

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WHAT WE DO

When WCRF UK began funding cancer prevention research, the idea that diet and

lifestyle were linked to cancer was largely dismissed. Now, nearly 25 years on, our

message is widely accepted.

We help people take action to reduce their risk of developing cancer.

We do this by translating the research on cancer, diet, physical activity and

body weight into accessible health information. This makes it easier for people

to choose healthier lifestyles that can help to reduce their risk of developing

the disease.

Our campaigning encourages changes in national and international policy that

help make it easier for people to live healthier lives.

Thanks to our amazing supporters, this year we have continued to make huge

progress. Here’s a snapshsot of what we’ve achieved:

n Produced life-saving recommendations for women about reducing their risk of

developing womb cancer, through our Continuous Update Project, which collates

research studies, rigorously analyses them and makes sound conclusions on

the links between lifestyle and cancer.

n Inspired thousands of people to make changes that reduce their risk of

developing cancer through our 100 Calorie Challenge campaign, and other

cancer prevention messages. More than eight out of ten people who received

our 21 daily emails about how to cut 100 calories from their diet said they

would make long-term changes to their lifestyle.

n Reached 77 million people through media coverage of our campaign to introduce

guidelines for hospital trusts to sell healthier foods and drinks in vending

machines. Currently, most hospital vending machine products are associated

with obesity, which increases the risk of developing cancer.

In this annual report, you can read more about our achievements over the last year

and the work we have done to meet our goals.

There is still much more to do. We strive to save more lives by reaching more

people with our cancer prevention research and health messages. And to do that,

we need your continued support.

We are not powerless against cancer, together we can help prevent it.

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OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH

“As one of the first of its kind, and thanks to a grant from WCRF UK, our research will improve under- standing of how an individual’s metabolism can affect their risk of bowel cancer.”Dr Marc GunterWCRF UK researcher, Imperial College London

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OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH

Working with top scientists, we bring together existing research and fund new

studies into the link between cancer, diet, physical activity and weight. You can

be confident about our advice as it’s based on the results of many studies, not

just individual ones.

We’re also working with governments, research councils and major medical charities

on a five-year £12 million project to find ways to best influence people’s behaviour

and reduce their risk of developing cancer.

LAST YEAR, WE SAID WE WOULD

n Fund new, high-quality cancer prevention research that helps to save lives.

n Communicate new evidence from around the globe on diet, physical activity,

body fatness and cancer prevention through our Continuous Update Project

(CUP), the world’s largest central resource of its kind.

n Contribute at key national and international conferences to inspire and stimulate

new studies into cancer prevention.

WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR

This year, WCRF UK has funded over £1.5 million of new research, covering

everything from how weight in adolescence influences someone’s risk of developing

breast cancer, to whether diet contributes to pancreatic cancer.

Identifying people at risk of developing bowel cancer

How does our metabolism – the chemical processes within the body that keep

us alive – affect our risk of developing bowel cancer?

That’s the question our exciting three-year project led by Dr Marc Gunter and

his team at Imperial College London is looking to answer.

“Thanks to WCRF UK, this research will help identify those at highest risk

of developing the third most common cancer in the UK,” said Dr Gunter.

This and our other research will provide answers to the some of the questions

we have about cancer prevention.

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Reviewing cancer prevention evidence

It’s not enough to know that lifestyle choices can affect our cancer risk. We also

need to know how they do, so that we are better informed to prevent cancer in

future generations.

In April 2013, a team from the University of Bristol began work to develop and test

existing studies on nutrition, physical activity, body fatness and how cancers grow.

This research will ensure cutting-edge methods are used for all aspects of our work

and will feed into our Recommendations for Cancer Prevention, due to be updated

in 2017.

Our Continuous Update Project (CUP) also allows us to provide you with

recommendations that you can trust. It’s the world’s largest source of scientific

research on cancer prevention and survivorship of the disease through diet, weight

and physical activity. We analyse this research so you have access to the best

cancer prevention advice in the world.

Using the CUP database, in September 2013, we published recommendations

for women on how they can reduce their risk of developing womb cancer, which

includes staying in shape and being physically active.

Exploring the link between weight and cancer

Today, more than 1 billion adults around the world are obese, making it the most

significant preventable risk factor for cancer, after smoking.

In April 2013, we ran a conference with the International Association for the Study

of Obesity, to explore the links between obesity, physical activity and cancer. This

was attended by our Academy Fellows – cancer prevention scientists funded by

WCRF UK.

Expert scientists heard from top speakers in the field, including Dr Karen Lillycrop,

who is researching how diet in childhood can help identify people at higher risk

of developing cancer later in life.

Future research in this area could transform international policy on obesity,

physical activity and cancer, making it easier for people around the world to live

healthier lives.

Read more about our cancer prevention research >

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 9

ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INFORMATION

“The workshop was a great success, with staff saying how much they enjoyed and learnt on the day. We all felt more aware of how to change our lifestyles to reduce our cancer risk by the end of the sessions and 95 per cent of us plan to put that knowledge into action.”Sarah WilcoxBEWELL Week committee member, Idexx Laboratories, participants in WCRF UK’s cancer prevention workshop

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ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INFORMATION

We communicate concrete recommendations about how to reduce cancer risk to

everyone – from parents to health professionals – through clear health information.

LAST YEAR, WE SAID WE WOULD

n Continue to work with children, parents and teachers in deprived areas

of London through the Great Grub Club.

n Increase the number of people who are aware of our Recommendations

for Cancer Prevention by developing at least one new health tool.

n Support health professionals with our cancer prevention information.

WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR

In 2012–13, our Healthy Workplace Challenges initiative supported many

workplaces to become healthier with a potential reach of over 25,000 employees.

Our newsletters reached nearly 120,000 people per quarter with messages about

how a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight, can

reduce cancer risk and over 80,000 people went on to request further cancer

prevention information from us.

We also introduced three new health tools – an Exercise Calorie Calculator, food

label wallet card and our 100-calorie quiz – which all help people to change their

day-to-day behaviour.

Great Grub Club

Our Great Grub Club is thriving in deprived areas of London, like Hackney. There,

library workers use our downloadable lesson plans for healthy eating sessions for

families and primary school-aged children.

Staff also encourage parents and children to sign up to our Great Grub Club

magazine to help them continue healthy habits at home, making healthy eating

and activity part of their lives from a young age.

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Helpful cancer prevention tools

Being physically active and being a healthy weight can reduce your risk of

developing cancer so in September 2013 we launched an Exercise Calorie

Calculator. In its first month, more than 2,500 people used it to calculate how

much exercise they needed to do to burn off excess calories.

It can be hard to judge how many calories food contains, so in May 2013 we

developed the 100 Calorie Challenge, 21 daily email tips to help people cut 100

calories per day from their diet. As a result, more than 80 per cent of email

recipients said they felt more aware of the link between diet and cancer prevention,

and were motivated to make long-term changes to their diet.

Spreading the word about cancer prevention

Our experienced nutritionists ran four sessions with 60 members of staff from

Idexx Laboratories in Yorkshire in September 2013.

The sessions explored what a healthy diet, being physically active and staying in

shape means, and how to lower your risk of cancer.

After attending the workshops, four out of five participants said they were confident

about making diet and lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk. Just one in five

were confident before the sessions took place.

Our workshops for health professionals are also spreading the good news about

cancer prevention. In May 2013, the Association for Nutrition endorsed them,

confirming they’re rooted in scientific evidence and improve participants’

professional knowledge.

Use our online health calculators >

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 12

INFLUENCING POLICY

“Hospitals should put an end to vending machines that sell only high calorie food and drink. They should be beacons of good health in our communities and support people in making healthier food choices. WCRF UK believes the UK government should put the appropriate guidelines in place for this to happen.”Amanda McLeanGeneral Manager, WCRF UK

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 13

INFLUENCING POLICY

We work with governments, schools, employers and health professionals to create

change that supports people to reduce their cancer risk.

LAST YEAR, WE SAID WE WOULD

n Continue to develop links with key health organisations, charities, policy

forums and other bodies to enhance our cancer prevention mission.

WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR

This year, our advocacy helped ensure cancer prevention featured in the World

Health Organization’s global plan for 2013 to 2020. This is an important

commitment from governments around the world to introduce policies that will

help people reduce their risk of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

We also worked in partnership with the Non-communicable Diseases Alliance to

produce recommendations for how global governments can help prevent diseases

like cancer, diabetes and heart disease by tackling nutritional challenges.

HEALTHIER FOOD IN HOSPITALS

Our November 2012 survey of English hospital trusts found that three-quarters

have no policy about what food and drink they provide in their vending machines.

That means products high in fat, sugar and salt are being sold every day in

hospitals around the country. These foods are associated with obesity, which

increases the risk of developing cancer. This lack of policy is alarming and harming

efforts to prevent the disease.

Coverage of this survey in the media reached 77 million people, raising awareness

of our message and the need for government action.

UNDERSTANDING FOOD LABELLING

We have called for companies to use a consistent food labelling system since

our 2009 research revealed that personal choice in reducing the risk of cancer

is restricted by not having one.

So we were delighted that the UK government announced plans to introduce

colour-coded nutrition labels in June 2013 and that around 60 per cent of UK food

manufacturers have so far signed up to use them.

We produced a handy wallet-sized card to help people understand the new labels.

To date, more than 2,000 people have visited the food label page on our website

and 1,500 have ordered the cards, helping them to take control of their diet.

WORLD CANCER DAY

Working in partnership with other leading cancer charities helps our messages

shout louder.

On 4 February 2013, we supported the Union for International Cancer Control’s

World Cancer Day. With other member organisations across 155 countries,

we called for health leaders to commit to reducing premature deaths from non-

communicable diseases, including cancer, by 25 per cent by the year 2025. This

would mean we could save around 13,000 lives in the UK, which would otherwise

be lost to cancer, every year.

Learn more about the policy changes that are needed >

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

“I would like WCRF’s work to continue to expand so that their cancer prevention messages reach more people. That’s why I’ve left a gift to WCRF UK in my Will. I know I’m helping future generations.”Barbara KnowlesWCRF UK legacy supporter

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are committed to cancer prevention for the long term because the number

of people diagnosed with the disease is expected to almost double in the next

two decades.

With your support, we have the power to reduce that number.

We know that about one in three of the most common cancers could be prevented

through eating a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy

weight. But we need more money to carry out research about cancer and lifestyle

and to translate those findings into specific, clear advice.

Our cancer prevention work is long term. We also focus on developing long lasting,

meaningful relationships with our supporters, like Barbara Knowles, who are helping

to save lives.

From running a marathon to volunteering at a local event raising money for our

work, there are lots of ways you can support WRCF UK. You too can help people

lead a healthier life and help reduce the number of people who get cancer.

Here are three ways you can choose to support us now and in the future:

n Regular gifts. Our work is partly funded by monthly donations from individual

supporters, which help us plan and allocate our resources to prevent cancer

so we can have the maximum impact.

n Making a donation in memory of a loved one. This is a very special way to

remember someone and to ensure as many people as possible reduce their risk

of developing cancer.

n Leaving a gift in your Will. Even a small percentage of what’s left once you’ve

provided for your loved ones will help us to continue our pioneering scientific

research and health information programmes.

WHY I’M LEAVING A GIFT TO WCRF UK IN MY WILL Barbara Knowles, 69, has supported WCRF UK since 1998

“Several members of my family have died from cancer,

including my mother, and I think cancer prevention is very

important. I like the work WCRF UK does to educate the public

about a healthy diet and exercise, and demonstrating how easy

and enjoyable this can be.

I have ordered lots of their free publications and love cooking the

healthy recipes they provide. Since I retired, I’ve started swimming,

doing yoga and tai chi and going to the gym. You get to know

people and it leads to a healthier lifestyle.

I requested WCRF UK’s free Will Organiser a few years ago, and my

husband and I found it extremely useful when we were planning

our Wills. I think making a Will is a sensible plan for the future

because you can express your wishes and it protects the people

you care about.”

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FINANCES WCRF UK INCOME FY 12/13TOTAL £8,622,905

WCRF UK EXPENDITURE FY 12/13TOTAL £8,342,753

52.9% £4,560,764Donations (direct mail, cash gifts and other fundraising activities)

74.5% £6,219,091Education, research and health policy programmes

24.3% £2,023,630Cost of generating funds

1.2% £100,034Governance

15.9% 1,369,829Legacies

20.6% 1,777,917Committed gifts

6.1% 524,630Gift Aid

4.5% 389,765Other(including trading and investments)

This chart contains summary information from the Statement of Financial Activities of World

Cancer Research Fund for the year ended 30 September 2013 and is not the full statutory report

and accounts. The full financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 14 May 2014 and

subsequently submitted to the Charity Commission. World Cancer Research Fund received an

unqualified audit report and copies may be obtained from the charity’s head office.

On behalf of the trustees

Laurence Isaacson CBE, Chairman

Dated: 14 May 2014

Download the full trustees report >

“It’s vital that we provide people of all ages with the information and tools needed to help them live healthier lives. By having the Great Grub Club in our libraries the Council has been able to give children and their families an opportunity to learn together about healthy living and eating in a fun and interactive way.”Cllr Jonathan McShaneHackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 17

LOOKING AHEAD

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LOOKING AHEAD

It has been an amazing year for WCRF UK, but we’re not complacent. We are

already building on our successes, and working towards new strategic goals for

2014 to 2016.

With your support, we will continue to fund scientific research to ensure that we

have the most accurate and proven cancer prevention information at our fingertips.

We have big plans for the year ahead. They include:

n Supporting more families to eat healthily. We will expand our Great Grub Club

to other deprived areas of the UK, outside London, so more families can enjoy

healthy diets, which help to cut their risk of cancer.

n Reaching new people with our cancer prevention messages. In September

2014, we will launch a new website that will reflect a refreshed brand. It will

be friendly, clear and consistent, providing members of the public with easily

accessible health information online.

n �Developing partnerships to keep cancer prevention on the international

agenda. We will continue to work with world-leading organisations, including

the Union for International Cancer Control and the Non-Communicable Diseases

Alliance, to campaign together for governments to create effective cancer

prevention policies.

n Raising awareness about cancer prevention among health professionals

across the UK. In September 2014, we will hold our first one-day training

event for health professionals in the north west of England. Up to 100 health

trainers, midwives and nurses will learn more about how they can support

people to reduce their cancer risk.

How to support us >

WCRF UK ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013 19

THANK YOU

“We’ve been keen supporters of WCRF UK for many years now, primarily through our annual banana-themed fun run – Go Bananas!

Our employees around the world, from Dubai to the USA, enjoy getting involved. It’s a great day in the Informa calendar and we have fun while raising much-needed cash for a very worthwhile cause – cancer prevention.”Emma BlaneyHead of Corporate Responsibility, Informa UK

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THANK YOU

Without our supporters, we could not carry out our life-saving cancer

prevention work.

So thank you to everyone who has contributed over the last year, whether you

have run for fun, mentioned us in your Will, donated or shared one of our health

information tools.

Together we can help prevent cancer from being the world’s biggest killer.

Here are some of the amazing individuals, trusts, foundations and companies who

have supported our vital work throughout this year.  We are extremely grateful to

them all.

VOLUNTEERS

Abbas Esmail

Isobel Hunter

Mbye Njie

Maureen O’Brien

Hiba Wanis

COMPANIES

Ambassadors Theatre Group

F5 Networks

Henderson & Pearson Limited

Informa

Mace Foundation

RenaissanceRe Syndicate Management

Simplyhealth

The Worshipful Company of Gardeners

Whole Food Markets

TRUSTS

140 Trustee Company

Betty Shilling Charitable Trust

Cowley Charitable Foundation

E J B Rose Charitable Trust

Institute Of Our Lady Of Mercy

The Alix Stevenson Trust

The Kay Williams Charitable Foundation

The PF Charitable Trust

The Roger Vere Foundation

The SMB Charitable Trust

The Yvonne Flux Charitable Trust

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TEL: 020 7343 4200

WCRF@WCRF.ORG

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CONTACT US

Registered in London, England No: 253618. Registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales (Registered Charity No:1000739) Registered Office: 22 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HH © 2014 World Cancer Research Fund