Our Work in Parliament
At Brain Tumour Research, we have progressed from protesting outside Westminster to actively working with Parliamentarians and political stakeholders to drive transformative action.
Whilst we’ve made significant strides, we know there is still much more work to be done.
By amplifying the insights of researchers at our Centres of Excellence and sharing the powerful stories of our supporters, we continue to raise awareness and drive policy goals that are ambitious and impactful. This work is focused on creating meaningful progress for the brain tumour community.
We also hold the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT).
We engage productively with Parliament in a variety of ways:
Meeting Ministers
Thanks to the tireless efforts and sustained campaigning by our supporters across the UK, we now meet directly with Ministers, as shown here, to hold the Government accountable for consistent failure in supporting the brain tumour community.
These meetings are crucial in pressing the Government to take responsibility and act on the urgent need for increased research funding. By engaging with key decision-makers, we ensure that the voices of those affected are heard and that progress is made where it is most needed.
Meeting MPs
We regularly engage with MPs to bring about meaningful policy change. MPs can raise awareness and drive change through mechanisms such as Westminster Hall debates, 10-Minute Rule Bills, Private Members’ Bills and other initiatives. By having MPs on our side, we significantly increase the likelihood of brain tumour issues being taken seriously at the highest levels of Government.
Will Quince, former Minister responsible for Cancer, stated in 2023: “I have spent more time on this particular issue in my time as a Minister than I have on any other condition under the umbrella of the Major Conditions Strategy.”
Through the APPGBT, for which Brain Tumour Research holds the secretariat, we work directly with MPs to ensure the brain tumour community’s concerns are front and centre in the minds of policymakers.
Coalitions
Working with charity coalitions has strengthened our calls for broader health policy changes that will benefit brain tumour patients. By uniting with other organisations, we amplify our voice.
This collective action forces politicians to take notice and ensures that the needs of the brain tumour community are addressed within the wider health policy agenda. Together, we can achieve change greater than we could alone.
We also work with a number of coalitions dedicated to influencing policy in the devolved nations.
The full list of coalitions we work with:
The Neurological Alliance
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
One Cancer Voice
Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce
Cancer 52
The Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition
The Scottish Cancer Coalition
Wales Cancer Alliance
Petitions
We want you to use your voice, and petitions are a great way of doing this.
In 2016, the Stephen Realf petition quickly attracted more than 120,000 signatures and prompted politicians to finally examine the topic of brain tumours. And, in 2023, a group of our dedicated campaigners handed over a petition with more than 80,000 signatures to Downing Street calling for increased Government funding for research into brain tumours.
Consultation Responses
Consultations are a key part of the policy development process, where civil servants seek input from both experts and individuals directly impacted by policy. These allow for a broader understanding of the impact of potential legislation.
They provide an opportunity for stakeholders, like us, to shape the direction of policy by contributing expert insights and highlighting the needs of those at the heart of the issue.
We fed in our evidence to the National Cancer Plan as it was being compiled. It will be launched in Autumn 2025 and we expect our lobbying endeavours to deliver real change for those affected by rare cancers, such as brain tumours.
Our latest consultation response, to the upcoming 10-Year Plan for the NHS in England, can be found here.