How we work

The key aims and objectives of the Charity are set by our Board of Governors in a three year strategic plan. Our current Strategic Plan  runs from 2007-2009 and works towards seven high level objectives: 

• We will provide support that reflects members' needs and assess our progress against regular membership surveys
• We will increase the numbers diagnosed in the next three years by 50% and press for the adoption of high standards of management, based on evidence, to be adopted everywhere in the UK
• We will target manufacturers of ingredients to remove unnecessary gluten from their products in order to reduce the amount of gluten in the food chain and widen the choice of products
• We will promote the expansion of the gluten-free market as recorded by Mintel and lobby for better prescription staple products to increase the quality and accessibility of gluten-free foods in retail and on prescription
• We will make more food workers aware of gluten-free catering in 2009 than in 2007 to improve the catering industry's competence in providing gluten-free food
• The Charity is a source of funding for high quality research which appears in peer-reviewed journals
• We will continuously review our operations to ensure that we are efficient and effective. Building on the redesign of our key business processes in 2006, we will set benchmarks and set targets for improvement based on customer feedback and achieving cost efficiencies.

Each year the staff agree with the Board of Governors an annual plan of action to help achieve the high level objectives. Read our Annual Plan 2008. To help ensure the Charity operates to high standards we have a robust governance structure.