Within the charity we quickly had to change our plans for the year as the global pandemic hit.

Initially, the guidance wasn’t clear, and our Evidence and Policy experts worked tirelessly to interpret Government communications and understand the risks to people with coeliac disease, whilst also lobbying for gluten free food provision for those struggling during the panic buying. Our Commercial team engaged with our partners and developed innovative ways to get gluten free food to our community whilst providing guidance to the industry on managing gluten free food provision in the new environment. The Membership, Volunteers and Digital team were on hand to support you through our busiest ever time and answer record numbers of enquiries so you knew you weren’t alone. Fundraising quickly crafted new opportunities for our community to come together in times of isolation and support each other in this time of crisis. And our Communications and Digital team delivered all the information and tools you needed to find your way through this time.

We have been here to support our community and it has meant to so much that so many of you have been here for us too.

You responded to our appeal for our future as we anticipated a loss of around 50% of our income, and your support resulted in achieving a fantastic £100,000 of donations which will help us remain here for you when you need us most. Our community also galvanised around supporting each other through Gluten Free Community Week, the Challenge Weekend and now our Tales from a Gluten Free Christmas Campaign.

I feel proud and humbled by what we have achieved together despite the threat of the virus.

It’s not been business as usual - not even close - but we have remained a constant for each other and that is my highlight of this most challenging, busiest year. Thank you again. Just by being here, you’ve done your bit to support us and I look forward to emerging stronger than ever in 2021.

Have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Hilary