Meningitis Now named as Stroud District Council’s new Charity of the Year

Meningitis Now has been selected as Stroud District Council’s Charity of the Year for 2026 to 2027, following a vote by staff and councillors.

The Stroud-based charity takes over from Hope for Tomorrow, which was supported throughout 2025 to 2026. Council staff and members raised £2,200 during that year through a range of fundraising activities.

Meningitis Now is the only charity dedicated to fighting meningitis across the UK. It was the first meningitis patient group in the world and the founder of the meningitis movement. Over its 40-year history, it has invested more than £12.7m in early-stage research, helping play a critical role in the introduction of five life-saving vaccines.

Members of the council’s charities team visited Meningitis Now’s headquarters in Stroud to begin planning a programme of fundraising events and activities for the year ahead.

Becky Woodward, chair of SDC’s charities team, said: “We’re really pleased that Meningitis Now has been chosen as our Charity of the Year. It’s a fantastic local organisation doing vital work both here in Stroud and across the UK.

Lucy Williams co-chair added: “We’re proud of what our staff and councillors achieved in raising £2,200 for Hope for Tomorrow last year and we’re looking forward to another successful year of fundraising. Supporting a charity with such strong local roots makes this partnership especially meaningful.”

Laura Williams, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Meningitis Now said: “We are delighted that Stroud District Council have chosen Meningitis Now as their Charity of the Year. The team’s passion and enthusiasm to support our work was evident when we met with their charity committee and this has left us feeling incredibly excited to support both their fundraising and awareness activities across the next year. Their support will help us to continue providing our wide-ranging programme of support services, which are a lifeline for many families and individuals affected by meningitis. It will also enable us to raise vital awareness of the disease within the local community, where we are still proudly based, 40 years on from our formation.

“This partnership comes at a particularly poignant time, following the recent UK meningitis outbreaks and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work together to make a real difference.

“Thank you to all the staff who nominated us as their Charity of the Year and to those who voted for us - it is truly wonderful to have such strong local support.”

The council’s Charity of the Year initiative brings staff and councillors together to support a nominated organisation through fundraising, awareness raising and volunteering.

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