Ethical guidance

Acceptance of donations and use of funds for the purposes and aims of the Hepatitis B Foundation UK charity places a statutory duty to act in accordance with an ethical policy.

Ethical guidance outlines the policy for Trustees of the Foundation in areas of doubt with regard to funding and external commercial interests.

The duty of Trustees (Directors) is and can be qualified in a number of ways.  These fall into four categories:

• Trustees must refuse a donation that arises from some criminal activity.
• Trustees must refuse a donation from an organisation whose objectives are not compatible with those of the Foundation.
• Fundraising through commercial participation covers much corporate fundraising, sponsorship and other 'with strings' arrangements.  For these, the Trustees of a charity are under no prima facie duty to enter into them.  On the contrary, Trustees should exercise their duty of care and be sure that deals of this kind do not damage their charity.
• The activities of some companies may not be in the best interests of some groups of people.  Any involvement with these companies may damage the reputation of the Hepatitis B Foundation UK, and therefore the Trustees may refuse donations from them.

Hepatitis B Foundation UK policy on working with pharmaceutical companies

The Foundation has a policy on working with pharmaceutical companies.