I've spoken to a few people from the charity sector about the current situation at Tinnitus UK and they all opine the same thing, more or less: the charity has been mismanaged.
I don't really know the details of their financial situation but Tinnitus UK lost me when they started with this pronouns business. And that really was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I didn't think they needed to spend money on rebranding, or an AI chatbot called Axel. Moreover, going through four CEOs in two years indicates personal issues that may also have cost the charity additional money because we don't know if payoffs were made. So asking for money now is a bit of a stretch.
Essentially, though, our support for the charity comes down to whether or not people who know tinnitus think Tinnitus UK is doing good work.
There's a vexing circular process in UK tinnitus care apparent to the severe sufferer. I know this because I've experienced it firsthand. Tinnitus UK publishes lots of useful material. However, the conclusion is always the same - if you're suffering, speak to your GP.
A couple of years ago, I followed this advice and ended up in an NHS audiology clinic for tinnitus. At the end of the session (obviously no real treatment available - usual platitudes), I was sent packing with a stack of printouts from Tinnitus UK! I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of re-reading the section about how, if one is struggling, you should talk to your GP.
I think Tinnitus UK has done good work, but a circular problem like the above in tinnitus information, research, and care has become reductive. If all of our goals and objectives are for a cure, then personally, I think the world may have outgrown Tinnitus UK's remit. In the old days, pre-Internet, they were evidently the only gig in town. So much has changed now.
Member
