There is a story in the Observer today about the Cystic Fibrosis Trust issuing a funding SOS to raise #6 million to keep its gene therapy consortium on the road.

I also heard from a friend this week who described to me a direct mailing they had from another charity with more or less the same messagE.

The start of a trend I wonder and perhaps worthy of some further thoughts in due course. There is no doubt that the environment is extremely difficult out there as any sleepless charity CEO will tell you.