The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust

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TOAST is a charity which acts as a front for the weight loss industry. As of the end of November it has announced it is to close.

the TOAST website is now suggesting another website to people. When accessed on 4 December the TOAST website had the following:

"You may also like to contact fathappens (buddypower.net) at www.fathappens.com "


In 2005 it launched a new website in which it claimed that it was an independent organisation:

TOAST is a completely independent Charity. (The Obesity Awareness & Solutions Trust: Charity Reg No: 1088049). It derives its income from individual donations and membership fees from those who wish to support its work for the benefit of those living and working with obesity. Whilst TOAST also receives support from time to time from pharmacuetical companies and other organisations dealing with obesity and weight loss issues, it remains an autonomous organisation, operating on an impartial basis, free from all external control.[1]

However, its accounts for the year ending September 2006 showed a revenue nature of £247,705. This included a donation from LighterLife UK Limited of £196,000. [2]


Finances

  • In September 2003 TOAST published accounts showing a gross income of £60,950. Of this,£40,650 was from an unspecified donor. £10,579 was spent on PR and £11,280 was spent on consultancy fees.
  • In September 2004 TOAST published accounts showing a gross income of £69,950. Of this, £61,500 was donated by the Obesity Lifeline Limited (the previous name for LighterLife). £5,783 was spent on PR and £11,702 was spent on consultancy fees.
  • In September 2005 TOAST published accounts showing a gross income of £164,383. Of this £146,500 was from LighterLife. £17,999 was spent on PR and £13,780 was spent on consultancy fees.[3]

In 2006 TOAST claimed on its website that it had been successful in what it called 'lobbying':

We have been extremely successful in raising obesity in the political arena and it was TOAST, together with other lobbyists, that was responsible for the All Party Select Committee on Obesity being formulated.[4]

PR/Lobbying strategy

According to their PR agency:

The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) is a national charity (Reg. No. 1088049) dedicated to encouraging a better understanding of obesity, its causes and practical solutions through stimulating informed debate about and research into obesity. TOAST has also developed a range of supportive services including a helpline and training packages designed to advice and support those affected by obesity. TOAST felt that not enough action was being taken to address these issues and TOAST wanted the opportunity to put pressure both on politicians and officials to find practical solutions.
Our Strategy
Whitehouse Consultancy initially sought to raise TOAST's profile in and around Westminster with key officials and Parliamentarians. Through targeted meeting programmes and annual receptions in the Houses of Parliament we ensured that TOAST had face to face contact with the people who matter. We have also assisted in the tabling of Early Day Motions and numerous parliamentary questions which have been most successful in garnering cross-party support and proved invaluable in further increasing TOAST’s support base.
As a result of their sustained acitivty, TOAST can now count on cross-party support from Members of Parliament and as such have been mentioned numerous times on the floor of both Houses of Parliament. They are also regular participants at meetings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity and have contributed to the Department of Health’s ‘Choosing Health’ consultations and the ongoing National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guidelines on Obesity. These have ensured that their message has been spread as widely as possible amongst the key decision makers and Parliamentarians in the field.
Outcome
Through their presence and efforts in and around Westminster, TOAST now command a high profile and are widely recognised as one of the leading players in the debate on obesity. TOAST has also acquired a number of high profile Parliamentary patrons from the health field, who are all invaluable in maintaining TOAST's momentum in their future work programme. TOAST has been extremely successful in raising obesity in the political arena and together with other lobbyists played a major role in the initiation of the House of Commons Health Select Committee inquiry into Obesity to which TOAST gave both oral and written evidence. Thanks to TOAST obesity is now firmly placed high upon the public policy agenda.[5]

TOAST to close

TOAST is to cease operation following 10 years of advocacy and the promotion of Obesity Awareness. According to their website

"TOAST has effectively achieved its objectives of raising awareness of Obesity as one of the most significant health concerns of the 21st Century. However, The Trustees have unanimously agreed that the task of finding the solutions to the problem is too large for a charity of this size. TOAST has successfully advanced the debate and we are now handing over the complex task of finding the solutions to other agencies better positioned to carry this out." [6]

People

Staff

Trustees

Patrons

Parliamentary Patrons

Affiliations

PR/Lobbying Agencies

Contact

http://www.toast-uk.org/

Notes

  1. TOAST Homepage, 12 June 2005, retrieved from the Internet Archive dated 1 July 2005, accessed 30 November 2007
  2. The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust Limited (Trading as T.O.A.S.T) (A company limited by guarantee) Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2006 Registered Charity Number -'i088049 Company Number - 4664883, accessed 29 November 2007
  3. http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?remchar=&chyno=1088049 accessed 1 December 2007
  4. TOAST Home Page, retrieved from the Internet Archive dated 4 January 2006, accessed 30 November 2007
  5. Whitehouse Consultancy Case Studies The Obesity Awareness & Solutions Trust (TOAST) Case Study, accessed 17 November 2007
  6. TOAST Home page, accessed 29 November 2997
  7. http://www.toast-uk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=116, accessed 17 November 2007
  8. http://www.laureledmunds.com/about.php , accessed 29 November 2007
  9. http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showtrustees.asp?Chy=3980737&Reg=1088049&Type=Main+Charity&Name=THE+OBESITY+AWARENESS+%26+SOLUTIONS+TRUST+LIMITED&SubID= , accessed 29 November 2007