We’re one of Britain’s oldest health charities, with a history spanning well over a century. Our story starts in 1899 and takes us to the internationally recognised association that we are today.

Check out our timeline.

graphics to show timeline of Stroke Association history

Read our full history, written by independent historian Dr Anna Ritchie (OBE, BA, PhD, FSA, Hon FSA Scot), by downloading these documents.

Our history in brief

1899 - 1930s

1899: We start our journey as the UK's first tuberculosis (TB) charity, known as The National Association for the Prevention of Consumption and other forms of Tuberculosis. The first international Congress on Tuberculosis is held in Berlin.

1903: A new by-law against spitting in public comes into force in London. This, along with a leaflet produced by the Association, is designed to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

1922: Our name changes to the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (NAPT).

1930s: We commission F C S Bradbury to research whether poverty and tuberculosis are interlinked.

1948 - 1974

1948: The National Health Service Act establishes the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales. Tuberculosis Dispensaries become Chest Clinics.

1959: Our focus shifts to chest and heart. Our name changes to The Chest and Heart Association (CHA).

1961: We help the British Cardiac Society set up the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which includes financial contributions for research into heart diseases.

1974: Our focus shifts to chest, heart and stroke. Stroke is added to our title and The Chest, Heart and Stroke Association is born.

1985 - 1999

1985: We initiate a major appeal for stroke. We set up a working party to refine the research objective in stroke work.

1990: Our first Family Support Organiser (now known as Stroke Support Coordinators) starts work, based in Sefton on Merseyside and Salford.

1992: Our name changes from The Chest, Heart and Stroke Association. We become the Stroke Association, which is still the same today.

1999: We celebrate one hundred years of caring. We create a special strap-line on the Stroke Association logo to reflect this.

2005 - present

2005: We introduce the 'Stroke is a Medical Emergency' campaigns, which led to the FAST stroke prevention campaign.

2006: Our regional helplines merge into a single UK-wide helpline, now known as the Stroke Support Helpline.

2015: We merge with Speakability, the national charity that supports people with aphasia to overcome communication barrier.