branches across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2009/10 the Society's income had grown to £58.7 million and it currently (2012) has a network of over 2000 services. As of 2019 the Society had an income of £107 million, £80 million of which was from public donations. Kate Lee's appointment in 2020 was brought forward by six weeks following allegations in The Guardian that the outgoing chief executive Jeremy Hughes had bullied staff. In May 2020, ThirdSector magazine reported that the regulator, the Charity commission found the society had "acted in line with their legal duties", in view of the fact that allegations of £750,000 NDA payments were not substantiated and staff could report inappropriate behaviour. Commenting on the result, The Guardian stated that the commission had admitted failing to investigate the original complaint properly in 2018 or interview complainants whilst the chair of the Alzheimer's trustees, Stephen Hill, said the society wanted to ensure best practice and had reviewed its procedures. Activities The society: has 230 local branches provide support and information for people with dementia and their carers provides information and support for people with dementia and their carers by telephone and online, including factsheets which can be downloaded supports research along the themes of "cause, cure, care", by making research grants and providing the "Dementia Knowledge Centre", whose catalogue is available online provides information for health and care professionals to help them to care for people with dementia campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and their carers, including awareness-raising and lobbying. released an iPhone app to spread awareness of dementia is one of three founding funders of the UK Dementia Research Institute, a joint £290 million investment with the Medical Research Council and Alzheimer's Research UK. Vision and mission The society's vision is "a world without dementia". Their mission is to: change the face of dementia research demonstrate best practice in dementia care and support provide the best advice and support to anyone dealing with dementia influence the state and society to enable those affected by dementia to live as they wish to live. By pursuing these four goals together they hope to mobilise thousands of people. With them they hope to "reduce the impact of dementia on lives today and create a world without dementia tomorrow". Criticism of animal research In 2011, Animal Aid challenged four charities that are the focus of their "Victims