Popular fundraiser Movember shows considerable drop in income

Movember, the men’s health fundraising campaign, raised £3 million less in the year to April 2014 than the previous year, its annual report shows.

The Movember Foundation, which is based in Australia, is a global men's health charity raising cash through individuals being sponsored for growing a moustache during the month of November.

Although a very positive time for the organisation, the last 12 months have not been without their challenges

The report showed the UK raised £20.9m compared to £23.9m last year.

However the UK still raised more money than any other country and also had more participants, with 255,000 people taking part.

The next largest was Australia which raised £15.3m and had 123,000 participants.

Across the world the foundation has seen donations drop in nearly every country in which it runs the fundraiser: the global total was £78.5m, down from £81.3m the previous year.

Movember has been one of the most innovative fundraisers of recent years, capturing the public’s imagination and has quickly become a fixture in the charity fundraising calendar.

John Hughes, chair of Movember, said in the annual report: “Although a very positive time for the organisation, the last 12 months have not been without their challenges.

“I accept though that these are to be expected as the Movember campaign continues to grow in some markets and mature in the others.”