Sickle Cell Society UK

Today, we're proud to launch our World Sickle Cell Day 2026 theme: Young Voices Rising.

Across the UK, young people living with sickle cell are speaking up, challenging stigma, sharing their experiences and taking charge of their health and futures.

This year, we're shining a spotlight on their voices, their achievements and their potential.

Throughout the campaign, we'll be celebrating young leaders, sharing practical resources, amplifying lived experience and encouraging young people affected by sickle cell to own their health, ask questions and live well.

Join us as we count down to World Sickle Cell Day on 19 June. Visit our website for more information and to access resources.

🎨 Creative Saturdays for the Sickle Cell Community
Free art workshops • Free lunch • Free to join ❤️

• Friends and family welcome
• Ages 15+
• Painting, sculpture, zine making & more

📍 Bay20 Community Centre, Ladbroke Grove
🕐 Saturdays, 1–5 PM
📅 13 Jun – 25 Jul | Final showcase 01 Aug

👉 Limited tickets book via Eventbrite using the link or scan the QR code
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-share-create-sickle-cell-art-workshops-tickets-1987817688216

📣 Call for participants: Sickle Cell & Learning Disabilities Research

Are you someone living with both sickle cell and learning disabilities, or do you support a family member with these experiences? Researchers are looking to connect with individuals, carers and healthcare professionals to help shape a future PhD project focused on improving healthcare experiences and outcomes.

Currently, there is very limited data on people living with both conditions, making lived experience and community voices essential in helping guide future research and care improvements.

This work is being developed by a learning disability nurse with lived experience of sickle cell, with the aim of ensuring better support and reducing adverse outcomes.

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer or get in touch directly to share your experiences and interest. Contact details can be found on the flyer.

📣 We’re proud to share that our CEO, John James, will be speaking at the 49th National Sickle Cell Disease Scientific Meeting & 20th Anniversary Research and Educational Symposium.

Hosted by the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, this global event brings together researchers, clinicians, advocates and people with lived experience to advance conversations around sickle cell care, research and the future of treatment.

We look forward to seeing the Sickle Cell Society represented and contributing to important discussions shaping the future of sickle cell.

📅 5–7 June 2026
📍 Fort Lauderdale, Florida & online (hybrid event)

🔗 Find out more and register: https://buff.ly/NWqcboD

📢 We’re hiring: Fundraising Database Officer

We’re looking for a detail-oriented individual to support the management and development of our fundraising database — helping strengthen supporter engagement and maximise fundraising impact.

If you have strong organisational skills and experience working with databases, this could be a great opportunity to join the Sickle Cell Society and make a difference behind the scenes.

📅 Closing date: 7 June 2026

🔗 Find out more and apply:
https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/fundraising-database-officer/

🏃‍♂️ Hackney Half 2026

It was great meeting some of our incredible runners on Sunday, including Jordan and Elom, who took on the Hackney Half on behalf of the Sickle Cell Society.

A huge thank you as well to Emancipated Run Crew, who showed out in support of Give Blood Spread Love and helped bring amazing energy to the day.

To everyone who ran, fundraised and supported our work — thank you. Your efforts help us continue supporting people living with sickle cell 💛

📢 We’re Hiring: Prison Estate Training & Development Lead (London)

Join the Sickle Cell Society to lead an important NHS England pilot project focused on improving care and reducing health inequalities for people living with sickle cell within London’s prison estate.

This role will involve developing and delivering training programmes, working closely with prisons, healthcare teams and people with lived experience to improve awareness, advocacy and timely access to care for sickle cell patients in custody.

📝 Closing date: 22 June 2026

🔗 Find out more and apply: https://buff.ly/G9hvgtN or via the link in our bio.

📧 For more information, email: [email protected] with ‘Prison Estate Training & Development Lead’ in the subject line.

HOKA Hackney Half 2026 – Join us to cheer on Team Sickle Cell!

We’ll be supporting our incredible runners at Mile 5, before heading to Mile 13 and the finish line — and we’d love you to join us.

📅 Sunday 17 May 2026
📍 Mile 5: 109–143 Morning Lane, E9 6ND
⏰ Arrival time: 10:30am–12pm
🚆 Nearest station: Hackney Central Overground

Bring the energy, make some noise, and help us cheer on everyone running for the Sickle Cell Society 💛

The 'Ageing Well with Sickle Cell' team are inviting all males, over the age of 35, who attend KCH hospital to join them for the final focus group hosted by the Sickle Cell Society on Thursday 28th May from 6pm - 8.00pm.

Share your views on what matters most to men living with sickle cell.

Can't attend? Complete this one-question survey https://buff.ly/QiBEtEC and let us know your thoughts.

Participants will receive a £50-pound Love2shop voucher for attending which can be spent at over 2000 stores. Click here for more information.

Book your space now. https://buff.ly/px00H59

The "Ageing Well" team hope to see you there!!!

Sickle cell is the most common inherited blood condition in the UK, mainly affecting Black communities, yet limited research has explored how housing and environmental factors impact Black ethnic minority adults living with sickle cell.

This ethically approved doctoral study at De Montfort University explores how housing conditions affect quality of life and mental wellbeing.

To take part, please use the survey link or scan the QR code:
https://dmupsy.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5p4WOPk6IjX078G

This survey is Phase 1 of a two-phase study. If you would like to take part in a Phase 2 interview, please register your interest after completing the survey. A £25 voucher will be provided as a thank you for interview participation.