Project case studies

Vanik Council’s project focused on living kidney donation.

This project has run seminars for community members, with experts talking about the kidney donation process, risks, benefits, and recovery expectations to ensure donors make informed decisions. These talks have helped raise awareness about living kidney donation, addressing misconceptions, and advocating for improved resources and support for donors.

The team have also attended community gatherings to hand out leaflets and have conversations with attendees about donation. They continue to plan awareness programmes around living kidney donation within the community, through seminars, community gatherings, places of worship and social media.

Another great initiative from this project is the GP surgery awareness programme. As part of this programme, a dedicated promoter spends 3 hours in each surgery involved each week, explaining the need of living kidney donation to attendees, distributing leaflets, and keeping a log of patients/visitors they converse with, raising interest in living donations amongst the people visiting the surgeries.

A peer support scheme is also being developed as part of this project. The team are hoping to connect patients waiting for a living donation with those who have already donated or received a living kidney, allowing them to share experiences and provide guidance to those waiting for a donation.

Quotes

“The NHSBT Community Grants team have been very helpful during our process for projects funding. We are hoping to work in collaboration with NHSBT with all the relevant ongoing programmes and all the future programmes.”

“The favourite part of our project was the testimonials and stories of the recipients, donors and their families. Their stories and videos have inspired the community members at large.”

“Our drive and passion to get more Live Kidney Donors within our community has attracted two individuals who are considering living donation.”

Action on Blood’s projects focused on deceased organ donation and blood donation. They have received funding from NHSBT for 3 projects raising awareness of organ and blood donation, challenging misconceptions, and giving voice to those in the community affected by health problems related to blood and organ donation.

The first project produced a film called A Living Legacy, challenging the myths and misconceptions that many Black Africans and Caribbean people have about donation. Many people from the Black community were involved in the making of this film, both in front of and behind the camera. The group was also able to negotiate involvement from major Black British and African personalities, both in production and promotional activity, increasing both the quality and the reach of the film.

The groups second project took the film on the road to Black audiences across the UK, with a screening and discussion roadshow. Members of the production team, cast, medical experts and Black patients affected by donation were involved in post-film reflection discussions with audiences. They also developed an installation about the film presented at various NHS venues as part of a range of activities including cultural competency training for organ donation medical staff, and as part of Black History Month activity.

Their third project is now building on the amazing work of the first 2 projects by enabling 5 MPs (or political representatives) to deliver screenings of A Living Legacy to their constituencies though events tailored to local needs, strategies, interests and infrastructure. The project was launched at the Houses of Parliament to over 70 MPs, as well as health stakeholders and leaders in the Black community.

Quotes

“It is really important to fund community projects and the organisations that conceive and develop them. It’s the people and organisations that are trusted by their communities and know how to navigate the social dynamics and cultural issues, that have the expertise to make a difference.”

The main objective of this project, run by RAFFA, was promoting the need for blood donation across Birmingham. This was carried out through education, cultural harmonisation and health promotion events.

The team hosted healthy living lifestyle events to promote the importance of blood donation within the community and increase community awareness around health. The events informed people about illnesses that need blood transfusions for treatment, such as sickle cell, leukaemia or kidney disease.

The project also established a team of local ambassadors to raise awareness of blood donation during the project and beyond. The project team have established partnerships with local NHS and voluntary organisations, as well as developing relationships within faith communities, to further promote the importance of blood donation across these communities.

Quotes

"People are now more informed about the difficulties faced as a result of the lack of donors and are more willing to have a dialogue."

"We have had positive responses to our efforts to encourage people to register for blood donation with people signing up during events."

"We have taken advantage of the support offered by the NHSBT team and their advocates. Regular meetings put on by NHSBT have felt collaborative and kept us updated on progress made."

The work of this group of healthcare professionals, academics and postgraduate students focuses on raising awareness of blood donation and deceased organ donation in a range of different ways.

They work with university students from various courses and ethnic backgrounds across the UK to co-design and co-deliver interactive events. These events raise awareness of the impact of the changes in the law for organ donation, as well as challenging misconceptions and explaining the clinical need for more blood and organ donors, especially from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities.

Events have included:

• workshops for students focusing on deceased organ donation, with a similar blood donation workshop currently being designed
• teaming up with external partners to form the Comics for Life project, bringing healthcare professionals, individuals with sickle cell and Black artists together to understand the experiences of those with sickle cell and how their care could be improved
• working with The New Black Film Collective to create the Bright Films For Life project, featuring films and panel speakers covering Black, LGBTQ+ and South Asian topics that link to raising awareness the need for increased diversity of blood and organ donors.

The team have also been looking at new ways to communicate information around blood and organ donation, using comics to make scientific, health and medical communication more accessible and enjoyable.

Quotes

“The funding, support, and collaborative opportunities provided by the programme have allowed us to make significant strides in raising awareness of blood and organ donation, especially within ethnic minority communities in the UK”