Grassroots groups get £600,000 Government funding to deliver projects encouraging more people of Black and Asian heritage to become blood and organ donors

Fifty-one community groups and organisations across England and Wales have received a share of £600,000 funding as part of the Government’s commitment to continue to tackle health inequalities and promote blood and organ donation among Black and Asian communities.

The Community Grants Programme, led by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), is dedicated to funding projects led by community, faith, or belief organisations to inspire greater awareness and support for donation.

More donors are urgently needed because a shortage of donors from Black and Asian backgrounds means patients of these ethnicities can have worse outcomes. Donors and recipients from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a match.

People from Black, Asian, Mixed or Other minority ethnic backgrounds make up one third of all people on the transplant waiting list, due to the difficulties finding a match and are likely to wait longer as a result.

Working with communities

The Community Grants Programme has shown that enabling grassroots organisations to champion organ and blood donation in a culturally relevant way increases awareness and engagement, helping move towards greater health equality and a more diverse donor base.

After a call for applications earlier this year, a total of £600,000 has been distributed among community-based projects across England and Wales. As part of NHSBT’s commitment to investing in impactful projects, the programme now offers two-year grants, a shift from the usual one-year funding cycle.

Funds that were available for each area were around:

23 blood donation projects - £300,000
11 living kidney donation projects - £125,000
10 deceased organ donation projects - £125,000
7 combined donation projects (covering more than one type of donation)

RAFFA

Angela Clarke, RAFFA CEO, standing next to NHSBT organ donation promotional materials One example of the many organisations receiving funding is RAFFA International Development Agency, a Birmingham based non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting social action.

Funded by the Community Grants Programme, RAFFA aims to deliver educational and inspirational talks, organise faith-based events, and distribute critical resources across West Midlands.

These initiatives target communities with a significant representation of individuals from Black African and Caribbean heritages, groups that can greatly benefit from increased blood donation awareness.

SAHT

Members of the SAHT team Another example of the many organisations receiving funding is the South Asian Heritage Trust (SAHT) which aims to raise awareness about organ donation and tackling health inequalities by empowering South Asian communities to make informed choices and increase the number of registered organ donors.

Through storytelling and open conversations, SAHT is addressing the taboos and misinformation that often surround organ donation by sparking meaningful conversations, encouraging families to talk openly about organ donation, and challenging deep-rooted cultural myths.

SAHT launched this important initiative with a Community Listening Circle during Organ Donation Week, where South Asians shared personal stories of how organ donation has touched their lives.

Statements

Statement from Angela Clarke BEM, CEO of RAFFA International Development Agency

"We are delighted to have secured funding through NHSBT’s Community Grant Programme.

"Our project is designed to promote blood donation awareness and encourage higher donor participation within Black African and Caribbean populations in faith communities.

"By providing education and information, RAFFA emphasises the culturally specific health benefits and shares success stories to help individuals make informed decisions about blood donation."

Statement from the SAHT team

"[The] listening circle really showed us the power of conversation. We learned so much about the lived experience around organ donation, were able to answer our questions, and began to break down the barriers that have kept many from registering.

“We are excited to continue these conversations throughout the project, and we are especially grateful to those who joined us in sharing their stories, educating, and inspiring us all. Working with NHSBT allows us to bring much-needed awareness to this life-saving cause."

Statement from Umar Malik, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Community Funding Manager

“We have seen first-hand the abilities of trusted individuals and community groups to prompt conversation, tackle misinformation, educate, and offer reassurance around donation.

“Often a person’s best donor match will share their ethnicity, but too many donation opportunities are missed because families haven’t discussed organ donation.

“In the last year, strides have been made in Black blood donor representation thanks to projects like these, but more are still needed due to the growing need from sickle cell patients.

“We are really excited to work with these grassroots champions to address inequalities and help save more lives.”

More information about the Community Grants Programme can be found on our website or by contacting the team by email.