£600,000 to address critical shortage of blood and organ donors amongst BAME communities

New funding has just been announced as part of the Government’s commitment to tackle health inequalities.

The funding aims to address the shortage of organs for those waiting for a transplant from all BAME backgrounds, and the lack of Black blood donors whose blood is used to treat conditions like Sickle Cell Disease.

The Community Investment Scheme run by NHS Blood and Transplant, responsible for blood and organ donation, will fund community and/or faith/belief organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change.

Having previously focussed solely on promoting organ donation after death, in the scheme’s third year NHS Blood and Transplant is now looking for applications that will engage diverse communities on the issue of blood donation too.

The funding available through the scheme has increased to reflect this, with an estimated total of £600,000 available.

Organisations will be able to apply for one of three funding bands:

• Funds up to £2,499
• Funds between £2,500 - £10,000.
• Funds between £10,001 and £20,000

This year, as part of the scheme, NHS Blood and Transplant are also launching the Community Engagement Leads initiative. This will work in conjunction with key community-based organisations across England to create grassroot networks to promote organ and blood donation.

Since its launch in 2018, the Community Investment Scheme has supported 43 organisations to deliver 50 community-led projects. With around 4,000 people engaging in conversation or taking away a leaflet or information and 8,000 attended a talk or workshop.

Now more than ever, the impact of Covid-19 is making innovative approaches to community engagement essential. NHS Blood and Transplant are requesting that applicants demonstrate consideration of the current uncertainty around COVID-19. Applications focused on a digital delivery are encouraged, while digital contingency planning will be expected for any face to face work.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

“This new funding will help organisations carry out vital work within local BAME communities by opening up and informing the conversation about organ and blood donation.

“Often a person’s best donor match will share their ethnicity, but too many donation opportunities are missed because families aren’t discussing the subject.

“We know when it comes to organ donation, these conversations save lives, which is why it is so important to help individuals make an informed decision and talk about it with their families.”

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant’s annual report into organ donation and transplantation in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, reveal promising increases in consent rates for Black, Asian and minority ethnic donors and an increase in those from BAME backgrounds being eligible to donate. (2) However, there remains a stark imbalance between the numbers of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people donating and those patients in need of a lifesaving transplant.

As of October 2020 1,408 people from BAME backgrounds are actively waiting for a transplant, almost one third of all patients waiting in total. Family refusal continues to be the biggest obstacle to organ donation amongst the communities. Around half as many BAME families approached about organ donation agree to go ahead, this is significantly lower compared to families from other backgrounds.

There is hope that the introduction of Max and Keira’s Law – the new law relating to organ and tissue donation in England – which came into effect on 20th May, will lead to an increase in the number of donors of all ethnicities. However, families will still be consulted before donation goes ahead so it remains essential to raise awareness, challenge misinformation and encourage those supportive of organ donation to talk with their families.

Additionally, this Black History Month NHS Blood and Transplant is opening up the scheme to fund organisations to encourage blood donation, specifically amongst people from Black African and/or Black Caribbean communities.

Sickle Cell Disease is currently the fastest growing genetic disorder in both the UK and the wider world. People from Black African or Black Caribbean backgrounds are most likely to have this condition which can often require frequent, life-saving blood transfusions. For those reliant on regular transfusions, it is essential that they receive blood matched as closely as possible to their own. A match is most likely to come from a donor of the same ethnicity, yet currently only 1.5% of donors in England are Black.

NHS Blood and Transplant is keen to work with trusted voices and organisations who can help address barriers, normalise blood donation and drive behaviour change within Black African and Black Caribbean communities.

Altaf Kazi, Head of Faith and Belief Engagement at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

“We are delighted that this year we saw an increase in people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds saying yes to organ donation when approached. This shows great progress, however overall BAME donor numbers are still very low. With people from BAME communities more likely to need a transplant, and the best chance of a match often coming from a donor of the same ethnicity, there is still a need for greater awareness and understanding. 

“Through the Community Investment Scheme we have seen first-hand the abilities of trusted individuals and community groups to prompt conversation, tackle misinformation, educate and offer reassurance around organ donation. We are now pleased to be able open up the scheme to encourage blood donation too.

“More and more Black people are donating blood. However, donation levels are still low and we still need more black blood donors to help seriously ill patients. We know that when people understand that they can save lives by donating blood, and that their blood is needed, they are motivated to make that first appointment and go on to become regular blood donors.

“We are asking more people from BAME communities to find out about both blood and organ donation and help us to address the health inequalities that many members of these communities may face. By giving your support you can help save lives.”

More information about the Community Investment Scheme and details of how to apply can be found https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cis/ or by contacting: community.funding@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Applications should be submitted by 5pm on the 2^nd of December 2020. Projects will need to be completed by the 1^st of October 2022.

The Community Investment Scheme is part of a Government-funded campaign led by NHS Blood and Transplant with support from the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA) to address the urgent need for Black, Asian and minority ethnic donors.

1. In 2019/20 there were 1187 total transplants performed on BAME patients. There were 112 deceased donors and 142 living kidney or liver donors who were BAME.
2. There has been an increase in consent rates for Black and Asian donors in 2019/20 with 42% agreeing to donation, compared with 71% for white eligible donors. 

In 2018/19, the proportion of eligible BAME deceased donors was 9.6%, this has increased to 10.2% in the last year. 

3. In 2019/20 there were 1909 BAME people registered as waiting for a transplant (as of 29 Feb) compared to 1833 in in 2015/16
4. In the UK, 14,000 people have sickle cell disease and over 300 babies are born each year with the condition
5. Black people are more likely to provide better-matched blood for sickle cell patient transfusions. To get the best treatment, patients need blood which is closely matched. This is most likely to come from a donor of the same ethnicity.
6. Black people are ten times more likely than white people to have the rare Ro blood subtype which is needed to help treat the growing number of patients with sickle cell genetic disorder.
7. The shortage of Black donors makes it hard to stock enough Ro blood to help Sickle Cell patients in hospital.

NHS Blood and Transplant

NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives through public donation.

Organ donation

·       It is quick and easy to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk 

·       Families are always involved in organ donation discussions. You can make things easier for your family by telling them you want to donate.

·       Every day across the UK around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there aren’t enough organ donors.

·       Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register, age and medical conditions are not necessarily a barrier to donation.

·       One donor can save or transform up to nine lives through organ donation and save and transforms even more by donating tissue.

Blood donation

·       Become a blood donor. Register today and book and appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the GiveBloodNHS app, or visiting blood.co.uk 

·       Giving blood is quick, easy and safe. Extra safety measures are in place at our sessions.

·       Priority slots are offered to donors who have a blood group we deem as priority. However people from BAME backgrounds are more likely to have the blood types we deem a priority. If you don’t know your type you will find out after you make your first donation.

·       If you can’t find an appointment for the next few days, don’t worry. Please book to donate in a few weeks’ or months’ time and you will still be saving lives.