Working together to raise awareness for the Sickle Cell Society

Working together to raise awareness for the Sickle Cell Society

At Nexus Fostering, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of children and young people in care, as well as equipping our foster carers and staff with the knowledge they need to provide the very best support. As part of this commitment, we were proud to recently join forces with the Sickle Cell Society to create a podcast aimed at raising awareness of sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease, and the impact these conditions can have on young people.

Why this matters

Sickle cell disease is one of the UK’s fastest-growing genetic conditions, yet awareness and understanding can still be limited. For children and young people living with sickle cell, particularly those in care, the condition can affect education, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and everyday life.

By working with the Sickle Cell Society, our goal was to ensure that Nexus foster carers and staff feel informed, confident, and better prepared to support young people affected by sickle cell disease or trait. The podcast provided valuable insight, lived experiences, and practical guidance, helping to break down misconceptions and encourage informed, compassionate care.

Supporting the Sickle Cell Society

Following the podcast, Nexus Fostering made a £100 donation to the Sickle Cell Society as a small token of our appreciation for their expertise, time, and ongoing work supporting individuals and families across the UK.

We were incredibly grateful to receive the following message from the Sickle Cell Society in response:

“On behalf of the Sickle Cell Society, and the many individuals living with Sickle Cell Disorders across the UK, I am writing to extend our gratitude for the generous donation of £100.00 received on 18th November 2025. We are truly delighted and grateful for your support, and we appreciate you choosing to make this contribution following the podcast.

The Sickle Cell Society helps thousands of families and carers affected by Sickle Cell Disorder and it is only through kind donations such as yours that we can provide our services including our new Mentoring Programme for young people living with sickle cell, the Give Blood, Spread Love project and our Helpline.”

The impact of the Sickle Cell Society’s work

The Sickle Cell Society plays a vital role in supporting people living with sickle cell disorder through a range of essential services, including:

• A Peer Mentoring Programme for young people living with sickle cell

• A dedicated Helpline offering information and emotional support

• Community education and awareness initiatives

They also shared updates on their important blood donation campaign, Give Blood, Spread Love, which uses social media to raise awareness of the urgent need for ethnically matched blood donations.

NHS Blood and Transplant estimates that 40,000 new Black-heritage blood donors are needed this year alone to meet the needs of sickle cell patients across England. Through their campaign, the Sickle Cell Society encourages individuals and communities particularly those from African and Caribbean backgrounds to register as donors and share the message widely.

Looking ahead

We are proud to support organisations like the Sickle Cell Society, whose work aligns closely with our values of care, inclusion, and advocacy for young people. Collaborations like this podcast help ensure that foster carers are not only supported, but empowered with knowledge that can make a real difference in a child’s life.

We would like to extend our thanks once again to the Sickle Cell Society for their partnership, and for the vital work they continue to do for families, carers, and young people across the UK.

Together, through awareness, education, and collaboration, we can help create better outcomes for children and young people in care.