Plasma of Hope

We Advocate For People Living With Sickle Cell
Disease And Thalassemia

Plasma Of Hope is working in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to increase The number of Blood Donors from The African and Caribbean Ethnic groups.

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Plasma of Hope helps register 80 new blood donors during the "What's Your Blood Type" event at Walsall Manor Hospital.

About plasma of hope

Our Aim Is To Make The Lives Of People Living With Sickle Cell Disease Easier

Plasma of Hope is a UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), Thalassaemia and related illnesses. We understand the daily struggles faced by people with these conditions, from the frustration of not being able to do everyday chores to the mental toll of repeated hospital admissions. Our mission is to alleviate some of those struggles and improve quality of life.

We were founded during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time that highlighted just how vulnerable many people in the Sickle Cell community were. Since then, we have grown steadily, building projects that are shaped by those with first-hand experience of the condition.

We are proud to be a user-led organisation, with our board of trustees and leadership team made up of people who live with Sickle Cell or care for loved ones who do. This ensures our work is always guided by real understanding, empathy, and the voices of the communities we serve.

We deliver projects ranging from befriending and well-being exercise sessions to blood donor registration campaigns in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant. We also run awareness programmes in schools, colleges and universities, family support workshops, creative arts projects, and initiatives tackling fuel poverty.

Our services began in Walsall and the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Sandwell) and have now expanded to Coventry and Nuneaton, reflecting both the growing need and our commitment to reaching more families.

By staying true to our lived experience roots and putting our community at the centre of all decisions, we are building a supportive environment where those affected by Sickle Cell and related conditions can live with dignity, resilience and hope.

Befriending & Wellbeing Support

We sensitise our service users on home remedies and lifestyle choices to help them prevent illnesses which could lead to hospitalisation. Given the current constraints of social distancing, consultation sessions are delivered via video conferencing.

Assistance With Everyday Living

We coordinate volunteers to pick up medications, help with shopping, and also provide transport for medical appointments. We assist with home chores such as cleaning and laundry.

Assistance With Everyday Finances

We provide financial assistance to help with the purchase of household appliances to help people with Sickle Cell disease live a more comfortable and pain-free life.

Assistance With Employment And Training

If you are struggling to find work due to your disability or your currently job puts more stress on your condition, We can support you with searching for better work opportunities and provide grants for training for jobs that are less stressful.

Campaigning

We organise sensitisation and awareness campaigns to help improve the knowledge and education around the impacts on individuals living with genetic diseases, and how society can adapt to make life more normal for suffers.

Blood Donor Registration Campaign

Give Blood, Save Lives

Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited genetic disorder in the UK. Most people living with the condition require regular blood transfusions. Plasma of Hope is currently working in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to increase the number of blood donors from the African and Caribbean ethnic groups. People with sickle cell disease have regular blood transfusions. Currently, more Black donors are needed due to the high demand for some rare blood types common in people of Black heritage Black donors provide the unique blood Ro subtype which is in high demand due to the number of people with sickle cell disease in the UK. One blood donation can save 3 lives in just 1 hour.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sickle Cell Stories is an oral history project dedicated to collecting and sharing the personal narratives of individuals living with sickle cell disease. By preserving these diverse experiences, we aim to connect generations and document the evolution of treatment and management for this condition.

The Importance of This Project

Sickle cell disease is a prevalent genetic blood disorder in the UK that often lacks sufficient public attention. Sickle Cell Stories seeks to address this by creating a platform where the voices of those affected can be heard, their histories shared, and public awareness increased.

Our Goals

Through these oral histories, we intend to:

Improve Support Services: Gain valuable insights to enhance and tailor our support for the sickle cell community.
Inform NHS Practices: Provide the National Health Service with a firsthand understanding of living with sickle cell disease to contribute to better policies, treatments, and support systems.
Create a Lasting Legacy: Preserve these stories in local archives as a historical record of the sickle cell community’s journey, offering inspiration and knowledge for future generations.
Produce a Short Documentary: Create a documentary highlighting key aspects of the collected stories.
Publish a Book: Produce a book titled “Sickle Cell Stories: Then and Now” that captures key highlights of each story and features participant profiles.

Share Your Story

If you or someone you know has experience with sickle cell disease, we encourage you to contribute your story and help reshape public understanding. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years, your perspective is important.

To participate, please register by completing our consent form to ensure your story is ethically documented and preserved for the future.

We are thrilled to announce that Plasma of Hope has been awarded a generous grant by the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund, delivered by the National Lottery Community Fund. This pivotal support will fuel our latest initiative, aimed at combating the challenges posed by the current cost of living crisis, especially for those with chronic conditions like sickle cell and thalassemia.

Our project, also partly funded by the National Grid’s Community Matters Fund delivered by Localgiving, is designed to offer immediate and long-term assistance. This includes personalised energy tariff advice, support in accessing schemes like winter fuel discounts and Social Fund schemes, energy-saving packs to help reduce utility costs, and educational sessions on efficient energy usage. All these services are bolstered by our dedicated team of volunteers.

Are you or someone you know struggling with the rising cost of living? Do you find it challenging to manage energy expenses? We’re here to help! Plasma of Hope invites you to undergo a free assessment for support. By completing a brief assessment, you can access tailored advice and resources that will not only help manage your energy costs but also improve your overall quality of life during these tough times.

Free Assesssment

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Plasma of Hope Financial Literacy Initiative, set to run from November 2023 to March 2024. Funded by the Department for Education, the Department for Levelling Up, and in collaboration with Walsall Council, this program is dedicated to enhancing the financial literacy and numeracy skills of Walsall’s adult population.

Through a comprehensive range of activities, from basic numeracy to advanced financial planning, this initiative will empower our community with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions, manage their finances effectively, and contribute positively to the economic growth of Walsall. The program will be delivered through both online and in-person sessions, ensuring accessibility and engagement for all participants.

Registration for this transformative program is now open exclusively to the residents of Walsall. If you are looking to improve your numeracy skills and financial understanding, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey towards financial empowerment.

Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to sign up promptly. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this pivotal initiative. Let’s work together towards building a financially literate and resilient community in Walsall.

Regular exercise is healthy for everyone, including people with sickle cell disease (SCD). People with SCD should keep exercise mild or moderate and take regular breaks if needed. We are currently running an exercise wellbeing project where we invite our users to get active. Physical activity has a huge potential to enhance one’s wellbeing. We engage with our users in the comfort of their homes via zoom and give them the opportunity to get active at their own pace. We work with a personal coach to provide this very low intensity aerobic exercises best for people with sickle cell disease. It also gives those living the condition to come together on a platform and share their experiences, gain skills from the personal coach to best manage their condition by learning simple exercise techniques that help with blood circulation.

Information and Guidance: Befrienders also provide information on managing sickle cell disease and can help connect individuals with additional resources and support.

At Plasma of Hope, we believe that no one should face the challenges of sickle cell disease alone. Our Befriending Services aims to create a warm and supportive community for those living with this condition. Through genuine connection and heartfelt support, we endeavor to bring hope and improve the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell disease.

Plasma of Hope is delighted to introduce our Befriending Services, a heartfelt initiative aimed at supporting individuals who are living with sickle cell disease. This service is graciously funded by the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.

What is Befriending?

Our Befriending Services involves pairing individuals living with sickle cell disease with compassionate volunteers who are committed to offering emotional support, companionship, and a listening ear. Our volunteers are specially trained to understand the unique challenges faced by those living with sickle cell disease and are here to stand alongside them in their journey

Services Offered:

Regular Phone Calls: Our befrienders make regular phone calls to check in, chat, and offer encouragement.

Home Visits: For those who prefer face-to-face interaction, our befrienders can make home visits, providing companionship and moral support. Please note that home visits are conducted following all necessary health guidelines to ensure the safety of both parties.

Mental Health Support: Living with sickle cell disease can be mentally challenging. Our befrienders are trained to provide mental health support, helping to combat feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety.

We are working in partnership with the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board to raise awareness of breast cancer among African Caribbean women. We engage the community to come up with ideas and ways in which the NHS can increase earlier diagnosis of breast cancer in African and Caribbean Women. According to Cancer Research UK and Public Health England, black women in England are nearly twice as likely as white women to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Our campaign involves sensitising women on the importance of early diagnosis and encourage African and Caribbean women to attend screenings and recognise early signs of breast cancer.

About the Event

Plasma of Hope proudly presents its 5-Year Anniversary Charity Gala, an elegant evening dedicated to celebrating five years of impactful work supporting individuals living with sickle cell disease in the UK.

This special occasion also marks the official introduction of our sister organisation, Bravelife Foundation, which was launched in Cameroon last year to continue the same mission across borders.

Together, both organisations are strengthening a global movement of care, advocacy and community support.

DJ LeBeau

Keep the celebration going with the exceptional mixing skills of DJ LeBeau, spinning the perfect soundtrack to our gala.

Hosts: MC Kenny & MC Bertuelle

Your charismatic hosts for the evening will guide you through an unforgettable night of celebration and entertainment.

Afro-Beats Live Band

Experience the vibrant rhythms of our talented live band, bringing the best of Afro-Beats to our gala celebration

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