Our History

The Sickle Cell Society was first set up as a registered charity in 1979. It was formed by a group of patients, parents and health professionals who were all concerned about the lack of understanding and the inadequacy of treatment for sufferers of sickle cell disorders.

The Society is managed by a committee of 12 volunteers elected at the Annual General Meeting, and they meet each month. The Management Committee is accountable to the membership and works with a small core of paid staff to further the Society's aims by providing special services and welfare schemes for sickle cell sufferers.

Our vision is to be the most successful sickle cell organisation nationally with a wide network of well-informed, committed and active supporters working at local, national and international levels. Then we will be better able to empower and assist people with sickle cell disorders to achieve their full economic and social potential. We hope that this page provides you with a better understanding of the work which the Society does, because it is only by working together that we can achieve this vision.

If you have a Sickle Cell disorder, then join us, use our services, and let us help you overcome some of the difficulties the illness causes. If you haven't then join our network of supporters - help us to raise awareness about the disease; help us to raise vital funds for research, education and welfare for sickle cell sufferers. By joining together, we can all turn a sickle into a smile!