World Sickle Cell Day 2026
Young Voices Rising
Friday 19 June is World Sickle Cell Day, a United Nations-recognised day to raise awareness of sickle cell disorder across the world.
This year, we are inviting young people, families, schools, healthcare professionals, community groups and supporters to help young voices rise — and to support every young person with sickle cell to own their health, be heard and live well.
Why Young Voices Rising?
Young Voices Rising is about confidence, knowledge, visibility and power. It recognises that young people with sickle cell are not just future patients, future advocates or future leaders. They are living with the condition now. Their experiences matter now. Their voices need to shape care, support, research, education and public understanding now.
Own your health now. Live well with sickle cell.
Our call to action for 2026 is about helping young people feel informed, supported and confident in their own care. The call to ‘Own Your Health Now’ is not about placing responsibility on young people alone. It is about giving them the tools, language, encouragement and backing they need — while also calling on families, schools, services and decision-makers to listen properly and support them well.
For many young people with sickle cell, growing up with the condition means learning how to explain pain, fatigue, treatment, hospital appointments and the need for adjustments at school, college, university or work. It can also mean moving from paediatric to adult care, building confidence in appointments, learning when to ask for help, and knowing how to speak up when something does not feel right.
This World Sickle Cell Day, we want to create space for young people to be seen and heard — and to remind everyone around them that good support can change lives.
Why now?
Sickle cell is the UK’s fastest-growing genetic disorder. More children, young people and families are living with the condition, yet sickle cell is still too often misunderstood, overlooked or stigmatised.
Young people are at a particularly important stage. The move from children’s services to adult healthcare can be a difficult transition. Some young people feel prepared and supported. Others describe feeling lost, unheard or expected to suddenly manage everything alone – sometimes in a new hospital building in an unfamiliar location.
The new gene therapy treatment that was approved for the NHS in 2025, is available from age 12 – so young people considering the treatment need to be involved in serious discussions about whether the treatment is suitable for them. Similarly, stem cell transplant is available for younger children, so there is a need for young people to really understand and engage with their condition from a young age, so they can make the best choices and decisions for their healthcare.
We see a lot of young people through our pioneering mentoring service for children and young people, and our mentors see the range of practical, and social issues that young people need support with while living with sickle cell.
That is why Young Voices Rising matters. It puts young people at the heart of the conversation about health, confidence, care, education and the future. It also builds on wider work to improve transition from paediatric care, reduce stigma, increase awareness and make sure services are shaped by lived experience.
What does “own your health” mean?
Owning your health does not mean doing everything by yourself. It means knowing your body, understanding your condition, recognising your rights, asking questions, and feeling able to speak up when you need support.
Know your condition
Learn what sickle cell means for you, what can trigger a crisis, what helps you stay well, and what to do when symptoms change.
Use your voice
Ask questions in appointments, share what you are experiencing, and tell people what support you need at school, college, university, work or in healthcare.
Build your support
Owning your health is easier when the people around you understand sickle cell and take it seriously. Family, friends, professionals and services all have a part to play.
How to get involved
There are many ways to support Young Voices Rising on World Sickle Cell Day and throughout the campaign build-up.
- Share the theme — post about Young Voices Rising and why young people with sickle cell need to be heard.
- Use the hashtags — #YoungVoicesRising #OwnYourHealth #WorldSickleCellDay2026
- Use/share the resources we have developed to help young people own their health – come back to this page soon to find them
- Share the voices of young people with sickle cell — stories, poems, videos, artwork, reflections, advice or messages to younger selves.
- Wear red for sickle cell — take photos, tag us and use the campaign hashtags.
- Start conversations — in schools, colleges, workplaces, clinics, faith groups and community spaces.
And :
- Give blood if you can — and encourage others, particularly people from Black heritage communities, to register as blood donors.
- Fundraise or donate — support the Sickle Cell Society’s work with people and families affected by sickle cell.
Ideas for young people
This campaign is a chance to show what young people with sickle cell want others to understand. You could:
- Share one thing you wish more people understood about sickle cell.
- Write a letter or record a short message to your younger self.
- Share a question you think every young person should feel able to ask in clinic.
- Create a poem, drawing, video, song, dance or spoken word piece about living well with sickle cell.
- Talk about what helps you feel confident, prepared and supported.
- Share what schools, universities, employers or healthcare teams can do better.
For families, professionals and supporters
Young Voices Rising is also a call to all the people in the lives of young people with sickle cell. to help young people to build confidence in managing their health, while providing a safe place for them to confide in you and rely on you for support when they most need it.
Give blood. Spread love.
Interested in fundraising?
World Sickle Cell Day is a powerful opportunity to raise awareness and support people living with sickle cell. You could organise a school or workplace activity, hold a community event, take part in a challenge, or ask friends and family to donate.
We would love to hear from you if you are planning a fundraising or awareness event.
Share your story
We are always looking for people who would be happy to share their experiences to help raise awareness of sickle cell, treatments, care, education, transition and everyday life with the condition.
If you would like to speak to our communications team about sharing your story on our website, social media channels or in the media, please email communications@sicklecellsociety.org.
Download materials for World Sickle Cell Day
Campaign resources for World Sickle Cell Day 2026 will be available here:
WSCD 2026 campaign pack
Young Voices Rising social media assets
About sickle cell factsheet
Own your health activity sheet
Be part of the movement
Follow the Sickle Cell Society on social media to see how young people, families, professionals and supporters are taking part in Young Voices Rising — and join the conversation using #YoungVoicesRising, #OwnYourHealth and #WorldSickleCellDay2026.
