Give Blood

From the way we look, to the way we behave, there’s plenty we inherit from our parents and that includes our blood type.

It’s vital that when we need our own blood type, it is available for us. Specific blood groups are more common amongst people from the black African/Caribbean and South Asian communities. Certain medical conditions are more prevalent within these communities, (Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia Major) and patients with these conditions require regular blood transfusions.

However less than 4% of all blood donated in the UK comes from these communities. That's why the National Blood Service has launched the VIP Appeal - to meet the need for specific blood types within your community. If your family or friends ever need blood to save their life, that lifesaver could be you. And one day the person in need of life saving blood could be you.