A group of influential black Britons have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need for more black blood donors.
Dame Sharon White, chair of the John Lewis partnership, Lord Woolley and Netflix’s Anne Mensah, all of whom were listed among the Powerlist’s top 10 most influential black people in Britain last year, have joined forces for the campaign.
White, who topped the 2023 Powerlist, kicked off the campaign by visiting a new NHS donor centre in east London on Wednesday. She was joined by Simon Woolley, the principal of Cambridge University’s Homerton College and founder of Operation Black Vote.
The campaign is also supported by Richard Iferenta of KPMG and Paulette Simpson, publisher of the Voice newspaper.
The demand for blood needed to treat people with sickle cell disease has jumped by about 67% in the last five years. NHS Blood and Transplant said 250 donations are needed every day to treat what is the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK, when five years ago just 150 donations a day were needed.
Sickle cell disease disproportionally affects people from black African or black Caribbean backgrounds, and ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment.
More than 55% of black people in the UK have the Ro blood subtype needed by sickle cell patients compared with 2% of the general population.
Speaking just after donating blood, White said: “There’s a double importance because people from the black community are so much less likely to give blood and often the need can be particularly acute because of sickle cell anaemia.
“My mother had a trait for sickle cell, I have a trait, although our family hadn’t developed the full blown condition, and so I just felt what a thing to do.
“It is easy and quick to donate, but it could have an impact if it encourages members of the black community to come forward.”
She added: “It’s really important that there’s a diversity of people who are giving blood because there’ll be some people in the black community who aren’t getting better, whose quality of life is being impeded, because there isn’t a blood match.
“So if only 1% of black people are coming forward, even if that goes up to 20%, that could have the most extraordinarily positive impact.”
Woolley said: “Giving blood is a simple but essential act of kindness that can save lives. It is vital that more black people are aware of the importance of giving blood and feel confident to do so.”
Mensah said: “I am proud to support this campaign and have been giving blood at my local centre for years. Giving blood can be the difference between life and death for someone in our community. I encourage us all to do it if we can.”
Mark Croucher of NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We are delighted to have the support of some of the most influential people in the country to help us raise awareness of the urgent need for more black heritage blood donors.
“The demand for ethnically matched blood for sickle cell patients is on the rise and has already doubled in recent years.
“If you haven’t donated blood before, or haven’t in a while, we’d love to welcome you to our amazing community of lifesaving blood donors and help meet the needs of patients right now and in the future. Each blood donation can save or improve up to three lives.”
The Powerlist, first published in 2007, celebrates the achievements of the 100 most influential black people in Britain. It features people from a broad range of industries including law, finance, tech, business and science.
Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, publishers of the Powerlist, said: “There is not enough Ro blood available for sickle cell patients to meet hospital demand and therefore, I’m delighted that our Powerlistees have stepped up to highlight the need for more donors of black heritage.
“This is an important community moment and I urge anyone who is eligible to donate blood.”
