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THE VITILIGO SOCIETY SECURES FUNDING TO GROW SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PATIENTS IN THE UK

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The Vitiligo Society secures funding to grow support services for patients in the UK

 Posted on 23rd December 2024  2 minute read

As the leading charity dedicated to improving the support and wellbeing of those living with vitiligo in the UK. In 2024 we published results for the largest ever piece of research exploring the physical, social and psychological effects of living with vitiligo.  Through this research initiative we gained not only a rich understanding of the implications of vitiligo, but also identified how more  effective initiatives and interventions could  support those affected by the condition. 

A new project was borne out of the research, that was conducted with our community.  It has been designed to enable us to  build capacity within our organisation and providing us with the ability to deliver much needed bespoke, expert support to vitiligo patients who are struggling with their diagnosis & treatment journey or who are struggling to adapt to life post-diagnosis.

We pleased to announce that the VTCT Foundation has awarded our charity a grant of £93,198 over 2 years to launch this project.

What does this mean for vitiligo support in the UK?

Over the past four years we have made the transition from being an information provider, to also being a community and peer support provider. People living with vitiligo often describe their journey as a process of acceptance, resilience, and hope. Although all journeys are different and shaped by personal circumstances, feelings around diagnosis, treatments, and support often share similar themes. Our research shows that people living with vitiligo require tailored support at every stage of their vitiligo journey:

  • when receiving a diagnosis
  • when trying to access or undertake treatment
  • living with the condition long-term

The funding provided by the VTCT Foundation will allow us to grow our team and services, enabling us to provide the following support services to vitiligo patients:

  • 1:1 support for vulnerable individuals from a new dedicated member of staff
  • The development of self-service resources
  • Introduction of a phone helpline
  • Growing our online and in-person support groups
  • Development and implementation of a casework tracker 
  • Implementation of an evaluation framework for our work so that we can track and report on the impact of our services and interventions. 

When will you start to see these services introduced?

In early 2025 we will be planning the recruitment of the new staff member who will lead on this work for us, and we aim to begin scaling up our support services from April 2025, with the project continuing into 2026 and 2027.

What happens when the funding period ends?

This funding provides us with an incredible opportunity to transform our work and the lives of people struggling with their vitiligo diagnosis or to access treatment, and we are committed to continuing to deliver all critical services even after the funding period is over.

This means that we will also be focused on growing our membership and our community fundraising over the next two years, so that we will be able to continue delivering this enhanced level of support for as long as vitiligo patients require it.

You can help support our work by becoming a member or planning a community fundraising event.

Please support our work! You've enjoyed 1 article this month and we hope you have found it useful. Our work is entirely funded by memberships and donations, so please consider joining our charity today and supporting our work.

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