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ARMA trustee elections 2022

Following the ARMA elections, the AGM welcomed newly elected trustees Dale Webb, CEO of NASS, Ruth Sephton, consultant physiotherapist and Debbie Wilson, young persons’ project manager at NRAS. A full list of our Board is on our website.

At the Board meeting on 26 July 2022, Dirk Vennix was elected as chair and Chris Martey as vice-chair.

Newly elected Chair Dirk Vennix said “Having served on the Board in support of the finance and income generation groups over the last four years, I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the ARMA Board going forward.…

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Anthony Woolf retires from ARMA Board

ARMA bids a fond farewell to Professor Anthony Woolf, who retires from the board of trustees in July.

Tony Woolf served nine years on the ARMA board, two years as vice-chair and seven years as chair. In his role on the board, Tony ardently supported the drive for everyone with MSK conditions to receive appropriate, high-quality interventions to promote their health and well-being in a timely manner. Tony supported ARMA’s aim to engage with policy delivery and practice, better health services for people with MSK and furthering evidence-based MSK pathways, so that there is greater recognition and priority for people’s MSK health.…

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ARMA Trustee elections

Ever thought of becoming a trustee of ARMA?

The ARMA Board consists of nine trustees elected by the membership and up to four co-opted trustees, who are appointed by the Board. Nominations for election to the Board are open until 20 May 2022. You will need a connection with one of our member organisations and to be nominated by a member organisation.

Trustees are responsible for the governance, strategy and management of the charity. They contribute to the strategic development of the organisation and the delivery of its services, taking part in Board meetings and in other activities between meetings as required.…

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ORUK joins ARMA

Last week saw ARMA welcome new member, Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), to the alliance.

ORUK funds breakthrough research and education programmes in bone, joint and muscle wellbeing to reduce the burden of poor musculoskeletal health on individuals, workplaces and our health system. The charity was established in 1989 by the orthopaedic surgeon Ronald Furlong FRCS and has become one of the most significant funders of musculoskeletal research, education and innovation in the UK, working alongside many of the UK’s leading MSK professionals and institutions. …

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Arthritis Action Marks 80th Anniversary

2022 marks 80 years of Arthritis Action supporting communities affected by arthritis, with a year of special events and activities. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the charity introduces a year-long campaign of events and activities recognising the members, partners, volunteers, and organisations who have shown their generous support over the past eight decades.

Some highlighted activities planned for the following months include:

Arthritis Action’s 80 Faces Campaign, celebrating 80 of the charity’s closest supporters and thanking them for their vital help throughout the past 80 years
The #kickupschallenge launch event, a challenge event on social media
An 80 Portraits challenge, with Arthritis Action’s Corporate Partnerships Manager Victoria Clarke, commissioned to paint 80 Portraits over the next twelve months with proceeds donated to the 80th Anniversary fund
A report developed in partnership with YouGov, looking at the state of play and needs of working-age people currently living with arthritis in Great Britain
An ‘80 Miles’ walking challenge with Arthritis Action’s Dietitian and Services Development Manager, Martin Lau

Full information on the campaign plans can be found on Arthritis Action’s 80th Anniversary page.…

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ARMA welcomes new associate member

ARMA is pleased to welcome new associate member AbbVie to its membership.

AbbVie is a research-based biopharmaceutical company discovering and delivering transformational medicines and products in several key therapeutic areas such as immunology. AbbVie invests in research to discover, develop and deliver new medicines. They target diseases with significant unmet need where we can improve the standard of care with innovative new therapies. They aim to create solutions that go beyond treating the illness to have a positive impact on patients’ lives, on societies—and on science itself.…

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Links added during the WT20 Conference webinar

The following links were added to the chat during the webinar:

Coproduction of healthcare service

NHS Change Challenge

Shared Decision Making for patients on surgical waiting list infographic

Clinical validation of surgical waiting lists: framework and support tools

The Doctor will Zoom you Now

Personalised Care Institute home page

Arthritis Action’s Personalised Member Pathway

National Voices resource on how waiting for care impacts on people

ONS data
For data geeks who want to see the ONS data Natalie mentioned

Public Health Profiles
Public Health England’s fingertips tools on local data on the populations where you live

Patient involvement in rheumatology outpatient service design and delivery

Introducing The Cornwall Arthritis Trust

Guest Blog by Professor Tony Woolf, Acting Chair and Secretary, Cornwall Arthritis Trust

Cornwall is well known for its coastline, beaches and mixture of rugged countryside with wooded valleys, great gardens and wonderful vistas. Poldark county. A visitor’s paradise but it has all the problems of rural and coastal communities with an economic dependency on agriculture and tourism and a low pay economy. Economic hardship is not immediately obvious but there are Cornish estates that rank among the highest in the league tables for multiple deprivation, and it is one of only two regions of the UK that was eligible for special assistance from Brussels as a result of having incomes per head less than 75% of the EU average.…

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Arthritis Action seeks trustees

Arthritis Action is looking for trustees with access to an established professional network, who can advise their growing organisation and support the delivery of their exciting new strategy.

They welcome new trustees with expertise in marketing & communications, fundraising & income generation, strategic planning, human resources, legal.

Arthritis Action would especially like to hear from individuals from under-represented or diverse groups.

Download the Trustee Recruitment Pack [opens PDF].

To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to shantel@arthritisaction.org.uk.

Interviews will take place as applications are received.

North Wales ARMA Network group report

Guest blog by Stephen Mack-Smith BSc, DC, MRCC. MEAC
Chair, North Wales ARMA

I received a letter about 14 years ago from my professional association looking for volunteers to join an umbrella group of patients and professionals with an interest in MSK problems. Funding for three years came from the English NHS, and fortune had it that owing to lobbying from North West Wales professionals within ARMA, a Pilot ARMA Network Group was formed in March 2007. It was the only one in Wales.…

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