Arthritis Care published new research to launch our Wake up to arthritis campaign during Arthritis Care Week. The report, Hidden impact: Arthritis and mental wellbeing, revealed the huge emotional toll of living with arthritis. Findings are based on over 3,000 survey responses from people with arthritis.
Findings include:
- 79 per cent feel anxious or depressed because of their arthritis
- 89 per cent worry about how arthritis will affect their future independence
- Four in five (80 per cent) have given up activities they enjoy
- Half (50 per cent) feel isolated or lonely because of their arthritis
Find out more about this research and read the full report here.
Services and support
We are delighted to have been awarded significant grants of c£130,000 over three years from the City Bridge Trust towards our Young People and Families service in London, and £25,000 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation to set up 50 Arthritis Care Groups. Arthritis Care Northern Ireland has been awarded £10,750 towards our Living Well with Arthritis and Young People and Families services by the Mrs Maureen Boal Charitable Trust.
North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG have awarded Arthritis Care a contract to replicate part of our innovative West Berkshire service with them, with a focus on group workshops.
Asking candidates to wake up to arthritis
We want MPs to understand why arthritis matters, so in the run-up to the general election Arthritis Care asked our supporters to contact their parliamentary candidates about the impact of arthritis. 730 emails were sent to candidates across the UK, leading to queries from a number of candidates who wanted to know more and helping to raise awareness of arthritis in Parliament.