Welsh young people urged to donate blood and join stem cell registry | UK News

A new generation of blood donors is needed to keep supplies going as the population ages, the Welsh Blood Service has said.

It is urging young people aged 17 and over to sign up, with just 3% of the population donating regularly and only 15% of those under the age of 30.

Blood stocks are currently normal, but the service is launching a campaign called Gwaed Ifanc/Young Blood to protect them in future and encourage people to also join the stem cell registry.

One pupil at Ysgol Stanwell in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, said there was a “sense of real self-satisfaction knowing that you’ve helped make a difference”.

Head boy Saif, 17, who wants to study medicine, added: “You also get a text to let you know where your blood donation was used at what date and at what time, so there’s a real sense of connection to the fact you’ve donated blood.”

Another student, Niamh, 17, said she was not nervous about her first donation because her parents had given blood before.

“I’ve gone again a few weeks ago, in the summer holidays, with my parents and it’s something I’d do as many times as I could really.”

Another pupil, Elliot, said he was worried it might be painful, but his fears were unfounded.

“I would 100% do it again,” he said, adding: “I know friends at other schools, where they don’t offer it, who would consider giving blood too.”

The Welsh Blood Service collects about 100,000 donations of blood every year.

Each one has the potential to save up to three lives.

“We really need more young donors to come on board to sustain the future blood supplies for the 19 hospitals that we supply blood to in Wales,” said Eleri Schiavone from the Welsh Blood Service.

“Blood is used for many different treatments; cancer treatments, people who have had traumatic injuries, mums during childbirth, so it’s really important we maintain our stocks for the future.”

The campaign is also aiming to recruit more than 6,000 people aged between 16 and 30 and between 16 and 45 from black, Asian, mixed or minority ethnic backgrounds every year to its stem cell registry.

Currently, about 2,000 people in the UK require a stem cell transplant each year.

Three in 10 patients will not find a match and that rises to seven in 10 for patients from a black, Asian, mixed or minority ethnic background.

Regular donation is seen as key to maintaining blood stocks, as is starting the habit early.

At Stanwell it is also seen as a way of helping young people developing into good citizens.

“We want to encourage all of our young people to look at what they can give for their local community,” said Sarah Owens, deputy head teacher.

“Our school values are effort, kindness and respect.

“Any school leaders who are thinking of a new initiative for school this year, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.”

The school has supported the work of the Welsh Blood Service since 2015, resulting in students and staff collectively saving up to 3,000 lives and more than 120 students joining the stem cell registry.