Educational and Vocational Support for Young People with IBD

If you are affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease, are between the ages of 15-25 and have been resident in the UK for at least six months, you may apply for a Young Person's Grant from the Crohn's and Colitis UK Personal Grants Fund.

You will need to show that you are on a low income and have a need arising from your IBD.

Grants do not exceed £500 and a young person may only receive one grant in a year, and usually no more than three grants in any six year period. Applications can be for any item or need relating to education or training, which arises as a consequence of having IBD.

Some examples of grants:

• Books and/or other course material
• Tuition fees
• Additional costs of university/college en-suite
• Travel passes

How to apply

Guidance Notes and the Educational and Vocational Grant Application Form are available for download, and the Guidance Notes will help you to complete the form.

All information supplied by you will be treated by Crohn's and Colitis UK in confidence.

Completed application forms should be sent to: Personal Grants Fund Secretary, PO Box 334, St Albans, Herts AL1 2WA.

For any queries, please e-mail julia.devereux@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

Famous People with Crohn's or Colitis - The Prescotts

The Prescott family are our first Family Ambassadors. Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord John Prescott's

daughter-in-law, Roz, has Ulcerative Colitis and the family have spoken publicly on ITV's This Morning and at Crohn's and Colitis UK events - including at the Houses of Parliament and No.10 Downing Street.

Roz says, "Before my diagnosis, I was always on the go, happy and determined and ambitious. After I was diagnosed with Colitis, everything changed. I knew nothing about the disease and it changed my life overnight. The symptoms can be debilitating ,painful, embarrassing and even frustrating, but my advice is you must fight it. Once you understand it, you can take control and eventually you will get back to some sort of normality. I found speaking to Crohn's and Colitis UK really helped me through a very difficult time."

"A week after giving birth to my daughter, Ava Grace, I was admitted to hospital for emergency surgery to remove my bowel, which resulted in me having to have an ileostomy bag."

For more of Roz' story watch her video:

For more information on all the Crohn's and Colitis UK Ambassadors and Champions visit the charity's website.

Guest Writer - Jon

Life after surgery: it is not the end of the world

Hopefully this blog entry shows that surgery can be a good option for some people suffering inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I write as someone who has suffered badly from ulcerative colitis (UC) and required surgery because of it. I had a colectomy at the end of last year and had an ileal pouch formed. I have been doing pretty well since the surgery. Before my surgery I had been coming across quite a lot of negative information relating to surgery, often from people who didn't need it or didn't have any form of IBD. I wanted to write a blog about how if you need surgery, it can be very helpful and improve your life.  

Of course every operation has risks. I am not saying that everyone should chose surgery over medical treatment. Surgery should be a last option not the first. Always talk to your doctor before making a decision. I want to show that the operation can improve your quality of life. It definitely did for me.   

I will attempt to give a brief idea of what my experience of UC was like before I had surgery. Through 2011 and 2012 I suffered very badly from UC. There were only a couple of months when treatment worked well enough allowing me to lead a normal life. The rest of the time I was either house bound due to an almost constant and often uncontrollable need to go to the toilet or sometimes having to spend time in hospital. I made the tough choice of having my large intestine removed after exhausting all medical treatment that I was prescribed, trying various diets, herbal remedies, supplements and positive thinking (as positive as you can be with UC). Previously I had been very healthy. Before being diagnosed with UC I had been in the process of training for a marathon and was taking the training seriously. About a month before the marathon I started to have problems with my bowels which seemed more than “runner’s trots.” These problems turned out to be UC.

I was very nervous about the operation. It is a big decision to make. It is a strange thing to ask to have an organ removed. It is even harder due to how often you can come across negative comments about it online.

Since having my pouch surgery I have travelled to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, I spent two weeks excavating in Jersey (I study archaeology) and I have just returned from six weeks travelling in South America. While in South America I climbed a few mountains, hiked through mountain passes, cycled down mountains, hiked in jungles and went swimming in lakes and rivers. I did not have any major problems with my bowels while away. I was very careful about what I ate and drank. The only problem I experienced was when I needed to take malaria pills and these seemed to cause me to need to get up a few times in the night. I had no problems during the day. As well as travelling I have been going to the gym, swimming, cycling and trying Tai chi. I used to practice yoga a lot but have yet to get back into that properly.

I do go to the toilet more than the average during the day. However I have warning, control and I can hold it in. I do not feel this interrupts my day to day life. I do not keep a log of how many times I go to the toilet but I would say I average about four or five times a day.

I mention all of this to show that the surgery is not the end of the world. It has vastly improved my quality of life. Last year I barely left the house and almost missed seeing my sister get married. However this year a couple of weeks ago in Peru I was able to hike through mountain a pass at 4600 metres above sea level. Last year staircases often proved to be something of a challenge to me.

Deciding on having surgery is not something that should be taken lightly and I do not want to be misinterpreted as encouraging everyone with IBD to have surgery. Obviously not everyone with IBD requires surgery. If you are able to treat your illness with medicine or diet and changes to lifestyle then that is clearly the way to go. Surgery should always be the last option and you should always consult of doctor for the best course of action before you make any decision regarding your health.

However for some people like myself this is not the case. I felt I had exhausted every other option and that I could not keep living the way I was. I was existing not living. When it was first mentioned to me I was very against the idea of surgery. It terrified me. I thought it sounded like medieval medicine. “We don’t understand the problem so we will just cut it out!” This is not the case. Modern medicine and surgery is amazing.

I should warn you that the surgery is not easy and you will not feel better straight away. In fact you might feel worse before you feel better. The surgery was described to me as being similar to being hit by a bus. I was very weak and in pain after the surgery, but this does not last. I had my pouch formed at the end of November 2012. The first few weeks are hard but you notice improvements every day. These may not be major at first but things are going in the right direction and there is improvement. I went to visit friends for New Year’s Eve. I did spend most of the night sitting down and not doing much but I was able to visit people and there was very little pain from my wounds.

You are very aware of your stomach muscles and trying to avoid moving them as this is painful. This can be difficult as a lot of movement often involves these muscles. You find different ways of getting in and out of bed. This pain does not last.     

I know I mention some negatives involved in the surgery, and it is not a magic cure, but it can vastly improve your quality of life once you get over the initial stage. There is always going to be a period of recovery after any surgery. My quality of life is much better than it was before the surgery. I hope that is shown through me mentioning the travelling I have been able to do. Next on my list of things to do is start training for a triathlon…as well as getting back to my masters. 

Famous People with Crohn's or Colitis - Ali Jawad

Did you know that Crohn's and Colitis UK have a number of Celebrity Ambassadors and Champions, all of whom have done sterling work in raising funds and awareness for the charity.

Today's Ambassador profile is Ali Jawad, whose story is one of genuine inspiration, courage and overcoming obstacles. Ali, we salute you!

Ali Jawad is a British Paralympic Powerlifter who competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. 

"I’m honoured to join the ranks of sporting Champions who are using our careers and network of contacts to raise awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis (together known as IBD, or inflammatory bowel diseases). Every year in the UK, 18,000 people are newly-diagnosed, the majority in their late teens and early twenties."

"I was diagnosed in my early twenties and, to be honest, I thought it was the end of my dreams of Paralympic glory. I was in constant pain, feeling weak (not a good idea for a powerlifter!) and at times, quite depressed - particularly when I found that there is no known cure for Crohn’s Disease."

"A few months later, following surgery, I pulled myself together and went into intensive training for the London 2012 Paralympics. It was touch and go whether I would qualify, due to a flare-up, but I did. Narrowly missing out on a medal has only made me more determined to try and get to Rio and have another go."

Find out more in Ali's video for Crohn's and Colitis UK:

You can find out more about all the Crohn's and Colitis UK Ambassadors and Champions on the Crohn's and Colitis UK Website.

Support for Teachers and Tutors

If you've arrived to our lovely blog through a search because you have a pupil at your school/college/university that has IBD or you are a SENCO and would like more information because you've seen an article in some of the Education press recently... Welcome! Thanks for dropping by.

We have lots of information for tutors and teachers, tailored to the age range you teach:

• Students and IBD: a guide for universities and colleges (PDF)
  Are you a member of staff at a university or college? Find out more about IBD and how you may be able to help students with this condition achieve their full potential. If you are a student you may find it useful to give this information to your tutor or other university staff.

• Children and Young People with IBD: a guide for schools (PDF) This information sheet includes a brief guide to IBD and discusses how teachers and other school staff can best provide the sort of support some children and young people with IBD may need from their school. If you are a young person at school you may find it helpful to make sure your teachers have a copy of this information.

Guest Writer - Daniel - Part 2

Me (Daniel Newall) and IBD Surgery Blog – Part 2 Surgery and Post Op

Day Before – I rang the number that I was given, and 12 o’clock the time I was given, to check that there was a bed ready for me and was told that I needed to be there for 2 o’clock that afternoon (they mustn’t think other people work!). So, after declining to get the bus which was suggested by the staff member on the phone, my dad came out of work to take me and I arrived on time at five to two. I was then left sat outside the ward for two hours and was then invited to my bed which hadn’t been cleaned yet. 

I then sat there for a further two hours before I was booked in. So as you can imagine I was quite annoyed! I already knew everything that was going to happen as my uncle, who has been some what of a rock for me despite him living in south Wales, has unfortunately had colitis since before I was born and had the same operation twelve years ago. I doubt I could have coped with the disease or the operation without him.

Day 1 - I wasn't that nervous beforehand, but the doctor that put me to sleep had had the same operation as me and even showed me his scars before sending me off - so that was quite encouraging and before I knew it I was off. I awoke in complete confusion and pain, with a nurse trying to explain how to use the morphine pump for pain relief, which I already knew so began pressing and I couldn’t keep my eyes open which she wasn’t happy about. I then went back to sleep and woke in the recovery ward with tubes in almost ever hole I have! 

After a few hours I was asked 4 or 5 times to get out of bed. I refused I was feeling sick and was still in a lot of pain! But eventually I cracked and said okay, after being bribed by the nurse by putting my surgical sock back on, so at least we had a laugh. This was short lived as as I began to attempt to move - I just couldn’t move properly and it took me about 15 minutes to get from lying down to sat in the chair. I was so dizzy and felt so terrible I just asked to get straight back into bed after it had been changed.

In all this confusion I had completely forgot that I now had the bag which needed to be emptied and changed for the first time. I felt so bad that I didn’t pay any attention to it and I didn’t really want to acknowledge the fact that it was there I guess. During the night I woke to find the bag was blown up like a beach ball so that kind of got my attention. During the day I was on the extremely powerful morphine pain killers but the wounds were unbelievably painful and I was on oxygen for most of the day. However a rather attractive nurse removed the catheter I had, so it wasn’t all bad news.

Day 2 – Day 2 just consisted of sleeping. Towards the end of the day all tubes and drains that were in me were taken out; the main drain in my left side hurt the most. I imagine that’s how getting stabbed feels as it was so deep, and left a huge, deep perfectly round hole right in me. After this I knew things were getting better, as I was sat out at the side of the bed and unbelievably even began to walk around, albeit just 5 yards and in immense pain, as I was now only on tablet pain killers. I was also eating and drinking, but just soup and water

Day 3 – I was now walking more - even going to the toilet, as now I had to empty my own bag. Also, after only 3 days, I was moved back on the ward from the recovery room.

Day 4 – Here I was changing my own bag for the first time with the help of the specialist stoma nurse. Also I had 3 other men with me on the ward one fresh out of a different operation (he had had his gallbladder removed). As I had previously had gall stones, and been told I needed the operation he'd had, we exchanged stories. He was on the morphine pump and was acting rather odd as a result - as everyone does. He later told me that I pictured a mad professor tying him a noose in the main doorway and heard a nurse calling him saying it was time. So this cheered me up a lot, along with a meeting with one of the surgical team who had to check the operation was only 4 days ago as he couldn’t believe how fast I was recovering and told me I could go home tomorrow.

Day 5 – Home!

The next week I had the IVC filter removed with a small procedure which involved a doctor going into the jugular vein in my neck and retrieving the filter designed to stop blood clots travelling to my lungs or heart. It worked as he showed me the filter about five minutes later, it contained around nine small clots. I continued blood thinning injections for a week then recommenced the anticoagulation tablets.

Five weeks later as I write this having just re-enrolled at university for the coming year I feel fantastic within my self - I know the colitis has gone. I have spent my time reacquainting myself with a old friend known as the PlayStation 3. The bag is at times really annoying and I don’t yet know the extent of the impact it will have on my life and whether I will have the reversal next year. I just plan to enjoy life again and try to do as much as possible. The operation was a total success; I recovered in a remarkable amount of time and who knows in a year I could be writing another one of these after the reversal.

Prescription Charges Abolition Benefits Scottish Patients

Prescription charges

Patients with long term conditions benefit from abolition.

Hundreds of thousands of Scots with long term conditions are better off as a result of the abolition of prescription charges.

Latest figures show that since 2007/08, the number of items dispensed for long term conditions such as asthma, Crohn’s disease and diabetes has increased year on year, demonstrating the benefit of removing the barrier of cost.

Since charges were scrapped in 2011, there has been an increase of more than 10,000 items for those with Crohn’s disease and nearly 237,000 items for those with asthma.

It is estimated that around 2 million, 40 per cent of the Scottish population have a long term condition.

In the same week which marks one year to go to the referendum on Scottish independence, the policy is being held up as example of how decisions about Scotland are best taken in Scotland.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said:

“It is my firm belief that healthcare should be free at the point of access for everyone and that is why we scrapped prescription charges for all patients in 2011.

“Where we have the power to take decisions in Scotland, there are clear benefits for the people of Scotland.

“Prescription charges were nothing more than a tax on ill health that Scotland's poorest families could ill afford, and I am proud that in Scotland we took the decision to improve access to prescriptions for all.

“Scotland’s health service continues to lead the way, with take up of free eye examinations growing, and free personal care for all.

“We are also at the forefront of introducing innovative public health measures, such as minimum unit pricing of alcohol and standardised packaging for cigarettes.

“There is also a marked contrast between Scotland’s approach to the NHS, based on its founding principles of being free at the point of care, while privatisation in England is growing ever more pronounced and damaging.

“I have been very clear that the mutual NHS model we have in Scotland is the right model for providing the very best care for patients.”

  

In contrast, patients in England pay £7.85 per item or £104 for an annual pre-payment certificate.

Rhianna Humphrey, 25, is originally from Ely in Cambridgeshire but is now studying in Glasgow.

She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2005 at the age of 17, and knows the difference the abolition of prescription charges has made.

She said: “As a self-funded postgraduate student in Scotland, who needs medication every day probably for the rest of my life, if I had to pay prescription charges, I would be faced with difficult decisions whether to get my prescription or ensure I could pay my bills and rent, as I did when I lived in England.  I felt I had to pay for having a long-term condition and this definitely had a negative impact on me.”

Debi Haddleton, who has inflammatory bowel disease, and lives in England said:

“I need my medications to keep well and in work. I need to pay out constantly and if I did not then my health would suffer considerably. I feel penalised by having to pay for being ill when, if I lived in Scotland, I would not have to worry.”

David Barker, Chief Executive of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, who lead the Prescription Charges Coalition of 29 charities and organisations said:

“People with long-term conditions in Scotland do not face the barrier to effective treatment that those in England still do.  As a result of an unfair, outdated and arbitrary system of exemptions, research shows that many with long-term conditions in England are severely compromising their health through being unable to afford prescription charges. 

“Since this system was scrapped in Scotland, those with conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and heart conditions, who need medication on an ongoing basis throughout their lives to keep them well, or even alive, no longer have to face impossible decisions between paying for essential medication or feeding their family or covering rent or heating costs.”  

Guest Writer Helen

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 16 years old after developing severe stomach cramps and fatigue. I was very quickly offered surgery to remove the affected part of my bowel. I dropped out of college a year early as my absences were mounting up and my tutor could not understand my illness, as to her I was not visibly ill. The operation was a miracle. I soon slipped straight back into my teenage life with no consideration to what I had just been diagnosed with. 

For the next three years I turned a blind eye to my condition as the operation had left me symptom free. I began volunteering at a special needs school and soon developed my passion for working with people with learning disabilities. I began my training at Northumbria University as a Learning Disability Nurse in 2010 and everything began to fit into place. 

In September 2012 I began slowly losing weight. I love to go to the gym and be as active as I can, so I put my weight loss down to this. Over the next two month I started to develop other Crohn’s related symptoms however I put these off and tried to make other excuses for it. I knew there was a possibility my Crohn’s had returned however I thought that if I didn’t face it then things would somehow sort themselves out. Unfortunately this was not the case.

In March 2013 I came home from University extremely unwell hoping to get a quick answer from my doctor. By this time I had lost 2 stone, I was unable to get out of bed, my appetite was nonexistent, I wasn't sleeping due to horrendous stomach cramps and I had developed an anal fissure that left me in excruciating pain every time I went to the toilet (which was a lot.)

I went to see my GP and he referred me to an IBD consultant. Due to me being so unwell the consultant didn’t want to do any investigations until I had picked up. I was put on to steroids, vital milkshakes, a no fibre diet and a combination of vitamin boosting drugs.

For the next month I was very unwell, I seemed to get worse before I started to feel better. This left me feeling very down in the dumps. I’d left my university life that I loved! I’d moved away from my friends and my boyfriend and to top it all off I missed starting my final placement as a student nurse.  I was missing out on so much at university. It was a very difficult time for me, my weight had dropped to 7 stone, and none of my clothes fit me anymore. I felt so insecure.

My friends and boyfriend had never seen me suffer from my Crohn’s before so didn’t understand what was going on. I was getting constant texts and messages asking when I was coming back, which I was unable to give an answer to. It was difficult to explain to people I will be better when I’m better, I didn’t know when it would be or how long it would take but being bugged daily by everyone wasn’t helping. My relationships with my friends and boyfriend were going downhill and I was becoming more and more fed up of being ill. (I’m a rubbish patient.)  

After a month of steroids the consultant decided my symptoms had settled enough for him to do tests. For the next couple of weeks I underwent surgery to remove an abscess I had developed, I was poked, prodded and scanned until it was apparent my Crohn's disease had returned "all guns blazing."

Following my results I was put straight on to Azathioprine tablets daily and Infliximab infusions every couple of weeks.

The infusions seemed too good to be true, my stomach cramps were a lot better. It was still a couple of weeks before I started to feel slightly ‘normal’ again. 

On the 3^rd of May 2013 I moved back up to Newcastle. University and my Placement were very understanding. I was able to start my placement, just doing short shifts to get me back into a routine. I received financial support from University as initially I was travelling backwards and forwards between home and Newcastle to have my weekly blood tests and other treatments.
My first week back in Newcastle was terrible, I missed home so much. I cried my eyes out leaving my mum; she had been amazing, looking after me. She made sure I took my tablets, made my meals for me, took me to all my appointments and most importantly she understood! It was so hard remembering to take my tablets every day and having to explain to people why I couldn’t eat certain foods and why I had been so poorly. I just felt like no one understood.

 

Four months down the line I’m still learning about my Crohn’s, there’s so much to remember and come to terms with. I’ve learnt that if you don’t let people in and help them understand about Crohn’s disease then it’s a lonely road. Life is so much easier now my boyfriend, friends and colleagues have an insight to my illness.

My treatments have been amazing so far, I am back on a normal diet and not suffering from any symptoms. The only thing I struggle with is tiredness. I seem to be forever tired. I put this down to my determination to live a “normal” life. I do 13 hour shifts; go to the gym 4 times a week and I am as active as I can be. My friends understand that some days I just need to chill out and my boyfriend has come to terms with the fact it’s very unlikely I will watch a film without falling asleep half way through. It does worry me at times what the future may hold for my Crohn’s Disease, but I am confident that whatever comes my way I have the support of my family, boyfriend and friends to deal with it. I am determined that Crohn’s will not stop me living my life and following my dreams. 

All the Info In One Place

The Crohn's and Colitis UK website is a treasure trove of information. The charity has been going since

1979 which is probably before a lot of you were born, so it's no surprise that Crohn's and Colitis UK is where health professionals send newly diagnosed IBDers. 

There are also other issues relating to the impact and management of IBD which can particularly affect young people such as self-image, emerging sexuality, first relationships, leaving home, transferring from paediatric to adult health care, disclosing IBD to healthy peers, trying to fit your IBD needs in with your lifestyle, and even over-protective parents. These issues too can have an impact on confidence, self-esteem, well-being, and ability to cope with IBD.

On the main website there's a page called "Supporting Young People" which has information tailored especially for you. 

If you want to find out more about the charity, its people and its history, check out the About Us page on the main website too.

Medical Research Awards 2014

Medical Research Awards 2014

Applications are invited for the year 2014 grants to be awarded by Crohn’s and Colitis UK. Research Projects may be

directed towards any aspect of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Funding will be awarded for periods of up to two years. The grants awarded will normally be up to a maximum of £120,000. Applications for smaller pilot studies are also encouraged, particularly if these have potential for priming subsequent grant applications or for facilitating portfolio adoption of non-commercial trials.

Closing date for this award will be 25th October 2013.

If you have any queries, please contact gill.lamb@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk or telephone 01727 734495

Grants are usually for one or two year projects and can cover staff salaries and consumables, but not institutional overhead costs. PhD research projects have not often been funded, but are not excluded. Crohn's and Colitis UK is willing to consider applications for relatively small amounts for pilot projects which, if successful, might lead to an application for a larger project. Any aspect of research related to Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease can be considered.

Find out more here.

IBD Research from Crohn's and Colitis UK

Did you know that Crohn's and Colitis UK is a medical research charity?

More than 120 projects have been funded by Crohn's and Colitis UK members since the Research Fund was started in 1984?

We are continually working towards making life for those with IBD a little bit easier.

There are all sorts of Research Awards funded by the charity each year, many that look at ways of living with IBD, the Health Services and IBD and Managing Fatigue.

For previous Living with IBD Research awards click here.

You can find out loads more on the Crohn's and Colitis UK main webiste page "Research".

10,000 Likes on Facebook

Crohn's and Colitis UK would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported the charity through our Facebook page and other social networking sites.

The Crohn's and Colitis UK Facebook page has reached (and now passed!) the impressive milestone of 10,000 Facebook likes.

Please continue to support the charity via our social media channels and help raise awareness of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Crohn's and Colitis UK aims to improve life for everyone affected by IBD - a condition that affects 250,000 people in the UK.

Follow us on...

• »Our Facebook page
• or the Me and IBD facebook page
• »Our Twitter feed
• »Our YouTube channel
• »Our LinkedIn network

Would You Like More Support Managing Your IBD?

Recruiting now for a new approach to support IBD... join today!

Professor Rob Horne and his research team at University College London (UCL) have developed a personalised online programme called the IBD HELPER, to help people get the best from their medicines.

This online support system is now ready to be trialed across the whole of the UK.

If you would like to see if this personalised programme can help you manage your IBD, click on the following link: https://lifeguide.ecs.soton.ac.uk/player/play/SQ and see if you are eligible to join the study.

If you have any questions, please email ibdhelper.study@ucl.ac.uk.

An Evening Out...

"Room 5" is a play written by Diane Harman, Chair of the South Essex Group of Crohn's and Colitis UK. The first performance of the play is on SUnday 15th September in Hornchurch, Essex.

About the show

A group of people who all suffer with different forms of bowel disease find themselves in Room 5. Due to the embarrassing nature of the illness it is not something they would normally discuss but one by one they each find themselves sharing their own experiences of living with such an illness and their quest to find a diagnosis and cure.

It soon becomes evident that they each have a story to tell and some shocking revelations! However, despite their different character traits they gradually develop a sense of camaraderie and a special bond.

With toilet humour in abundance prepare to both laugh out loud and empathise with their situation!

Some content of an adult nature

Dates / Prices

Sunday 15 September 2013 
7:30 pm - £15

Buy tickets

• Book Now on the Queens Theatre website
• Or call 01708 443333
  
  
  
  
  

Another Bad Situation for Crohn's Sufferer

A little while ago we brought you a news story about a lady who'd been refused use of a toilet in a Job Centre. Now we have yet another case of shopkeepers refusing people in need. A gentleman from Dewsbury was turned away from a Wilkinson's store when he asked to use the toilet. He was told they were for staff only. Luckily a nearby butchers was able to help before disaster struck.

It is mentioned in the article (found here) that there is a card for people but you have to pay. Just to clear that up - the Crohn's and Colitis UK "Can't Wait" card is part of a wider membership package from the charity. Membership fees are very favourable - £15 annually and free to many (OAPs, students and young adults) and there are concessionary rates for those on low income.

For more information on the Can't Wait Card, head over to the main Crohn's and Colitis UK website for all the membership benefits, fees and how to join.

Crohn's and Colitis UK in the Social Media Sphere...

Join us in the social networking world and be the first to find out about our events, campaigns and news. We're currently found on:

Facebook

Nearly 10,000 people 'Like' our official Facebook page.
We also have a dedicated Fundraising page on Facebook which allows fundraisers to promote their activities and events.

• Find us on Facebook
• Support our Fundraising on Facebook

Twitter

More than 4400 people are now following our tweets from our official Twitter feed!
We also have a Twitter page specifically for our fundraisers.

• Follow us on Twitter
• Support our Fundraising on Twitter

YouTube

We have over 50 videos featured on our YouTube channel.

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel

LinkedIn

View our company profile and join our professional network on LinkedIn.

• Join us on LinkedIn