Endometriosis UK

There's just one month to go until Winter Walk for Endo week! We've loved seeing workplaces come together to Walk for Endo over the years. Could 2025 be the year you get involved?❄️ Take part in Winter Walk for Endo by walking 10km during the week of 20-26 January 2025. You could go for one 10km walk, break the distance up, or adapt the distance to suit you. It's all about raising awareness and taking part in something as a community all over the UK. Ready? Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/eSd7M_xR

We're thrilled to welcome AO for Businesses to the Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme. Thank you AO for pledging your commitment to creating a supportive working environment and culture for employees with endometriosis. Could your workplace become an Endometriosis Friendly Employer in 2025? Find out more about the scheme at: https://lnkd.in/enGh-PA

We’re pleased to share just a few highlights from our 2023 - 2024 Annual Report 🤩 Our Annual Report details Endometriosis UK’s activities in the last financial year. It’s thanks to our wonderful volunteers, fundraisers, medical advisors, partners and supporters that we were able to grow our support network and reach more of those who need us. From all of us at Endometriosis UK, thank you to our team of dedicated volunteers for their continued support for those with endometriosis across the UK and to all those who have contributed to our work 💛 All stats are from our latest Annual Report, which spans 1 March 2023 - 31 March 2024. Find our Annual Reports at: https://shorturl.at/Ezo4s

Thank you to Gill Furniss MP, Sarah Gibson MP and Steve Darling MP for making sure the concerns of the endometriosis community were raised in Parliamentary debate 📢 Employment Rights Bill committee members discussed the need for menstrual health conditions to be covered specifically in the Bill, and several MPs mentioned that constituents with endometriosis had contacted them to share their stories about why this change is so needed. The bill will continue to be debated in the new year, so let's keep this important issue on the agenda! We look forward to keeping our community updated with how you can get involved in the new year.

Support over the festive period 👇️ Our helpline and web chat will be closed between Monday 23rd December until Friday 3rd January. If you require support during this time, please email [email protected] and a member of the team will be in touch, or alternatively, you can access our free online community on HealthUnlocked, a 24/7 online forum to connect with others with endometriosis. If you are distressed and need to speak with someone you can also contact: The Samaritans on 116 123 they offer emotional support 24 hours a day in full confidence. Mind Support Line on 0300 102 1234 they are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). Shout: text ‘shout’ to 85258 Support Services including helpline, web chat and support groups will resume from Monday 6th January 2025 💛

You are not alone 💛 Our support services, including support groups, web chat, helpline and online community forum are a place to connect with others with endometriosis. These services are all run by trained volunteers with lived experience of endometriosis like Jasmine, who shared these words to those thinking of attending a support group for the first time. Find out more about our online and in person support services at: https://lnkd.in/eGRHJh2G

Volunteer with us in 2025 💛 If you've been thinking about volunteering your time to support others with endometriosis, we'd love to hear from you. Volunteer induction dates for 2025 are available on our website now, with the first taking place online on 8th February. ⁠ Our Support Network volunteers all have lived experience of endometriosis and offer 2-3 hours of their time each week to provide support and information, they help to connect people and raise awareness. In return volunteers can expect to receive good quality induction training and access to ongoing training and support. Volunteers can claim expenses they incur whilst volunteering for Endometriosis UK and can request a reference when they have been volunteering for 6 months or more.⁠ ⁠ Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/e4rPqEa6

Our Welsh Development Coordinator Heatherjane was pleased to attend the launch of the Women’s Health Plan for Wales at the Senedd on Tuesday 10th December 2024. Endometriosis UK are pleased that the Welsh Government have recognised the seriousness of endometriosis and adenomyosis, and prioritised these in the Womens Health Plan. Diagnosis times in Wales are the longest in the UK and increasing rather than decreasing, taking an average of almost 10 years in Wales. Now the Women’s Health Plan has been published, we look forward to moving quickly from words to actions. Not only will this reduce patient suffering, but it will also save NHS resources. Read or download the Women’s Health Plan at: https://lnkd.in/dEgR-C3R

📢 The Women and Equalities Committee has today released a report urging the Government to commit to a range of measures to support those with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions. This includes ensuring that diagnosing endometriosis takes no longer than two years, with this target due to be achieved by the end of the current parliament - meaning no later than August 2029. Having such a target would be a very positive step towards Endometriosis UK's own ambition for an average of one year or less. Our CEO Emma Cox says: "We welcome this report highlighting the importance of symptoms of endometriosis and menstrual health conditions being recognised and believed, as well as making clear and wide-ranging recommendations to improve the lives of those with this disease and other conditions. These, along with the passion for this issue which is expressed in the committee's report should give hope to those impacted by endometriosis and menstrual health conditions that their voice is being heard. Endometriosis UK look forward to working with Governments and health services across the UK to turn the recommendations in the report into reality." Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dmbyzzcg

This morning (10 December 2024), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a new dataset called 'Characteristics of women with an endometriosis diagnosis in England: 27 March 2011 to 31 December 2021'. This uses hospital data to analyse trends around those receiving an endometriosis diagnosis in an NHS hospital. The ONS notes that the true prevalence of endometriosis is much wider, as those diagnosed privately, or in other countries, and those without a diagnosis, are not included in this specific publication. We are pleased to see this new data, and look forward to a further ONS publication about how endometriosis impacts the labour market. Our CEO, Emma Cox says: "We're delighted that the Government and the ONS has recognised the significance of endometriosis, and decided to commission high-quality statistical evidence to ensure a better understanding of the disease's impacts, including how it impacts different communities. Endometriosis UK was pleased to support Dr Isobel Ward from the ONS in this important project." Find links to the data and read our full response at: https://lnkd.in/eENf4XrV