The announcement of the funding aptly came on World Kidney Day and aims to address the shortage of organs, particularly kidneys, for those waiting for a transplant from all Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds.
While also highlighting the need for more blood donors from a black background, whose blood is used to treat patients with conditions like sickle cell.
The Community Investment Scheme, which is led by
NHS Blood and Transplant, will f
und local organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change.
Having previously only focussed on promoting organ donation, the scheme has now been opened to include projects which also highlight the importance of blood donation.
For many patients in need of a transplant the best match will come from a donor from the same ethnic background.
Kidney donors and recipients are matched by blood group and tissue type, and people from the same ethnic background are more likely to have matching blood groups and tissue types.
Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients often have to wait significantly longer for a successful match than white patients, due to a shortage of suitably matched donors.
Sickle cell is currently the fastest growing genetic disorder in both the UK and the wider world.
People from Black African or Black Caribbean backgrounds are most likely to have this condition which can often require frequent, life-saving blood transfusions.
For those reliant on regular transfusions, it is essential that they receive blood matched as closely as possible to their own.
There is an increased demand for some rare blood subtypes, such as Ro, that are more common in Black people.
More blood donors from a Black background are needed as these subtypes are important when someone has regular transfusions as they need blood that matches their own as closely as possible to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening transfusion reactions.
There is hope that the introduction of Max and Keira's Law – the new law relating to organ and tissue donation in England – which came into effect on 20th May 2020, will lead to an increase in the number of donors of all ethnicities.
However, families will still be consulted before donation goes ahead so it remains essential to raise awareness, challenge misinformation and encourage those supportive of organ donation to talk with their families.
Altaf Kazi, Head of Faith and Belief Engagement at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
"Through the Community Investment Scheme we have seen first-hand the abilities of trusted individuals and community groups to prompt conversation, tackle misinformation, educate and offer reassurance around organ donation and now blood donation.
"Often a person's best donor match will share their ethnicity, but too many donation opportunities are missed because families haven"t discussed organ donation, and Black and Asian people are seriously underrepresented when it comes to donating blood.
"We are asking more people from Black and Asian communities to find out about both blood and organ donation and help us to address the inequalities that many members of these communities may face. By giving your support you can help save lives."