Voluntary Sector Campaign of the Year Award: FreedomToDonate

Over the last 10 years, there has been a 40% drop in the number of those giving blood. With 6000 blood transfusions taking place in the UK every day, it’s an issue FreedomToDonate decided to do something about.

The Campaign

9 months ago, FreedomToDonate did not exist. There was no combined effort to raise this issue and the debate on whether we should be reviewing the criteria of who should be able to donate blood was not being had.

The campaign was conceived when the founder, Ethan Spibey, was asked at work whether he could donate blood. Unbeknown to the person asking, gay men are currently restricted from donating blood unless they have been celibate for 12 months. Under current guidelines, there are a number of restrictions around who is able to donate blood. This includes a 12 month deferral criterion on those classed as MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) and a complete blanket ban on anyone who has ever had sex for money or drugs or ever injected drugs.

With no finance, no sponsorship and working a full time job, Ethan set about putting this issue firmly on the agenda.

Ethan also had a very personal reason for starting this campaign as he was asked to donate blood by his family following his Grandfather surviving a major operation involving a blood transfusion. It is Ethan’s desire that he will one day repay the donor who saved his Granddad’s life by being able to donate blood; and so FreedomToDonate began.

FreedomToDonate has two principle aims; to raise awareness of the current guidelines on blood donation and to call for a review into them. Underlining this is a simple yet powerful message, that 1 in 4 of us will rely on blood some point in our lives and so those who can safely donate, should be able to donate blood.

FreedomToDonate has ignited a passionate debate, run by a team of 6 unpaid yet dedicated individuals all committed to making a difference. Within 3 months of the campaign being conceived, Ethan and his team had already built a network of support with some of the largest LGBT charities and organisations in the UK including Stonewall, the National AIDS Trust, the National Union of Students, the LGBT Foundation, Brook Charity, the Kaleidoscope Trust and GMFA.

From that framework, 6 months ago, FreedomToDonate began to engage politicians and key stakeholders in the policy. The campaign has already secured the backing of some 30 MPs from all of the major Westminster parties including the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the Shadow Home Secretary and prominent Conservative backbenchers.

Current support for the Campaign

• FreedomToDonate began with one person’s passionate belief that he wanted to repay the donor who saved his Granddad’s life. Now, over 40,000 people have signed a petition in support of the campaign and FreedomToDonate is now supported, in addition to its original sponsors by major corporations including KPMG LLP, PwC, BP, Inclusive Networks and OUTStanding.
• The campaign’s launch day on the 28th of July generated widespread coverage within online and national press. This included coverage in 12 online publications including Huffington Post, the Independent and the Telegraph with just under 3 million impressions.ï‚·
• Members of Parliament from all the main political parties, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, have already come out to support the campaign. The campaign has built momentum within Parliament by engaging MPs and raising the profile of the issue with policy makers.ï‚·
• The campaign’s social media following in just a few months has reached over 1000 followers/subscribers.
• Alongside the creative agency Cheil, FreedomToDonate’s campaign was supported by an exhibition at the London Design Festival. FreedomToDonate has also paired up with creative agency Shape History and a campaign from the global creative agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty to promote the petition and campaign.ï‚·
• FreedomToDonate also runs an ambassador programme to engage thought leaders and activists interested in this policy area. Their stories are their support for the campaign broadens the campaign’s appeal and raises awareness of the policy.

The future of the campaign

The campaign has been invited to speak at the Scottish Parliament and held an event at the State Apartments of the House of Commons on 16th November to launch the campaign’s Awareness Week. This kicked off a week of activity where FreedomToDonate worked alongside their sponsors to highlight the policy through different theme. This included young people, old people, the workplace and campaigners.

In addition, Michael Fabricant MP has agreed to lay an Early Day Motion to bring attention to this policy area. This will be supported by a joint letter to the Public Health Minister outlining the support for the campaign and a call for a review.

Two celebrity doctors are already supporting the campaign and FreedomToDonate has also been asked to publish in the British Medical Journal which they are currently working on alongside the National AIDS Trust.

In just 9 months and without any financial backing, FreedomToDonate has gone from one person’s desire to repay the donor who saved his Grandfather’s life to a national, cross party, popular campaign engaging key stakeholders and influencers at the highest level of politics.