A national charity supporting people living with a stoma has received a prestigious health award recognising its work to improve everyday life for thousands across the UK.
Wokingham based charity Colostomy UK has been named one of 10 winners of this year’s GSK IMPACT Awards, presented in partnership with The King’s Fund. The awards celebrate small and medium-sized charities making a significant contribution to health and wellbeing.
The charity, which supports people affected by stoma surgery, will receive an incredible £40,000 in unrestricted funding alongside access to a leadership development programme.
A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen usually when the digestive or urinary system cannot function normally, or when an organ requires time to heal after surgery. The stoma allows bodily waste to leave the body. While some stomas are temporary, many are permanent and impact daily life, confidence and mental wellbeing, needing time for life-style adjustment.
More than 200,000 people in the UK live with a stoma, with around 21,000 new operations carried out every year.
Colostomy UK said the award recognises years of campaigning to challenge stigma and improve support for people adapting to life after surgery.
The charity provides a national helpline, online support services, wellbeing sessions and training for healthcare professionals. Also working with NHS organisations and campaign partners to improve access to appropriate stoma care and accessible toilet facilities.
The charity has also gained attention for initiatives designed to change public perceptions around stomas, especially their “bold and creative campaigns”, including work with rugby league teams and collaborations with major organisations such as Marks & Spencer, the Civil Aviation Authority and the producers of Coronation Street.
Its latest project involves working with a sex therapist to develop resources focusing on intimacy and relationships after stoma surgery, an area the charity says is often overlooked.
Libby Herbert, Chief Executive of Colostomy UK, said the award was “a powerful endorsement” of the charity’s mission. She said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition. We exist to make a positive difference for anyone impacted by stoma surgery….This award belongs to our staff, volunteers and trustees, whose compassion and determination drive everything we do.”
Founded in 1967 as the Colostomy Welfare Group, the organisation originally began by connecting former patients with people recovering from surgery to offer reassurance and peer support.
Today, the charity supports thousands of people each year through its helpline, support groups, online communities and awareness events.
In 2024 alone, Colostomy UK’s helpline received more than 4,200 calls, while hundreds more people accessed support through online chats and local groups across the country.
The organisation also works closely with healthcare professionals to improve standards of care for patients living with a stoma.
Among its recent projects is the Health Ability Passport, developed with the Royal College of Nursing to help nurses with stomas continue working in hospital settings after surgery.
Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, said Colostomy UK stood out for its “powerful lived experience leadership” and the scale of its impact both locally and nationally. Also adding; “The charity’s combination of peer-led support, policy leadership and stigma-reducing campaigns demonstrates truly exceptional achievement.”
The award comes at a time when health charities across the country are facing growing demand for services and increasing financial pressures.
Despite those challenges, Colostomy UK says it remains committed to ensuring nobody faces life with a stoma alone.
Learn how you can get make a difference here!
Local support groups in Berkshire:
Reading Bowel Cancer Support Group
When: Every third Tuesday of the month, 2-4pm
Where: Earley Crescent Community Centre, Warbler Drive, Lower Earley, Reading RG6 4HB (next to the Police Station)
Contact: Ted Wingrove 0118 961 8297 or 07974 790 558
WAMS (Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead & Slough) Stoma Support Group
When: 2nd Monday of each month, 7-8:30pm
Where: Dedworth Green Baptist Church, Smiths Lane, Windsor, SL4 5PE
Contact: If you are interested in joining then please e-mail Giovanni: [email protected] or call on 0118 939 1537
Stoma Helpline: Call 0800 328 4257 (open 365 days a year, 9 am – 10 pm) for a friendly chat, practical advice, or to get free information packs.
