Ailie Harrison and Stephanie Clark formed the Scoliosis Self-Help Group, the forerunner of the Scoliosis Association (UK), in 1981, to help people with scoliosis and their families. The group started out in a small way with under 200 members, all of whom were past or present patients of Dr Phillip Zorab at the Brompton Hospital, London. 

The group changed its name in 1986 to conform with its sister organisations in the USA and Canada, but its aim of self-help remains. The formation of the British group has stimulated interest all over the world and self-help groups modelled on SAUK have now been set up elsewhere. These groups exchange newsletters, and many members from different countries correspond with each other.