Recent Meetings
Fundraising
Office refurbishment
Shugborough
Getting it Straight
BSRF Survey
Ereisma Garden
Creative Arts Workshops
Previous news

Lead Stories:

Sarah Wiles joins the SAUK team

At the start of the year, Sarah Wiles joined the team and has now increased the total number of staff in the Latimer Road office to five.  Sarah began in the new role of Communications Officer in January and will be working half the week for SAUK and the other for BSRF.  The new role was set up to help Rachel the Projects Manager deal with the print needs of the charity.  The next few months will see her take over responsibility for the Annual Report, any scoliosis literature that the organisation produces, an ambitions re-design of the SAUK website , and she will be looking after the Regional Secretaries.

Regional Secretaries and Youth Representatives WANTED!

We are looking for more of our dedicated members to become part of our network of Regional Secretaries.  As a Regional Secretary you will provide additional support to members when they join SAUK.  This entails contacting them by post or e-mail when they join and then giving them additional advice as and when they need it afterwards.  Some people need a lot of initial support through e-mails, telephone conversations and face to face meetings whereas others need very little.  We will support you in your role and provide you with training.  Regional Secretaries are also encouraged to help us fundraise, SAUK meetings if they are in your area and raise awareness of scoliosis in their local communities but this is only if they have time to do so.

We are desperately looking for people down in Cornwall – Do you live in the Truro, Plymouth or Torquay area?  If you do we really need you as this area is without a secretary at the moment.  Are you in the Southend, Colchester or Chelmsford area?  We also need someone here to support our members here.  We also have a big chunk of the midlands without coverage so if you are from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Derby or any of the surrounding post codes please put yourself forward to become one of our fantastic volunteers.

We have also just launched a new younger team of support givers called Youth Representatives.  These are members aged between 18-25 who give younger people support in a similar way to the Regional Secretaries.  The main difference is that they are available by text, Facebook and e-mail as well as telephone and face to face.  We are looking for Youth Representatives across the UK so if you are interested please get in touch.

If you are interested in becoming a Regional Secretary or a Youth Representative contact Sarah Wiles: sarah.wiles@sauk.org.uk

SAUK launches new website forum for younger members

Using the fantastically popular website http://www.facebook.com/, SAUK has set up an online youth forum where young people with scoliosis can exchange their experiences.  To join all you have to do is sign up as a member of Facebook and search for the group Twist and Shout 'Scoliosis Youth'.  Simply click on the link to enter the group and you will be registered immediately.

Scoliosis Campaign Fund announces its 2009 fundraising events

The Scoliosis Campaign Fund is a joint fundraising venture between the Scoliosis Association (UK) and the British Scoliosis Research Foundation.  In 2008 it took part in two events raising over £14,000 for the two charities.  In 2009 it has a fantastic set of seven fundraising activities for people to take part in.  From walking on the South Downs to jumping out of a plane--there's something for just about everyone!  For more information click here. 

Testing for scoliosis in schools

Emma Yeo, a young SAUK member, has started a petition to encourage testing for scolioisis in schools.  Please sign her petition at:

www.thepetitionsite.com/1/start-testing-for-scoliosis-in-schools

Fundraising Made Easier

If you are planning a fundraising event for SAUK there is now an even easier way to donate.   SAUK has signed up to the Just Giving website - a site dedicated to helping charities and individuals raise funds.

The registration takes as little as five minutes and provides you with your own fundraising page.  Just give yourself a title, write a message to your friends and add a photo.  Then email the address of your page to everyone you know, here and abroad and start collecting donations online!

The site allows the general public to access your page and make donations to your chosen charity.  This is a fantastic way to maximise the amount you raise!

All donations are transferred automatically into SAUK's bank account - you don't even have to chase any cash or cheques!  As SAUK is registered with the site, one off donations can also be accepted online. 

For more information please visit www.justgiving.com/scoliosis or contact Rachel Hannam at the SAUK head office. 

11 April 2007--New Projects Manager

SAUK and BSRF have appointed a Projects Manager, Rachel Hannam, to work for both organisations.

Rachel qualified as a Physiotherapist from the University of Birmingham in 2003.  Working for a large NHS trust she gained valuable experience of scoliosis in both children and adults.  In 2005, following 6 months volunteering overseas, Rachel made the transition into the charitable sector.  Initially at home in Norfolk, and more recently in London, she has worked for local infrastructure organisations providing support to charities in their area, thus adding to her medical background experience of fundraising and project management. 

Rachel will be fundraising as well as running SAUK's projects, and she will welcome any ideas our members might have.  If you would like to help out by suggesting ideas or by fundraising with her, please email her on campaigns@sauk.org.uk.

20 March 2007--The British 10K London Run

SAUK was pleased to secure 6 places in the London 10K Run, which was held on 1 July 2007 starting at 9:35am.  In the 2006 Run our runners reported that they had a great time whilst also raising money for SAUK.

13 March 2007

Issue 11 of Best Magazine, published on the 13th March, featured an article by Sonia-Christine Boulton about her experience with scoliosis as a teenager.

24 November 2006

SAUK celebrated its 25th anniversary in style at  The Royal College of Medicine on Wigmore Street in London on Friday the 24th of November.  Champagne flowed freely, canapés kept circulating, and an auction of items generously donated raised funds for the association.

23 November 2006 - SAUK/BSRF Affiliation

SAUK's Trustees and the BSRF Council have recently agreed to become affiliated.  This means that they will be working together more closely in the future. 

The BSRF (www.bsrf.co.uk) is an organisation whose main aim is to fund research into scoliosis.  Two of SAUK's Trustees - Michael Edgar and Stephanie Clark - are involved in both SAUK and BSRF.

For more information on the BSRF contact Rachel Hannam on rachel.hannam@bsrf.co.uk or telephone 0208 960 7110.

7 January 2006

The shortage of specialised staff in Scotland has been highlighted in recent articles appearing in the Edinburgh Evening News (4 January 2006) and the Glasgow Herald (5 January 2006), including a quote from Ailie Harrison of SAUK:

'The position in Scotland has been particularly dire for a long time, given the geography and the long distances people have to travel.

People are also waiting much longer than they should be and it seems that it's worse now than it used to be .'

Click below to see the full text of the articles:

Edinburgh Evening News

Glasgow Herald

11 November 2005

All of us at the Scoliosis Association (UK) were shocked to hear of the death of our Patron, Lord Lichfield. It is with great sorrow that we send our condolences to his family. He will be sadly missed, and we are indebted to him for his support of the association over many years. You can see the wonderful photographs he took for our Getting it Straight campaign here. 

You can acquire one of these lovely photographs. Eight of the photographs from the exhibition are being offered for sale. All photographs are 2'8" by 3'6", framed, and personally signed by Lord Lichfield. The minimum price for each photo is  £300, but all donations above this amount will be welcomed. Please contact our head office, or send an e-mail, to enquire whether the photo you wish to buy is still available.

20 October 2005 - Halloween Party  on 29th October 2005

Beautiful Events, on behalf of Daytrippers Charity organised an exclusive Halloween Party on Saturday 29^th October 2005 at 1pm – 5pm, at The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St. John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TT.   Dress code was Cool and Casual, (fancy dress optional). The party was for children aged between 10 – 18yrs with disabilities, life limiting and terminal illnesses, and in addition was also open to siblings and parents. 

29 June 2005 -Tate Modern Workshop for Teenagers on 28 July 2005

A day at the Tate Modern for teenagers - come and learn about the remarkable Frida Kahlo. 

This summer Tate Modern, London,  hosted an exhibition of work by the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Frida has particular resonance for people with scoliosis and those who have had spinal fusion. Much of her life was spent undergoing experimental surgery, which in those days also meant that much of her life was spent flat on her back recovering in body casts. But these restrictions did not stop her success and talent as an artist. She often painted and drew lying flat, and her body and its journeys are at the core of everything she painted.

On Thursday 28th July Lara Varga led a group of young SAUK members (aged 13 to 18 years) at Tate Modern to discover Frida Kahlo. The days’ activities included a talk and slide show about Frida’s work, group discussion, and sketchbook work.

27 March 2005 - Office opening hours

The office is now open four days a week. Click here for more information on the opening times.

14 March 2005  - SAUK 500 Club 2005

The SAUK 500 Club is now open for 2005. Take a look at our fundraising page for details. You'll also find the list of winners for 2004.

6 January 2005 - Auction of Lichfield photos

If you didn't get a chance to visit our photographic exhibition for our Getting it Straight campaign last year, you now have a chance to acquire one of these lovely photographs taken by our patron Lord Lichfield. Eight of the photographs from the exhibition are being offered to SAUK members in a special auction being held now. All photographs are 2'8" by 3'6", framed, and personally signed by Lord Lichfield. Bids are invited for any or all the photos, starting at £300 each. The auction will end on 28th January 2005. Send your bid to our head office, or e-mail it to sauk@sauk.org.uk, including the name of the person whose photo you are bidding for, the amount of your bid, and your full name, address and telephone number. Winners will be notified by telephone by the middle of February.

Don't miss this opportunity! Not only will you have the chance to acquire a lovely work of art, but you will also be helping the Scoliosis Association (UK). Don't forget, you can see all the photos here.