Looking Back, Looking Forward: What Our Impact Report Tells Us

Since I got here, every year Inflammatory Neuropathies UK has published an Impact Report. It may just look like it’s full of numbers, percentages, and statistics. But for me, it is about something much more important than that. It is all about people impacted by Inflammatory Neuropathies, and what the charity does to support them.

Behind every number is someone who needed information after a diagnosis. Someone looking for support during a difficult time. Someone who wanted to connect with another person who truly understood what they were going through.

Our latest Impact Report shows just how far Inflammatory Neuropathies UK has come over the past year, and I could not be prouder.

This has been our first full year as Inflammatory Neuropathies UK following our rebrand, and it has been a year of growth in almost every area. We supported 57% more people than the previous year (I mean that’s amazing isn’t it), delivered more than twice as much support, increased the number of Personal Grants awarded, and completed over 5,000 direct support activities. Those are remarkable figures for a small charity. More importantly, they represent real people getting the help they needed when they needed it most.

Our digital reach has increased too. More than 70,000 people visited our website during the year, and our social media engagement increased by 31%. That tells us something really important. People are looking for reliable information, support, and reassurance, and they are finding it through Inflammatory Neuropathies UK.

The report also highlights something that matters hugely to me. People told us that they value our easy to understand information, our support, our awareness work, and the fact that we are speaking up on behalf of the Inflammatory Neuropathies Community. That feedback means a great deal because it tells us we are focusing on the things that genuinely matter.

One of the reasons we produce an Impact Report is because it helps us listen. It helps us understand where we are making a difference, and where we need to do better. It helps us identify gaps, shape our priorities, and ensure that the voices of people impacted by Inflammatory Neuropathies remain at the heart of everything we do.

The report also reminds us that there is still work to do. People told us they want better emotional and mental health support, more research into treatments and the long term impact of these conditions, greater awareness among healthcare professionals, stronger campaigning, and more opportunities to connect with others. Those messages came through loud and clear, and we are already doing something about it.

We also saw some areas where we need to improve. Peer Support referrals reduced during the year, and new membership numbers fell. Whilst the overall picture is incredibly positive, those findings show us where we need to focus our energy next, or what we may need to change and do differently.

At the centre of all of this is a team and a community that I am ever so proud of. I am proud of our staff team, who work tirelessly every day to support people, raise awareness, build partnerships, and make sure people feel heard. I am proud of our volunteers, supporters, fundraisers, healthcare professionals, trustees, and partners who help us achieve so much.

Most of all, I am proud of the Inflammatory Neuropathies Community itself. People who share their experiences, support one another, speak up, campaign, fundraise, and help shape the future of the charity.

Together, we have achieved an enormous amount over the past year. But are we finished, of course not!

There are still too many people who do not know we exist. Too many people struggling to access the right support. Too many people waiting for answers, treatment, rehabilitation, or recognition of the long term impact of their condition. That is why we must keep pushing forward.

Over the coming year we will strengthen Peer Support, grow our community, expand our services, increase our awareness and campaigning work, and continue to ensure lived experience shapes research, healthcare, and policy.

The Impact Report shows how far we have come. The next few years will show how much further we can go. And together, I am absolutely confident that we will get there. After all (and as we often say), we are IN this together.

You can read the report here