Donate a Kidney UK

18/06/2026

Connect with someone who has experience of the kidney donation process 💜

The UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service allows anyone interested in learning more about living kidney donation to speak with someone with lived experience.

Visit our website below to learn more and sign up to request a buddy.

https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/requesting-a-buddy/

17/06/2026

It's so inspiring to hear talk about donating one of his kidneys to a stranger and his reasons for doing it 💜

Over 7,000 people in the UK are on the NHS waiting list for a kidney and over six people a week die while waiting. At the same time, most of us are born with two kidneys but only need one to live a healthy life.

Visit our website www.donateakidney.co.uk if you'd like to know more about what's involved and the support available for anyone thinking about donating.

17/06/2026

What is non-directed kidney donation?

Donating a kidney to a stranger, known as non-directed kidney donation or altruistic kidney donation, is an act that can improve the lives of people living with kidney disease and give them a new lease on life.

Visit our website below for more info what non-directed kidney donation is, who can become a donor, and the steps involved in the process, as well as common concerns and myths about this life-saving surgery 💜

Learn more: https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/living-kidney-donation/what-is-non-directed-kidney-donation/

Donating a kidney is an incredible thing to do. A living kidney donation is the best current treatment option for people who need a transplant

17/06/2026

Sarah had seen first-hand how transformative a kidney transplant had been to the lives of people she knew, which made the decision to become a non-directed living kidney donor quite easy for her.

She says: "I found the whole process of going through the tests interesting and everyone was so friendly and encouraging but I never felt pressurised into going ahead with the operation."

Read her full story in the link in our comments section.

15/06/2026

Juliette was aware of living kidney donation. When the right time came, she knew she wanted to put herself forward for donation.

"I did consider waiting a few years, but after some consideration, I decided that right now was a good time for me - I had no dependents to look after during the recovery process and was able to work from home, instead of rushing back to the office."

"I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest to get in touch with their local living donor team – you are never under any obligation to go through with the donation, but if you decide to go ahead, you won’t regret it."

Read more about Juliette's journey: https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/stories/juliettes-story/

11/06/2026

What does living kidney donation mean to you?

Discover what it means to one of our Buddies, David, who donated a kidney in 2018.

The UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service allows you to speak with someone like David who has lived experience of donating and can discuss their experiences.

Visit our website to discover more about the service and how you can request a Buddy: https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/requesting-a-buddy/

10/06/2026

Many people wonder if there’s a kidney donation age limit. A common misunderstanding is that older people cannot donate their kidneys. This is not true - there is no upper age limit for living kidney donation.

People in their 60s, 70s, and even occasionally people in their 80s have successfully donated kidneys.

Visit our website below to learn more about the testing process involved in donating a kidney, or go to our Stories section to read about the experiences of people of all ages who have donated a kidney 💜
https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/living-kidney-donation/is-there-an-age-limit-for-donating-a-kidney/

08/06/2026

Mandy donated one of her kidneys to her younger cousin Lou, who is ten years younger than her and was diagnosed with kidney problems when she was two years old 💜

"If she had asked me to go on the rides with her at Alton Towers, now that would have been the biggest challenge of my life! But all I did was what I could, with very little effort on my part. I would encourage anyone who is fit and able to consider giving the gift of life."

Read Mandy and Lou's heartfelt experiences with living kidney donation by visiting our website: https://www.donateakidney.co.uk/stories/mandys-story/

08/06/2026

After spending ten years on dialysis and receiving her own transplant in 2018, Hilaria has been raising awareness of the life-changing impact of organ donation, encouraging people to consider becoming donors.

She has made it her mission to raise awareness of kidney disease, becoming one of our community ambassadors and blood pressure volunteers - offering free blood pressure checks in her community, helping people to understand if they are at risk of kidney problems.

“I come from Nigeria originally and we don’t tend to speak about illness or death. Becoming an organ donor is not a topic that is often considered, meaning there are a lack of donors from the Black community. That’s why it is important to me to share my story, to encourage people to think differently."

We are so grateful for volunteers like Hilaria, who dedicate their time to support others experiencing the harsh realities of kidney disease. As we end Volunteers Week, we want to say a huge thank you to every single one of our volunteers, for providing care and understanding and for continuing to raise awareness of kidney disease. We couldn't achieve all that we have without you 💜

07/06/2026

As comes to an end, we want to thank you all for marking the occasion and celebrating our incredible Buddies, who generously dedicate their time and share their invaluable experiences of kidney donation 💜

Support is vital for both donors and those around them during the kidney donation journey. Thanks to our Buddies, we are able to offer a safe and secure place where people can connect and talk about the donation journey.

Thank you for all your support, and keep an eye on our socials for more stories from our buddies and supporters.