Diabetes UK South West and South Central

05/11/2025

We're moving 📲

Our regional accounts are joining forces with the main Diabetes UK channels – bringing you even more updates, stories, and support from across the UK, all in one place.

✨ Whether it's local events, community highlights, or ways to get involved near you, you’ll still hear from your regional and Together Type 1 teams – through these pages.

Make sure you're following to stay connected with everything happening in your area and beyond 💙

16/10/2025

👋 Our next Together Type 1 events are happening in Portsmouth on Monday 27th October. We'll be running 2 events for different age groups so check out the information for you 👉

11-15s - VR Games at 4pm 🎉 Join us for an afternoon of Virtual Reality arcade games! Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/portsmouth-together-type-1-event-11-15s-tickets-1594210108349?aff=oddtdtcreator

16-25s - VR Games at 6pm ✨ Join us for an evening of arcade games & VR racing simulators! Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/portsmouth-together-type-1-event-16-25s-tickets-1594280749639?aff=oddtdtcreator

We know that living with type 1 diabetes can be frustrating and lonely, so the events are a chance for young people to meet others from the type 1 community, so they can make new friends and support each other. 💙

09/10/2025

Yesterday, Steph, our Engaging Communities Officer, Sophie, our Youth Worker, and Taya, one of our amazing Young Leaders, attended the University of Bristol Volunteer Fair to share the many opportunities available with Diabetes UK.

It was fantastic to engage with so many young people eager to learn more about diabetes and passionate about giving their time to support others. 💙

We have a variety of volunteering roles available across the region. To find out more about volunteering, please visit https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/volunteer or email the team at [email protected]

30/09/2025

London Bridges Wellness Walk 2025 💙

Tom and his partner Kathy, who run the Budleigh Salterton diabetes support group in Devon travelled to London this weekend to complete the London Bridges Wellness Walk.

Joined by other amazing Wellness Walkers, they painted London blue, striding through the city whilst raising vital funds for everyone affected by diabetes.

Well done Tom and Kathy! 💙

Fancy joining the fun and walking in 2026?
Register your interest now:

https://fundraise.diabetes.org.uk/event/wellness-walks/register-your-interest-2026?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwMUVnajBWWk51dndYamJvTQEeNxSQWPXLIeHVNoJU7Lu7q2vlFLqTyU6DgbgANQ37plN5A6NqxwPPHrcHMRM_aem_ys7p4KzgA0eNqv9yMui03A

24/09/2025

A massive THANK YOU to the Blackmore Vale Lions Club for their incredible generosity and unwavering support of Diabetes UK through this year’s Blackmore Vale Half Marathon.

Thanks to their dedication and community spirit, an amazing £1,750 was raised to help fund life-changing research, support those living with diabetes, and bring us closer to a future where diabetes can do no harm.

We’re truly honoured to have been chosen as their charity partner and deeply grateful for every step, every volunteer, and every donation that made this possible. Your impact will be felt far beyond the finish line 💙

24/09/2025

Our fantastic Bristol volunteer, Aron, was out raising awareness of diabetes last week at an event for Bradley Stoke Town Council, which was really well attended by the local community. 💙

📢 Up next for the Bristol group. Virtual Event – Type 1 and Exercise
🗓 Thursday 2nd October
⏰ 6.15pm (via Zoom)
Join us for a practical and supportive session on exercise and Type 1 diabetes.

This event will be run by Neil Gibson alongside Sarah, a local member of the Bristol Type 1 Community — bringing both professional insight and lived experience. 🙌

🔗 The Zoom link will be shared closer to the date – but make sure to save the date and let us know if you’d like to attend!

📩 To register your interest, please contact Aron at [email protected].

🌐 Find out more and stay connected here: https://linktr.ee/diabetesukbristol

08/09/2025

Around 48,000 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly live with diabetes, with a further 29,000 diagnosed with prediabetes.

At the same time, an estimated 1 in 5 people in the region are Deaf or have some level of hearing loss, a number expected to rise with an ageing population and among those exposed to lifestyle or occupational risks such as surfing, fishing, or farming.

That’s why we’ve worked with NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Hearing Loss Cornwall, and members of the Deaf community to produce a series of educational films in British Sign Language (BSL).

The films aim to improve understanding of diabetes, help people navigate healthcare services with more confidence, and will be used nationally to support Deaf people living with diabetes.

Check out the films today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgDbkJnxm7Y&t=27s

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/information-in-different-languages

https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/health/diabetes/diabetes-films-in-british-sign-language-bsl/

These educational films in British Sign Language (BSL) aim to improve understanding of diabetes and help deaf people navigate healthcare services with more confidence.

05/09/2025

✨Are you local to Bath and looking to support Diabetes UK? ✨

Our friendly support group in Bath are looking for a new Chairperson and Treasurer to join them and help lead the group. Could this be you?

Apply here or email [email protected] for more information 💙

Local Group Treasurer- https://volunteer.diabetes.org.uk/opportunities/96122-local-group-treasurer-bath-2025-09-02

Family Group Chair-
https://volunteer.diabetes.org.uk/opportunities/96121-family-group-chair-bath-2025-09-02

Are you passionate about helping people with diabetes in your local community? Do you want to share your skills and experience by becoming part of your local diabetes group?

03/09/2025

Are you local to Cheltenham and looking for a type 1 diabetes support group?

We are excited to announce that we have a new group starting next week on Thursday 11th September, 3pm-4.30pm at Cheltenham East Fire Station, Keynsham Rd, Cheltenham GL53 7PY.

For more information and further dates please contact volunteer Diane via the details on the poster.

01/09/2025

🌟 Last week, our Volunteering & Partnership Officer, Chloe, visited the Budleigh Salterton support group in Devon. Members were joined by Dr. Pia Leete (Senior Research Fellow, University of Exeter) and PhD student Sylvie Agnello, who shared insights into their type 1 diabetes research projects funded by Diabetes UK.

The session was a great success, with lead volunteer Tom Milner saying:
💬 “Everybody enjoyed it and each person found something that really resonated with them. What I especially liked was seeing the clear link between our fundraisers, Diabetes UK, and the research their support makes possible — research that could one day benefit our group members directly.”

👏 A big thank you to everyone who came along and made the event such a positive and inspiring experience!

18/07/2025

👋If you live in Gloucester or the surrounding area, we have a Together Type 1 event coming up on 7th August.

Aimed at 11-15-year-olds, the event hopes to bring together young people living with type 1 diabetes so they can meet others from the community, learn from each other and support each other.

Join us for an afternoon at Go Ape, Forest of Dean, Mallards Pike for an afternoon swinging through the trees🌳

All under 16s must be supersived by a parent/guardian throughout the event, but you don't need to book a ticket for adults. Adults won't be required to go up on the course.

Please note the minimum height is 1.4m.

Find out more and register for the free event by here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gloucester-together-type-1-event-11-15s-tickets-1482976495619?aff=oddtdtcreator Places are given on a first come first serve basis so sign up now!

Are you 11-15 living with type 1 diabetes and in Gloucester? Join us at for some tree top challenge fun at Go-Ape.