The Donor

News and information for blood donors

With almost 5,000 donations needed every day, there’s never a shortage of remarkable stories emerging from the world of giving blood – be they from the research lab, the hospital bed, or the donor chair.

The Donor brings those stories to the fore: stories that may inspire you or make you laugh or cry, but should, more than anything, help you to feel proud of the amazing, compassionate, and generous thing you’re doing every time you donate.

Latest stories

Ultra rare

Mina is one of fewer than 10 people in the country with U and N negative blood. She is classed as an 'ultra rare' donor, meaning she is individually contacted when her blood is needed, unlike the other 99.99% of donors.

Spring 2026 update

In our spring 2026 update, we celebrate a year of lives being saved by UK-derived plasma medicines, look into the rules around children attending donation sessions and launch the Bloodlines initiative.

Seeing the work I do differently

Toni not only works at the Bristol Eye Bank for NHS Blood and Transplant, he has also received three corneal transplants himself.

Features

Humans of Blood Donation

We receive so many wonderful and heart-warming stories from blood donors that we decided to turn them into a regular feature - Humans of Blood Donation.

Our latest contributor, Sam Awuku, was inspired to start giving blood by his friend David, who is a regular donor, and by his little sister, who has sickle cell.

Down Memory Lane

For some donors, the habit of saving lives is one that stretches way back into the past – in some cases, as far as the 1950s.

In our feature, Down Memory Lane, these lifesavers take us back through the decades to the days their younger selves started giving blood.

Ask the experts

Ever wondered if giving blood will affect your sporting performance? Or if donation is a pint? Thankfully, our clinical experts are on hand with the answers.

Hear from the best and brightest from across the organisation on the latest in the world of blood donation.

Meet the Donor

Celebrate the inspirational people who have transformed the lives of others through living organ donation.

Our latest contributor, Daniel Arthur, donated a kidney to his son, Eugene, live on television!

Functions of blood

Did you know it takes a red blood cell less than a minute to move from the heart, through the body, and back to the heart? Or that when fighting an infection, the body produces more white blood cells?

Our new feature explores the key functions of blood.

The journey of blood

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of blood donation? We will take you on a journey of blood and show you what happens before, during and after you donate.

Get in touch

Share your news, views and interesting or unusual donor stories by emailing thedonor@nhsbt.nhs.uk

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