ITV2’s Blood Squad returns to support NHS Blood and Transplant

ITV2’s Blood Squad returns for its fourth year, as ITV2 teams up again with NHS Blood and Transplant to appeal to young people to help save and improve lives by giving blood.

A series of special promotional videos featuring the likes of Tiffany Calver, Darren Harriott, Joel Dommett and Emily Atack will feature on TV screens across ITV2 and social media from this week.

Blood Squad aims to help rebuild and future proof the pool of regular blood donors as the NHS recovers from the pandemic.

The campaign by ITV Creative playfully reminds us to ‘Save Lives, Grab a Biscuit’, highlighting the tasty upside of donating blood to save and improve up to three lives.

More young donors and black donors needed

This year, while encouraging donations from everyone, the campaign includes a specific appeal for donors of a Black heritage to sign up. This is because they are more likely to have the blood type needed to treat the 15,000 people with Sickle Cell disorder.

Sickle Cell is the fastest growing blood disorder in the UK. It mostly affects people with a Black African or Black Caribbean background and where ethnically matched blood transfusions are crucial in the treatment of this often extremely painful disorder.

Find out more about Sickle Cell and the importance of the Ro blood type.

New donors are vital

Whilst 17-34-year-olds supplied 463,495 whole blood donations of a total 1,726,453 in 2020 - making up almost a third of donations – we continue to need more young new donors.

This year Blood Squad turns four and last year the award-winning campaign prompted over 136,000 blood donors to register. NHSBT needs 450 people to register as new donors every day.

Susie Braun, ITV Director of Social Purpose said:

“This is the fourth year ITV has supported NHS Blood and Transplant. We’re delighted that ITV2 viewers are so public-minded in signing up to give blood and delighted to do our bit in recruiting even more of the next generation of blood donors.

“It’s another demonstration of the power of TV to shape culture for good.”

The need for blood

Alex Cullen, Head of Marketing for blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant said:

““Through this ITV2 partnership we want to highlight the unprecedented challenge ahead of this winter, as we rebuild the donor community to future proof our service while also building blood stocks.

“Please do something amazing and help the NHS to recover and build a bright future by becoming a first-time donor or keep to your appointment if you already donate, especially if you live or work near to one of our donor centres.

“Each donation can save or improve up to three lives and we particularly need more Black donors.”

Giving blood

Join us to save lives by registering to give blood and booking an appointment today.

If you can’t find an appointment, please don’t worry. Please book an appointment for the next few weeks or months – you will still be saving lives.

If you are 17 or over, you can find out if you are eligible to donate, register and book an appointment online or by calling 0300 123 23 23.

Save a life. Give blood. #ITV2BloodSquad