Brixton’s blood donor centre next to Marks and Spencer is celebrating its first birthday today (22 January) with the news that its tally of new blood donors is twice the national average.
More than one in ten donors at the centre are from the Black heritage communities it targets to improve and save the lives of people with sickle cell disease.
And more young people are donating at the Brixton centre than the national average
The latest data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) reveals that more than 50,000 lives have been saved or improved in the centre’s first year of operation
More than 17,000 Londoners answered the call and gave blood in Brixton, boosting stocks and ensuring the capital’s hospitals and emergency services have the lifesaving blood they need.
Of those, just under 4,500 donors (38%) chose to make their first-ever donation at the Brixton centre, significantly outperforming the national average of 18%.
Increasing the number of Black heritage donors, who are significantly more likely than the white population to have the specific Ro blood type needed to treat people living with sickle cell, is a priority for the NHS and one of the main reasons Brixton was chosen as the site for the new centre.
While only 3% of white donors have the Ro blood subtype, the figure for Black heritage donors is almost half (47%).
NHSBT performance data shows that the Brixton centre is proving a hit with Black heritage Londoners, with more than one-in-ten (12.6%) donors being of Black heritage – five times the national average.
The frequent appearance of stars, celebrities and other prominent personalities at the centre have helped focus attention on its vital role.
In its first year, Brixton (23%) was second only to the well-established Stratford blood donor centre (27%) as the London site delivering the largest percentage of Black heritage donors.
Brixton also accounted for around a fifth (19%) of all Ro donors across London – more than double the national average.
More than 17,000 people in the UK currently live with sickle cell, and around 300 babies a year are born with the country’s fastest-growing inherited blood disorder.
South London has the highest number of people living with sickle cell disease in the UK, with an estimated 3,800 reported in a 2021 exercise.
“The generosity of Brixton’s blood donors has made a lifesaving difference to patients across the country,” said NHSBT.
As well as attracting a high proportion of Black heritage donors, it is also proving popular with a new generation of donors and helping to drive up the numbers of under-35s giving blood.
More than half (57%) of Londoners donating at the Brixton centre were under 35, compared with less than a quarter (24%) nationally.
Tapping into Brixton’s young and diverse population to inspire a new generation of donors was a key factor in choosing Brixton as the site of the centre.
A year on, NHSBT data suggests that young Londoners are answering the NHS call to donate.
“I’d like to thank Londoners for their amazing generosity and support over the year the Brixton centre has been open,” said Mark Chambers, NHSBT director of donor experience.
“Without their backing, many lives would be lost or diminished, and many patients who need lifesaving treatments, be they sickle cell patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, or women receiving maternity care, wouldn’t receive the treatments they need.
“Brixton has had a great first year but the need for blood is still high.
“I’m urging all Londoners to make 2026 the year of giving and make an appointment to give blood at 0300 123 23 23, or visit: blood.co.uk to save up to three lives with each donation.”
Sickle cell patient Calvin Campbell, owes his life to the generosity of London’s blood donors. “I recently suffered a sickle cell crisis that left me temporarily blind in one eye,” he said. “Without regular transfusions I wouldn’t be able to fight back against the disease and live something close to a normal life.
“I’m lucky that my sickle cell is being largely controlled by pre-emptive blood transfusions, but that means I need blood from more than 130 donors a year, and that’s why the Brixton blood donor centre is crucial to getting more Black heritage signing up to give blood and save people like me.”
Brixton blood donor Sarah Eve Tucker said: “As a Black Londoner I want to represent the Black community and give something back to all Londoners.
“Last week I made my 15th donation at Brixton and am excited to have a fantastic, community-focused centre on my doorstep to help me make it to 50 donations and beyond.
“Giving blood is a super-quick, rewarding experience that makes a real difference to people’s lives, especially since I have a rare blood subtype, Ro, which is really needed in my community.
“I donate at Brixton as it’s close to my home, easy to get to and the staff are really friendly. Plus, I can do some shopping after in the local market and pop into Marks and Spencer, which is right next to the donation centre.”
High-profile donors and supporters from the worlds of entertainment and politics who have donated in Brixton over the past year include London-born international supermodel Jourdan Dunn, Jamaica’s most senior diplomat in the UK, High Commissioner His Excellency Alexander Williams, MOBO award winning podcasters the 90s Baby Show, TikTok star Bus Aunty and influencer Simply Sayo (Adesayo Talabi) – who launched a campaign at Brixton to recruit 16,000 additional Black heritage blood donors.
It is quick and easy to book an appointment to give blood. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk
NHSBT has seven permanent donor centres in London (Brixton, Tooting, Edgware, West End, Shepherd’s Bush, Stratford and Twickenham). Mobile teams also collect blood at community venues like church halls.
