Crohn's & Colitis Support Lancashire

10/05/2026

Our Committee 😊

⭐️ Claire
I’m Claire, a wife and mum based in East Lancs, and I’ve worked in education for the past 13 years. I work as a SENCO in an independent special school, supporting children with additional needs and helping them thrive. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2012, and over the last 10 months I’ve undergone ileostomy surgery, had my large intestine removed, and more recently, a proctectomy.

I joined Crohn’s & Colitis Lancashire initially to connect with others who truly understood the challenges of living with IBD and surgery. Now, I’m passionate about using my experiences to offer support, reassurance, and education to others navigating similar journeys.

⭐️ Colin
My name is Colin, I'm based in Chorley, and I’m a trustee for the charity. I’ve been involved with the group for about two years and have lived with Crohn’s disease for nearly twenty-five years. I took on the trustee role to give back and help the charity grow, ultimately supporting more people diagnosed with this illness.

I lead an adventurous lifestyle, whether climbing mountains or exploring underground, and I strive not to let the disease define my achievements or capabilities. I look forward to meeting some of you at our support evenings or activity days.

⭐️ Kirsty
I'm Kirsty, based in South Ribble, working for Lancashire County Council. Mum to two grown-up daughters and a little dog called Lulu. I love walking and I am currently developing my running to maintain my health and wellbeing.

I was diagnosed with UC in 2023. My motivation for being on the committee is that the group has been a lifeline since diagnosis, and it’s clearly so needed due to the lack of meaningful support available elsewhere. The group is there for everyone - through the well moments and the flares! It offers great advice, support, and motivation as well as empowering self-advocacy - this is a community that definitely needs to grow.

⭐️ Kelly
I’m Kelly, also based in South Ribble. I’m a researcher at the University of Lancashire. I try to keep active, travel, and have a little pug called Lola attached to me much of the time.

I came to the group’s second/third ever meeting, way back, and been a trustee for many years since. I'm also a trustee for Tender Nursing Care. I gained so much peer support from the group around my UC that I felt it only right to give back where I can, to help others feel less isolated and more informed about IBD. I’m also involved in research, both to keep up to date and to contribute to the evidence base. We have lots of ambitious plans I’d love to come to fruition, especially given the gap in healthcare and support.

And of course, our founder Victoria!

💜 If you are an experienced trustee and interested in joining the committee or simply helping volunteer with activities (e.g., events, information, campaigns) please let us know. You don’t have to have IBD to support us!

08/05/2026

Got knocked back for funding for IBD information packs, was contacted by local TV last night, content recorded on my lunch break today 👌🏻

📅 Monday 11th May
📺 Channel 7 Freeview
🕰️ 6pm

We want those newly diagnosed to know they are not alone, we want employers to understand what their employees are going through, though they might not talk about it and we want the IBD community to feel less isolated.

Advocating for the invisible to become visible 💪

05/05/2026

Unfortunately, we weren’t successful in our recent funding bid for information packs. This is something we have been trying to do for a while and would make a real difference for people newly diagnosed or needing support.

As a small, independent community group, we rely on funding and donations to keep going. We don’t have paid staff (as much as we'd like to) or a big CEO, and we’re not connected to a national charity – everything we do is led by volunteers who (despite their own health conditions) care about supporting people others with Crohn’s and Colitis.

This means every activity, meet-up, and resource we offer depends on support we receive. We have so many big plans. We’ll keep looking for opportunities and doing what we can with what we have.

If you’ve ever found value in our group, or would like to help us continue supporting others, please consider us for any future marathons/sports challenges, tombola prizes or donations.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this community

29/04/2026

A walk through of where we are based for our monthly meetings, held on the last Wednesday of the month 7.15-8.30pm 💜

📍The Annexe Euxton Community Centre

29/04/2026

A brilliant meeting tonight celebrating 9 years of IBD and stoma support 💜

Thank you to all who attended and to Dansac for our sponsorship 💜

28/04/2026

22/04/2026

21/04/2026

Fancy getting rid of some anger towards IBD? 🪓

Join us for an axe throwing outdoor activity morning, let it all out in a fun, supportive environment!

Family friendly event 💜

📍Canalside activity centre Blackburn

19/04/2026

This week I had my second NHS vacation of the year and for the first time in 17 years of hospital admissions, my neighbour was younger than me!!

I never ever forget the people I meet in hospital and Rey was no exception, we spoke for hours about living with an invisible illness and what an inspiration she is 💜

Diagnosed with Lupus at 16 was life changing but I loved how much fight she had in her and advocating for herself, but as we know being strong is tiring.

A perfect description from Rey of how it feels living with a chronic illness, when you have so many hopes and dreams but are living in a body that cannot keep up.

“It was an absolute pleasure meeting you, finally someone who gets it, what it’s like to feel good one moment and like death in another. Who is going through the same frustrations of having a new doctor consultant everyday asking the same question “so what’s the problem?” And giving a completely new plan from the doctor before. It’s hard having an ‘invisible disability’ because it’s invisible to everyone else whilst being the biggest hill we have to climb.

Balancing between feeling sick and ‘looking fine’ eats up most of my time, though I do look fine on the outside my body is crumbling within. I’m left trying to explain a world people couldn’t imagine, living with a feeding tube coming out of my stomach, dialysis tubes coming out of my neck, having to attend dialysis 3 times per week, unable to work, unable to exercise and my uni Masters degree on a medical pause becuase this last 12 months I’ve spent more time in hospital than in my own home, I’ve had more nights spent in hospital beds than in my own. But through it all it’s made me appreciate the little things in life and not to take my health, when I have a good day, for granted.

The designer bags, flashy clothes and loads of followers on social media mean absolutely nothing, they can’t take away the pain and sickness. Having a chronic illness and kidney failure has pushed me to venture down the holistic road and find alternative natural ways to heal my body from within and to rid myself of the nasty side effects that come with our many many prescriptions.

What does help is finding people in similar situations who just get it, where you can give support, health advice and also receive it. But mostly having a friend who you don’t have to explain yourself to, loves you for you and does not put you in a box of ‘can and can’t do’ because of your illness.

It was a breath of fresh air meeting you as it is rare to come across another young person fighting the same battle. We’re often overlooked so it felt great to feel seen.

Thank you for our great long chats and including me in what you are doing. You’ve re-lit the fire in me to want to help others who are living with a chronic illness and to also educate those who are not.

A problem shared is a problem halved, what you’re doing to raise awareness and educate people is amazing and what we need more of”.

Two women, same fire 🫶

16/04/2026

Imagine all the display cabinets we would need 🏅