Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Care Forum

Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia are inherited blood disorders that predominantly affected people of African, Caribbean and Asian descent. 

Luton Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Care Forum (SCTCF) was formed in 2002. Its members are made up of those affected by the conditions, their families, friends, professionals and members of the public.

It aims to,

• Provide support to families and their carers

• To work towards more effective treatments for the relief of those affected by Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia

• To raise aware of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia in the Luton and Bedfordshire area

• To make other services aware of the needs of Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia sufferers

Luton SCTCF has been taking part in Luton carnival since 2005. Luton carnival is seen as a way of raising the profile of the group within Luton and a wider audience, and a way of fundraising. It is also a way of members both young and old to get to know each other, as well as not feeling they are incapacitated or isolated by their condition. Moreover it gives them a way of learning new skills and having lots of fun. Since then the group and costumes have evolved from a t-shirt wearing walking band in 2005 to winning the best overall group and youth group.

It has also given the group the opportunity to travel and showcase their costumes in other parts of the country.