Hope for Young Adults with Autoimmune Disease

Aim

Help young adults with autoimmune disease improve their mental health - stay in education and employment & feel connected despite illness

The Wren Project is a charity founded by people living with autoimmune disease who understand first-hand how isolating, frightening and life-changing a diagnosis can be. We exist to support others through the challenges of living with these chronic lifelong diseases.

We are the only UK charity solely focused on improving the mental health of people living with autoimmune disease - supporting all 80+ NHS-recognised conditions, from lupus and Crohn’s disease to multiple sclerosis and juvenile arthritis. Many of those we support live with a disability or disabling symptoms including pain, fatigue, mobility issues, cognitive impairment and severe anxiety.  Many leave work (up to 60%) limiting social mobility, many leave education reducing future opportunities, nearly all express suicidal ideation at some point. 

Our vision is simple - no young adult living with autoimmune disease should feel alone, excluded or without hope. We are particularly focused on those aged 18–25, many of whom are trying to complete education, build careers, maintain relationships and live independently whilst managing an unpredictable lifelong illness. 

Funds raised through this campaign will help us support 40-50 young adults across London through free online 1:1 Listening or Peer Group Support. It will also help us build a youth-led community, ensuring our services are designed with young people, not simply for them.  Being online means we can reach those who are housebound, too ill or anxious to travel, those who are immunocompromised, and those facing financial constraints.

Every pound raised will help a young person protect their mental health, live well with disability, stay connected to education or employment, and believe that life can still be full of possibility.

Hollie explains how we helped after her colitis diagnosis

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made