One blood donation can save up to three lives. The Blood Solidarity project has been putting this critical mission into practice, reaching the Ukrainian community across the UK in their native language.
On October 24, 2026, the 10th anniversary of the Community Radio Awards took place in Birmingham. Established in 2016, these are the UK’s premier national awards celebrating community radio, honoring excellence with Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards across 20 categories.
The competition is open to Ofcom-licensed community radio stations nationwide. Entries are judged by an expert panel from community, commercial, and BBC radio, as well as universities and the broader media sector. Given the high level of competition, being named a finalist is a major achievement.
A joint initiative of the International Centre Ukrainian House UK CIC and ALL FM 96.9, the Blood Solidarity project was selected as one of five finalists in the Community Impact Project of the Year category. Ukrainian House Director Anatoliy Shalayev and the project editor attended the ceremony in Birmingham.
Why This Story Matters to All of Us
The core goal of Blood Solidarity is to encourage Ukrainians living in the UK to become blood donors. According to NHS Blood and Transplant, only about 2% of the UK population donates blood, while around 5,000 donations are needed every day to supply hospitals. Blood cannot be manufactured; it relies entirely on donors. It is essential for emergency surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care, and saving newborn babies.
While a donor visit takes about an hour, a single donation can save up to three lives.
Anatoliy Shalayev, Director of International Centre Ukrainian House UK CIC: “For our community, giving blood is not only an act of humanity, but also a meaningful way to express our gratitude to the country that has welcomed and supported so many Ukrainians during challenging times. Working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant, we share this message through the Ukrainian-language program ‘Razom’ on ALL FM in Manchester and at our events across the UK.”
Celebrating Our Category Partners and ALL FM
This year’s ceremony brought together outstanding community projects from Wales, Scotland, and regions across England. Alongside Blood Solidarity, the finalists in the Community Impact Project of the Year category were:
- Bro Radio Academy (Bro Radio) — Gold
- “Stronger Routes to Better Health” (Wythenshawe FM) — Silver
- YouthSPACE (Radio Skye) — Bronze
- “Myths, Ghosts and Scorpions” (Sheppey FM)
Warm congratulations to all the winners! We are also incredibly proud of our partners at ALL FM, who took home three awards from Birmingham:
- Gold: Moz Walsh — Sage Person of the Year (Over 60)
- Silver: “26.2 Hour Live Music Marathon” — Live Event or Outside Broadcast
- Silver: “The Rainbow Road – Etta Helfrich Interview” — Championing and Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Acknowledgments
The Blood Solidarity project is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who plays the National Lottery, as this project would not be possible without their support.
We also express our appreciation to the team at ALL FM, NHS Blood and Transplant, our project ambassadors, and everyone who attends our events and supports the blood donation movement.
How to Become a Donor
You can register and book a donation appointment online at blood.co.uk. If you have never given blood before, now is a great time to start!