Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust

GAT was established in 1983 to help those whose lives are blighted by the constant pain and lack of mobility that is caused by Arthritis and for which there is presently no cure. Over 12% of the British population suffer in this way.

Many suffer later in life but some are as young as three and, as things stand, these children may never know a life free from pain and incapacity.

Arthritis is so well known that it is almost forgotten! It attracts very little state funding compared with other diseases.

GAT seeks to help by providing essential equipment to the County’s Community and NHS hospitals. Despite the tough financial climate in the last 3 years we have never stopped making grants.

This year alone £50,000 is budgeted for new grants.

Recent expenditure has been on:

• expensive ‘state of the art’ surgical tools;
• physiotherapy and orthopaedic nursing aids;
• occupational & rehabilitation therapies including hydrotherapy;
• exercise equipment for children;
• research into knee joint treatment.

Most of our funding comes from people who have benefited from this and would wish others to do so as well.

All support enables us to make lives better, one step at a time.