​This Small Charity Week (23 – 28 June), the UK Gout Society is proud to join a national celebration of the vital role small charities play in communities across the UK. This year’s campaign shines a spotlight on financial resilience, and recognising the incredible efforts of small charities to keep delivering, even as costs rise and funding falls.

Small Charity Week highlights the essential work of the UK’s small charity sector, which supports millions of people and communities every day. Resilient charities create stronger communities, but many are now under more pressure than ever.

In the UK, small charities like the UK Gout Society play a crucial role in raising awareness of serious, yet misunderstood health conditions, which have an impact not only physically, but also emotionally, mentally and financially.

The UK Gout Society is the only charity dedicated to helping people with gout in the UK. Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis worldwide, affecting one in 40 people in the UK.  The charity helps people, their families and friends, by providing free information and support and signposting them to other useful services across the country. www.ukgoutsociety.org

Small Charity Week is not only a chance to say thank you but also an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of supporting local charities through donations, fundraising, and volunteering. With many small charities facing the risk of closure, celebrating this week is more vital than ever.

“Despite the large number of people affected by this extremely painful and debilitating medical condition,  we can often struggle to raise much needed funds to help those that need us,” says Lynsey Conway, spokesperson for the UK Gout Society.

Throughout Small Charity Week, the UK Gout Society hopes to encourage people affected by gout, their friends and family, to share their experiences of gout via social media by using the hashtag #shoutaboutgout. The UK Gout Society hopes that this will help to dispel some of the myths surrounding the disorder e.g., that it is entirely self-inflicted; not a serious health problem; and one that only affects older wealthy men who eat rich foods and drink port.

“People with gout have been caricatured and even laughed at through the centuries. The truth is that for people living with the condition, it is anything but funny,” adds Conway.

One in 40 people are affected by gout in the UK – and it is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis worldwide.

​Sarah Elliott, CEO of NCVO said “Small charities are the beating heart of our sector and the communities they serve. But many are now under extraordinary pressure. Costs are rising, income is falling, and demand for their support is soaring. This year, Small Charity Week shines a spotlight on financial resilience. It’s a moment to celebrate the impact of small charities, highlight the challenges they face, and call for the recognition, funding and policy change they urgently need.”

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About Small Charity Week

Small Charity Week is led by NCVO and exists to celebrate and support the UK’s small charities. The 2025 campaign, running from 23–28 June, focuses on financial resilience, offering training, tools, and funding opportunities to help small charities continue their vital work.

Find out more about Small Charity Week: https://www.smallcharityweek.org.uk/

For more information about the UK Gout Society: https://www.ukgoutsociety.org