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National Lottery grant supports our service in Scotland

Anthony Mitchell ANTRUK announcements, Donate

Antibiotic Research UK is delighted to have received a grant of more than £6,500 from the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland. This grant, for our Patient Support service, will help us develop a vital support network for people affected by antibiotic-resistant infections in Scotland.

Arlene Brailey, Patient Support Lead, who is based in Edinburgh, said “I am over the moon about this generous Award. It will enable our Patient Support Team to continue to provide the help and support that Scottish people with antibiotic-resistant infections tell us is so important to them.

“Antibiotic-resistant infections are not well understood by the public until, sadly, it happens to an individual or family member. That’s when people contact us for trustworthy information about their resistant infection. They also benefit from emotional support and practical help, such as helping them decide what questions to ask their medical team.”

What we’ll do with the money

This generous grant will help us to reach more people with our Patient Support service within Scotland. People like Mary, who lives on the East Coast, and has received support from Arlene and her team. Mary bravely shared her experiences of living with an antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infection (UTI) in the video below.

ANTRUK will provide one-to-one support by telephone and email to people affected by resistant infections. We will continue to answer the stream of questions we receive from people who are worried about COVID-19 in relation to secondary bacterial infections, vaccination whilst on antibiotics and more. We’ll help to connect people with others who share their experiences through a peer-support forum on Zoom and social media. We know how much this help means to people affected by resistant infections. Many have been shielding as they are considered highly vulnerable, so this contact is invaluable.

Mary’s story

Mary said: “There are times when I feel completely desperate. I feel lonely and lost. Probably the biggest thing is that I live in fear – all the time”.

Antibiotic Research UK would like to thank the National Lottery Awards for All and its players for this fantastic grant. We know it will make a huge difference. It allows us to provide support, comfort and information to people at a very scary and isolating time.