We are announcing changes being made from 1st January 2026 to our membership offer, test kit pricing and shop prices.

As demand on the charity grows we need to make some changes to improve the sustainability and potential growth that is needed to face the challenges ahead and ultimately to save more lives, prevent ill-health and support thousands of people affected by iron overload.

• Membership: To help our sustainability and growth we want to bring our membership within the scope of the Gift Aid scheme which means we can only provide limited 'monetary benefits' linked to membership. This can add an estimated £25,000 plus to our bottom line at no extra cost to members. To do this, the first big change will see us offer more universal discount codes on charity products, including genetic testing, rather than member discount on pricing. 
• Genetic Testing: Analysis of the genetic testing service shows that most people purchase at full price - so actually, with our universal discounts, many people will pay less in 2026 than they would have done in 2025 - though we do understand the member discount was a big incentive to sign-up. It has just become unaffordable for the charity to offer a 65% discounted price on test services funded from general fundraising. We hope you understand and agree this change is necessary. Current prices and member benefits remain until the end of the year (2025).
• Underused Member Benefits: As we reviewed the membership offer - some of the benefits were simply not utilised or used in sufficient numbers to remain a barrier to Gift Aid. So from 1st Jan 2026, we will remove the 10% shop discount for members - but instead promote other discounts universally through the year. We will kick off 2026 for example with a New Year Shop discount of 10% - available to all-comers. The discount will be promoted via our socal media channels and newsletters.
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Appointments: The member benefit of access to our GH Advanced Practitioner will now to triaged through the Helpline service, and available to all on the basis of need and scheduling - although you can book a private appointment outside of this. Other advice line services can also be accessed through the Helpline.
• Vita Vibes: Our popular vitamin supplements Vita Vibes will see a price increase for a 90 day pack rise to £6.95 per pack from 1st January 2026. A dedicated £1 of every pack will go to haemochromatosis research. Discounts will be available throughout the year and a Year Bundle available at a reduced £25 from the New Year.

Protecting your donations to front-line services: We have had some challenges in 2025 as many of you will have noticed which increases the need to ensure that your donations and fundraising goes to our front-line services, special projects and research, to improve the lives of our beneficiaries directly. These changes help us generate income for operational activities that you would rather not see your money go towards. 

We really appreciate your support of the charity through membership. It enables us to demonstrate community support for our work and is important in the 'DNA' of who we are. A patient and carer-led charity working to support people affected by genetic haemochromatosis. Your membership also allows us to give you vital guidance through our membership pack and keep you up-to-date with our work and the iron overload cause.

It may surprise you to know that membership isn't really about fundraising, the cost of membership, which will stay at £32 again for 2026 just about covers our costs in providing information packs and the administration around that. But we really value the support it shows in the long-term and is a two-way relationship. 

If you would like to support the cause more - as many do from £5/month, our HUK friends initiative is a great way of doing that and showing some extra love.

We need you now more than ever - Be a Member / Be a Friend

Send Feedback: Feel strongly about this? Tell us what you think - [email protected]