National Alliance Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Across the UK

A powerful new inaugural national campaign bringing together leading charities across the UK has launched this April to raise awareness of limb loss and limb difference and highlight the growing need for support.

The Limb Loss and Limb Difference Alliance — a collaboration between organisations including Reach, Finding Your Feet, LimbPower, Steel Bones, Amputation Foundation and Blesma — is leading a coordinated campaign throughout Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.

The campaign aims to challenge misconceptions, share lived experiences and highlight the realities of life with limb loss and limb difference, while showcasing the strength, resilience and diversity of the community.

Through a series of engaging videos shared across social media, the campaign uses creative storytelling formats such as “Passing the Emoji” “Myth Busting,” “Challenges,” and “Real Questions” to bring the voices of the community directly to the public.

The campaign comes at a critical time.
More than 12,000 major amputations are now carried out in NHS England[1] each year, a significant rise driven by conditions such as diabetes, sepsis, cancer and vascular disease.

At the same time, around one in 1,900 babies are born with a limb difference, meaning thousands of children and families require ongoing support, prosthetic care and rehabilitation.

Despite this growing need, campaigners highlight that access to services can still vary significantly depending on location, with only a limited number of specialist prosthetic centres across the UK and ongoing challenges around funding, provision and awareness.

A spokesperson for the Limb Loss and Limb Difference Alliance said:

“This campaign is about visibility, understanding and connection. Too often, people living with limb loss or limb difference face misconceptions or feel isolated.

By coming together as an alliance, we are showing the strength of our community, sharing real experiences, and helping the public better understand the realities of everyday life.

With rising amputation rates and more people living with limb difference than ever before, it is vital that awareness, services and support continue to grow alongside that need.”

The campaign will build to a parliamentary event on 14 April, the event will bring lived experience to the heart of Westminster, highlighting the barriers people face across society and how they can be removed.

Bringing together charities, advocates, professionals and people with lived experience, the day will celebrate identity, visibility and community, while creating space for collaboration and long-term change. Those attending include Lord Craig Mackinlay, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, actor Melissa Johns, and Dr Cor Hutton MBE BCAc DL.

The parliamentary event has been made possible thanks to the support of Marie Tidball MP and her team, whose commitment to disability rights and inclusion has helped bring the community’s voice directly to Westminster.

Throughout April, the Alliance will also share key facts to increase understanding, including the physical impact of limb loss. For example, above-knee amputees may use up to 60–100% more energy when walking, highlighting the often-unseen challenges individuals face in daily life.

The campaign also emphasises the importance of language, encouraging the public to use respectful and inclusive terminology and to better understand how to support people with limb loss and limb difference.

A spokesperson said:

‘This is about people, community and change. By coming together in Parliament and throughout the campaign, we can highlight what needs to improve and work collectively towards a society that is more inclusive, accessible and informed.’

For more information, visit:
www.limblosslimbdifference.org

[1] *Freedom of Information request from Steel Bones “A count of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs)1 where there was a procedure of 'amputation' recorded, for activity during 2021-22 and 2023-24"