Guts UK launches exciting five-year strategy  

31st January 2025

Our digestive systems have long been misunderstood, undervalued and underfunded but Guts UK exists to change that. We are the national charity for the digestive system and for more than 50 years, we’ve been helping the UK get to grips with guts.  

Millions of people across the UK are affected by digestive conditions and symptoms, and collectively, digestive conditions are a factor in 1 in 8 deaths. With thousands of calls and emails every year from people in need of information and support, our work has never been more important, or more in demand.  

We’re a small charity with big ambitions, and now is the time to launch our new strategy. The development of our five-year strategy has been an opportunity to evaluate our work, reflect on our history, hear from our Guts community, partners and donors, and identify our priorities for the future. Our mission and values have changed, reflecting the growth of our charity and what’s most important to us.  

An illustration of a group of people sat together talking, including doctors, nurses and patients.

The strategy outlines our ambitions for the next five years, with a set of social and business objectives and goals that will drive significant growth and change across our three key areas of work: information support, awareness and research.  

Our new strategy has developed with input from a range of stakeholders connected to our work, including people living with digestive conditions and healthcare professionals specialising in gastroenterology. We received an incredible response to our strategy survey, with 850 responses from people across our community. Every response received helped us to make important decisions about our strategy, including deciding what our new mission statement should be and helping us to prioritise what actions to take first. 

Suzanne Hudson, CEO at Guts UK says:

Thank you to everyone who shared their views. Your input has been invaluable and has truly helped shape the direction of our work over the next five years. We truly value collaboration and connection. It’s our heart and soul, and we work best when we work together. I and the team are very excited to the future development of the charity and our work.”

Suzanne is outside, she is standing up with her arm leaning on a railing. She is wearing a Guts UK branded t-shirt and glasses. Her hair is tied up. She is smiling at the camera.
Suzanne Hudson, CEO at Guts UK

Victoria King, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Guts UK says:

“We are optimistic as we move into this next chapter for Guts UK. Together with our community, we’ve made progress in improving the lives of those affected by digestive conditions through awareness, support, information, and research. Our new strategy is designed to bring us even closer to our vision: a future where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated, and where everyone who lives with one gets the support they need. Our guts community, partners and supporters continue to be at the very heart of what we do, and we are grateful for their support in developing our new strategy.”

Victoria is standing in front of a pink and white wall. She is wearing a black top and a gold necklace and has shoulder length hair.
Victoria King, Chair of the Board at Guts UK

Our vision  

A world where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need. 

An illustration of a group of people sat round a table, including two parents and a child and two healthcare professionals.

Our mission 

To improve the lives of the millions of people affected by digestive conditions. 

An illustration of a man sat next to a toilet. He has his head in his hands and is holding his stomach.

Our values and behaviour  

At Guts UK, we live by our three values: 

  • Bold 
  • Brave 
  • United 

Our values, alongside our foundations of being inclusive, collaborative and engaging underpin everything we do and reflect those we support who are affected by digestive conditions every day.  

An illustration of two people standing next to each other with their arms around one another's shoulders. They are smiling and wearing Guts UK branded blue T-shirts.

Our ambitions for the next five-years 

Guts UK has two ambitions – one social and one business: 

  • To be known as the trusted organisation for digestive conditions, backed by evidence-led information.
  • To increase income generation and optimise our capability to deliver the social objectives.

An illustration of a researcher greeting a pancreas, liver and gut.

By 2030, Guts UK will: 

  • Provide accurate information and excellent support to people affected by digestive symptoms and conditions. 
  • Raise public awareness of digestive conditions to reach more people and drive engagement. 
  • Drive a programme of research that will improve quality of life, treatment and survival. 
  • Develop and grow operational capacity. 
  • Increase income generation to support the social objectives. 
  • Provide the best leadership to steer Guts UK. 

An illustration of a person answering a telephone call. They are wearing a blue Guts UK branded t-shirt.

Click here to read more about our strategic goals or use the download button below. 

Thank you for your support 

We couldn’t do what we do without you, and we hope you’ll continue to follow the work of Guts UK as we set out to deliver our exciting plans.  

As a national charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters across the UK. Every donation made to Guts UK takes us one step closer to where we need to be.  

Please consider supporting Guts UK today. 

An illustration of two people hugging.

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