What we do
Guts UK is the national charity for the digestive system and we're helping the UK get to grips with guts!
Our digestive systems have been underfunded, undervalued and misunderstood for decades. Guts UK exists to change that.
Guts UK provides information and support for people affected by digestive conditions and symptoms. We’re currently the only UK charity that funds research into the digestive system from top to tail, including the gut, liver and pancreas.
People are suffering. People are dying. All because of a lack of knowledge about our guts.
Since 1971, we have funded more than 450 projects and invested over £16 million into life-changing medical research that leads to better diagnoses and kinder treatments for people affected by digestive conditions and symptoms across the UK.
Our vision
Guts UK’s vision is a world where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need.
Our mission
Guts UK’s mission is to improve the lives of the millions of people affected by digestive conditions.
Our values
Guts UK’s values are bold, brave and united.
Our values, alongside our foundations of being inclusive, collaborative and engaging, underpin everything we do and reflect the people we support who are affected by digestive conditions every day.
Our work
Guts UK’s work spans three main areas: information, awareness and research.
We provide information and support on over 40 digestive conditions and symptoms. We believe information is power and when armed with information they can trust, people can take control of their health and make informed decisions.
Our research shows that 58% of people are embarrassed to talk about their digestive conditions or symptoms and 52% of people delay seeking advice for their symptoms for over six months, so it’s vital that we raise public awareness to improve understanding and education around digestive conditions and symptoms, and how and when to seek help. We empower people to learn more about their digestive systems and share their experiences.
Guts UK is the only national charity funding research into the whole digestive system. We have funded over 450 research projects so far, covering the gut, liver, pancreas, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nutrition and digestive cancers.
Guts UK 2025-2030 strategy
In January 2025, Guts UK launched a new five-year strategy that outlines our objectives and ambitions for the next five years and will drive significant growth and chance across all areas of our work.
Our ambition is to be known as the trusted organisation for digestive conditions, backed by evidence-led information. To deliver this, we need to increase income generation and optimise our capability over the next five years.
