Marie Tidball MP marks Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in Parliament with Alliance charities for the first time in a decade

Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, welcomed the Limb Loss and Limb Difference Alliance to Parliament to mark Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month for the first time in a decade. The Alliance unites six leading UK charities representing the limb loss and limb difference community - Reach, Finding Your Feet, LimbPower, SteelBones, Amputation Foundation and Blesma.

Along with Marie, the Alliance launched a powerful new national campaign to drive long-term change, which raises key issues affecting the limb loss and limb difference community, and discussed recommendations for government at a summit which brought lived experience to the heart of Westminster.

The day in Parliament included a roundtable with representatives from each charity, including actor Melissa Johns, and a podcast discussion with young people and ambassadors from the Alliance charities - capturing the voices of those who are shaping the future of this movement.

Access to mental health support, inequalities in prosthetics assessments, improving representation and changing public attitudes were all highlighted as key issues that need to be addressed.

This campaign comes at a critical time. More than 12,000 major amputations are now carried out in NHS England 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.

Throughout April, the Alliance will also share key facts through engaging videos on social media 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 Alliance’s work will 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.

Marie Tidball MP, said:

“I’m immensely proud to be the first MP to be elected with congenital limb difference, so it was an honour to host the Limb Loss and Limb Difference Alliance in Parliament to mark our Awareness Month. The charities do incredible work to support young people and families across the country, and I’d encourage you to look at their websites for the support they have available.“From discussions around mental health, prosthetics provision, and representation on our screens, it was incredible to bring our community together and hear the powerful voices of the youth ambassadors in Westminster.“I want to make sure every young person with limb loss and limb difference knows they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. Our campaign work is about more than awareness. It’s about increasing visibility, understanding and real change. This is just the beginning.”

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

“This moment marks a powerful step forward for the limb loss and limb difference community. By coming together as an Alliance, we are ensuring that lived experience is not only heard but placed at the heart of national conversations and decision-making.“For too long, people of all ages and their families have faced unnecessary barriers to support, access, inclusion, rehabilitation and life after rehabilitation. Awareness in Parliament is about changing that. Together, we are calling for better access to mental health services, fair and consistent prosthetic provision, and greater representation across society.“This Awareness Month is not just about raising visibility - it is about driving meaningful, lasting change. By working collaboratively, we are stronger, louder, and more determined than ever to ensure that every person with limb loss or limb difference can thrive with full access to opportunity and support.”

Ella Dickinson, Reach Trustee said:

“It was a delight to be invited to Parliament by MP Marie Tidball. Talking in arguably the most influential building in the UK about our lived experiences with limb loss and limb difference really showed that our voices are being heard and hopefully we can make changes to improve future generation’s experience with limb loss and limb difference”

Leah, Reach Youth Ambassador said:

“I find myself very lucky to have found a community where we are all united by having a limb difference. For the majority of my life I’ve struggled with the difficulties of navigating NHS pathways and finding support to feel I belong. However, I can say I’ve found my people through REACH. And I can finally start to be proud of my difference rather than feeling insecure.

Connor Ballard, LimbPower Youth Ambassador said:

“I attended by first LimbPower event when I was seven. It was the first time I was around other people like me. As a child it created a sense of belonging for me that no other frienship group could replicate.”

For more information, visit: www.limblosslimbdifference.org