The UK Stroke Forum is a coalition of over 30 organisations all committed to improving stroke care in the UK. The coalition is underwritten by the Stroke Association and the British Association of Stroke Physicians.
View our steering group and scientific committee members.
We organise two annual multidisciplinary conferences for healthcare professionals:
- A three-day event in December (Telford)
- A one-day event in June (Belfast)
Our aim is to provide opportunities for all stroke professionals and researchers to come together so they can learn from each other, share ideas and ultimately improve standards of care for stroke survivors.
Our events offer delegates the opportunity to:
- gain relevant accredited professional training.
- find out the latest research and service developments.
- learn about new innovations and services in the exhibition.
- network with colleagues from across the entire care pathway.
- showcase your work by submitting an abstract for presentation at the event.
Watch this short video to see why UKSF is an unmissable event for anyone involved in stroke care:
Keep in touch
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- Join the conversation using #UKSF18
- Email us.
Coalition organisations
Currently, the UK Stroke Forum consists of over 30 organisations ranging from professional associations, charities and special interest groups. National organisations which are committed to improving stroke care standards and are involved in stroke research are eligible to become a coalition member organisation of the UK Stroke Forum. Where organisations are smaller, based in a region or are active on a local level then affiliate organisational membership can be offered.
Members of coalition organisations automatically qualify for discounted rates for the UK Stroke Forum conference. If you are interested in becoming a UKSF coalition organisation please contact ukstrokeforum@stroke.org.uk. The patient organisations in their part fulfil vital roles in providing services and information directly to stroke patients and carers, as well as fundraising for research and lobbying for improved statutory services. Some offer healthcare professionals stroke research funding and training opportunities.
Current UK Stroke Forum organisations include:
ARNI
ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) Institute is a national charity which supports the community teams by providing a community-integration path when therapy finishes due to time & resources. It matches stroke survivors who require further ‘retraining’ with independent therapists and highly qualified fitness instructors. ARNI instructors accredit via the specialist level Functional Rehabilitation and Exercise Training After Stroke Qualification (UKSF E&T Course No. 35) which is built around the latest evidence base (EBRSR). They assist with the performance of functional task-related practice & stroke specific resistance training. ARNI has over 150 insured and active instructors in the UK.
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology
ACPIN is one of the largest Professional Networks recognised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy with around 3000 members. It is concerned with all aspects of physiotherapy related to the needs of neurologically impaired adults and their relatives and carers.
ACPIN is a dynamic and proactive group. Its function is to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the field of neurological physiotherapy practice.
British and Irish Orthoptic Society
Visual problems following stroke cause significant impairment and can be a barrier to rehabilitation.
Orthoptists have clinical expertise in the diagnosis and management of eye movement abnormality, disorders affecting binocular vision, in visual neglect / perception and in visual field assessment. The orthoptist has an essential role to play in stroke rehabilitation and BIOS recommends that links between stroke and orthoptic departments should be established in all units. BIOS have produced a range of patient information leaflets, professional practice guidelines for orthoptists, as well as validated referral forms and care pathways available online now.
British Aphasiology Society
The British Aphasiology Society (BAS) is a national interest group formed to foster the study of aphasia and promote development of the range of clinical services for people with aphasia. Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that affects our ability to speak, read or write language. These activities for most of us are done without much thought or effort and as such we take them for granted. The act of storing and producing words and forming them into sentences is very complex with many brain regions involved. Normally, the pieces all fit together so seamlessly, so that one is not even aware of the individual components. But stroke (cerebral vascular accident – CVA) and other forms of brain damage (head injury, tumour, progressive disease) may compromise the efficiency of one component or another, and in doing so, disrupt the integrated functioning of the system as a whole. Different facets of language can be affected in different individuals. Some people have particular problems with remembering what words mean, others have problems remembering how words are pronounced. Some are unable to combine sounds to create words, others to combine words to create sentences.
The BAS brings together people from many disciplines involved in language and communication such as Speech and Language Therapy, Linguistics, Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, along with people with aphasia and their carers.
British Association of Stroke Physicians
The British Association of Stroke Physicians (BASP) was established in 1998 as the professional society that represents UK Stroke Physicians, and provides leadership in: the improvement of clinical services; science and research; and education and training relating to the health and wellbeing of our patients, their carers and the public. Our current 2017 to 2020 strategy provides focus on the following areas:
1. Developing and influencing local and national policy on stroke
2. Providing expert advice on all aspects of stroke care
3. Leading on clinical standards for stroke
4. Promoting and disseminating research in stroke
5. Improving and assuring the education and training of doctors in stroke medicine.
British Dietetic Association
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is the only body in the UK representing the whole of the dietetic workforce. We are a trade union and professional body representing the professional, educational, public and workplace interests of our members. Founded in 1936, they are one of the oldest and most experienced dietetic organisations in the world.
Membership is open to anyone working in dietetics, in nutrition, or who has an interest in diet or food, throughout the world. They represent the whole of the dietetic workforce - practitioners, researchers, educators, support workers and students.
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a registered charity which acts as the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK, and is responsible for the promotion of excellence and ethical practice in the science, education, and application of the discipline.
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by chest, heart and stroke illness, through medical research, influencing public policy, advice and information and support in the community.
College of Paramedics
The College of Paramedics is the recognised professional body for paramedics and the ambulance profession in the UK. The College represents its members in all matters affecting their clinical practice and supports them to achieve the highest standards of patient care.
The College provides support to the profession by providing advice to members and to those who are considering joining the ambulance professions.
The College further represents the interests of paramedics and ambulance clinicians by providing a contact point for the media, through membership of appropriate committees and advisory groups, by developing professional standards guidance, and by responding to consultation documents and requests for advice from government, and other professional and registrant bodies.
Membership is open to those who are UK paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, those who are interested in the sector or those studying for a qualification leading to eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Different Strokes
Different Strokes is run by younger stroke survivors for younger stroke survivors to promote independent recovery and reclaim their lives. We recognise that the Different Strokes community of younger stroke survivors and family members are experts in stroke recovery and rehabilitation with first-hand knowledge of the issues and challenges facing families after stroke.
We provide information packs, resources for children of stroke survivors, a network of exercise and support groups, a facebook support group and an information line. We provide an important voice for younger stroke survivors to Government, service providers and funders, fighting for better standards and improved understanding.
Education for Health
Education for Health is a leading UK-based educational charity, working to transform the lives of people living with long term health conditions. They aim to support nurses and other healthcare professionals in advancing their professional development to enhance the quality of patient care. They offer a comprehensive range of clinically-led education and training for healthcare professionals, including free-to-access online resources, workshops and accredited modules. Their academic team are clinicians and experts in their subject areas who continue to work in practice, bringing a real-life vibrancy to all that they do.
Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party
Later Life Training
Later Life Training deliver evidence based training courses across the UK and Europe to health and specialist exercise professionals and the social care sector. The outcomes of training aims to support improving the lives of stroke survivors and older people through longer term adherence to evidence based exercise interventions.
As of October 2016, LLT have qualified:
over 3000 Postural Stability Instructors
350 Exercise after Stroke Instructors
2491 Otago Exercise Programme Leaders (plus 636 in Europe since 2014)
Over 1000 Chair Based Exercise Leaders
National Stroke Nursing Forum
The NSNF aims to represent and promote stroke nursing across the UK through:
• Act as a platform to express the collective views and experiences of members
• Facilitate access to education and training opportunities in stroke nursing
• Provide expert opinion on education and training in stroke nursing
• Promote research that advances the discipline of stroke nursing
• Provide a conduit for lobbying government on stroke and stroke nursing
• Provide expert advice regarding stroke health policy and service delivery
Northern Ireland Multidisciplinary Association of Stroke Teams
NIMAST aims to provide a Regional Forum for individuals with a professional interest in Stroke Care delivery across the Statutory, Voluntary and Independent Sectors in order to promote Excellence in Care.
Remap
Remap is a national charity with hundreds of volunteers who love making things for disabled people. We design and custom-make equipment and everything is provided free of charge! We aim to help people achieve independence and quality of life, filling the gap where no suitable equipment is available commercially.
Royal College of Occupational Therapist Specialist Section - Neurological Practice
OT Specialist Section - Neurological Practice aims to improve knowledge, assessment and treatment of neurological conditions by encouraging awareness of up-to-date approaches, exchange of ideas, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and research.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians' (RCP's) core mission is to drive improvements in health and healthcare through advocacy, education and research.
They are an independent patient centred and clinically led organisation, that drives improvement in the diagnosis of disease, the care of individual patients and the health of the whole population both in the UK and across the globe.
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is the professional body for speech and language therapists and assistant practitioners. They promote excellence in practice and influence health, education and social care policies to achieve the best possible outcomes for people with communication and swallowing difficulties.
Scottish National Advisory Committee for Stroke
Scottish Stroke Allied Health Professionals Forum (SSAHPF)
The Scottish Stroke AHP Forums (SSAHPF) main aim is to promote the highest quality of rehabilitation for people with stroke.
This is achieved by playing an active part in influencing AHP developments and services at local and national levels. The forum also participates and promotes research in clinical stroke rehabilitation. This helps to improve life after stroke for all stroke patients, their families and carers.
Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum
The Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum (SSNF) is for registered nurses, non-registered nurses and student nurses with an interest in stroke working in Scotland (events and conferences are open to other health professionals).
Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors
The aim of Sickle Cell & Young Stroke Survivors provide holistic support to children, young people and families affected by sickle cell disorders and childhood stroke.
Society for Research in Rehabilitation
The Society of Research in Rehabilitation (SRR) is the major multidisciplinary rehabilitation research society in the UK. Its aim is to advance education and research into all aspects of the rehabilitation of people with disability and to disseminate the useful results of such research for the public benefit.
The Stroke Asosociation
We are the UK’s leading charity dedicated to conquering stroke. We deliver stroke services across the UK, campaign for better stroke care, invest in research and fundraise to expand our reach to as many stroke survivors as possible.
There are over 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK with 100,000 strokes happening in the UK each year. That’s one stroke every five minutes.
Even though you are now twice as likely to survive a stroke compared to 20 years ago, stroke is still the fourth single largest cause of death in the UK.
We know we need to change how people think about stroke and challenge the myths surrounding it. We push for greater awareness of stroke and its warning signs and campaign for better stroke care.
The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia
In 1992 Robin Tavistock founded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, the only grant making trust in the United Kingdom to focus solely on aphasia. The trust aims to help improve the quality of life for those with aphasia, their families and carers. We do this, amongst other things, by funding pioneering research and projects that will improve services and therapies; by acting as a catalyst in pulling together charities working in the same area; in raising the profile of the condition amongst the public, students of speech and language therapy and the medical profession, so that people can understand aphasia better.
Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians (WASP)
The Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians (WASP) was established in 1999. It has been instrumental in improving stroke care in Wales by encouraging interdisciplinary working, promoting and sharing best practice among professionals involved in stroke care. It has facilitated continuing professional development and educational opportunities through clinical, scientific and professional meetings and conferences including Welsh Stroke Conference. It has also promoted high quality training in stroke care as well as encouraged research and development in the management of stroke. It has provided a forum for the communication of ideas and peer support for the members. It has also taken a key role in the Welsh Assembly Government`s medical advisory structure and contributing to the development of strategies and services for the people affected by stroke in Wales, along with provision of advice and establishing links with appropriate professional, voluntary and lay bodies for the welfare of people affected by stroke..