Give blood
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Blood cannot be manufactured, so every unit a hospital uses began with someone sitting in a donor chair. The blood service decides who can donate, using published eligibility rules and a health and lifestyle check carried out at each appointment.
GentleFreeAn afternoonIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
How to start
- Read the eligibility page from NHS Blood and Transplant or the American Red Cross to see the published rules.
- Sign up online and book an appointment at a donor centre or blood drive near you.
- Answer the health and lifestyle check honestly on the day and accept the service's decision.
Where to go
- NHS Blood and Transplant "Who can give blood" page UK
- American Red Cross blood donation eligibility requirements US
We opened these links on 8 October 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
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