Stripy Lightbulb CIC’s main focus as a social enterprise is educating professionals (Healthcare, education, and employers) who have a duty of care about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E./C.F.S) to improve the lives of those living with the disease.

However, there are many social issues that surround M.E./C.F.S. and education, or rather the poor knowledge-base on it, is often just one brick in the wall that is the barrier to appropriate and adequate healthcare.

In part due to the pandemic, we have been collaborating with a range of regional healthcare organisations (ICBs and Health Boards in England and Wales), NHS trusts, and universities (nursing/midwifery training providers) for a number of years now and we are happy to know that we are positively contributing to conversations, projects, and ‘consultations’ to improve the care of people living with M.E./C.F.S., and/or a wide range of other conditions where patient needs overlap.

We have also been collaborating with local Governments, public health teams, and councils to improve provision for people living with M.E./C.F.S. who need to be screened for other diseases but are unable to attend clinics or pharmacies due to being house or bed bound. This work is slow-going but essential as too often those severely affected by M.E./C.F.S. are excluded from service provision. Having a diagnosis of M.E./C.F.S. does not lessen the need for screening for other diseases, if anything, having M.E./C.F.S. makes a person more susceptible to other diseases due to the sedentary nature of M.E./C.F.S. and the bodily systems affected.

2024 is Stripy Lightbulb CIC’s ‘Year of Inclusion’, collaboration is how we are doing it.

We are open to every opportunity, please get in touch if you would like us to collaborate or contribute to a project that will improve the lives of, or provision for, people living with M.E./C.F.S. Email – [email protected]