Do it Campaigning to make life better Last year was one of great successes, but also great challenges. We took steps forward through our influencing work, ensuring positive change for people with arthritis across the country, while also working to tackle new challenges that appeared as the cost-of-living crisis grew. Our Impossible to Ignore campaign, which asks decisionmakers to take urgent action to bring down long waiting times for joint replacement surgery, reached some important milestones in 2022. We secured positive changes on elective care in all four nations of the UK. Elective care is planned in advance and includes diagnostic tests, scans and surgeries. In 2023, we will continue campaigning for more progress in tackling waiting times for surgery across the UK. On World Arthritis Day in October 2022, we launched our Open Letter to the Prime Minister, calling on the government to: Increase support to people who need additional heating to maintain their health Make sure that planned treatments are not disrupted by winter pressures on health services. Protect groundbreaking research into arthritis in the UK from rising costs. So far, more than 22,000 people have signed our letter and well continue to push for greater support for people with arthritis during this difficult time. From positively influencing policy and practice on physical activity for people with arthritis in Scotland to seeing the completion of a new multidisciplinary paediatric rheumatology service in Wales, weve made positive steps in each nation. And through it all, your voices have been a crucial part of shaping our influencing work. Your stories have been our most effective tool in pushing for real change. Thank you for taking action with us and making yourselves heard. Find out more about the work weve been doing over the past year to push for governments and decision-makers to make things better for people with arthritis across the UK at www. versusarthritis.org/campaigns22 KNITTING VERSUS ARTHRITIS The Versus Arthritis March Knitting Challenge is back for 2023! We are calling on knitters and crocheters across the country to join an amazing community taking on this fundraising challenge. The idea is simple: pick up your knitting needles or crochet hook and knit throughout March to support the 10 million people in the UK living with arthritis. Knitting can improve dexterity, promote relaxation and mindfulness, and can help to manage and reduce pain for many people. It knits communities of people with and without arthritis together. Whether you are a novice knitter or a crochet connoisseur, we will be there for you every stitch of the way. Together, we can connect people living with arthritis, feeling isolated and alone one stitch at a time. Visit our website for more information: versusarthritis. org/get-involved/events 20 Inspire Spring 23 pp19-20 charity news.indd 20 15/02/2023 09:30