World Cup 2026 - Scots urged to give blood as stocks risk falling

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) will be holding sessions on Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9, at Clarkston Hall from 1pm to 3.20pm and from 5pm to 7.20pm.

Those who would like to come along are urged to make an appointment and fill one of the 150 spaces available over the course of the sessions.

Taxi driver Duncan Sloan from Scotland with band Scratchcard Wednesday during a World Cup-themed blood donation event hosted by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service involving representatives from Scotland, Haiti, Morocco and Brazil at the Glasgow Donor Centre (Image: NHS Scotland)

Pauline Stewart, SNBTS head of territory (west), said: “We want to welcome new donors and old donors alike – Scotland needs to bring in around 450 donations every single day to meet hospital demand, so every appointment filled and every donation gathered counts.”

The number of people keeping their blood donation appointment fell following the triumphant evening Scotland qualified for the World Cup so SNBTS needs to ensure the country maintains sufficient blood supplies this summer.

Regular donors are especially important because their blood group is known and they can respond quickly if certain groups fall to low levels.

Read next:

• Barrhead residents are being urged to donate blood
• New blood donor prompt for those applying for driving ...
• Metallica urge UK fans to give blood ahead of Britain tour ...

The country also needs new younger donors, too.

Despite the constant demand for blood, less than 2% of Scotland’s population actively donates.

Of Scotland’s 90,923 active blood donors, just 24% are aged 17-34 (21,452) and there are currently more active donors aged 65 and over (11,557) than those aged 17-24 (7,462), highlighting the urgent need for younger people to step forward.

The Glasgow Donor Centre on Nelson Mandela Place also has plenty of appointments available for those able to travel further and is open seven days a week.

Taxi driver Duncan Sloan from Scotland donates blood alongside Fernanda Dal Piaz, Deputy Consul at Consulate General of Brazil in Edinburgh, writer Leilani Taneus-Miller from Haiti and software engineer Taoufik Mohdit from Morocco during a World Cup-themed blood donation event hosted by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (Image: NHS Scotland)

“Blood donation often dips during busy periods, but the need for blood never stops,” added Pauline.

Most people in good health aged 17 and over can give blood. New donors are always welcome.

To make an appointment, visit scotblood.co.uk or call us on 0345 90 90 999 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).