Young Adult Kidney Group is a closed support group specifically for kidney patients aged between 16 and 30.
We’re a safe and inclusive environment for young adults living with CKD to chat, ask questions, learn from one another and share their thoughts and feelings with peers who they know will really understand, because they’re going through something similar.
We don’t allow friends, family members or healthcare professionals to join,
because our members really value having somewhere they can be completely
honest, without having to worry about posts being read by others they know or
shared on public social media.
Young Adult Weekend
Alongside our group, we also offer the opportunity for our members to meet one another in person.
Our annual Young Adult Weekend takes place at Mount Cook Adventure Centre and provides an opportunity for YAKG members to spend time in person with others who really know what it’s like to live with kidney disease as a young adult. For many of our members, this weekend might be the first time they’ve ever met someone else their own age with CKD, or had the opportunity to talk about dialysis, a transplant, or other treatment in an environment where people are comfortable being really open. As well as being a social event, the weekend is also a chance for participants to challenge themselves physically by taking part in activities they might not have tried before, and maybe even rethink the way they view themselves as people, and their lives beyond their kidney disease.
Peer support programme for young adults living with kidney disease
The YAKG also provides a dedicated peer support programme for young
adults.
How to join YAKG
If you’re a young adult with kidney disease, we’d love to have you come and join us. It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at or what sort of treatment you’re undergoing, you’re welcome to come and be part of our community.
YAKG: find us online
- YAKG support group
- Instagram: @YAKidneyGroup
If you are a parent, healthcare provider or someone else interested in learning more about the Young Adult Kidney Group, please email YAKG Team Leader Holly.
YAKG: your questions answered
Young Adult Kidney Group is a closed support group open to all young adult kidney patients between 16 and 30. It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at or what sort of treatment you’re undergoing, you’re welcome to come and be part of our community. You can participate in discussions if you like, or you can simply drop by and have a read if you ever need a reminder that you’re not alone in what you might be dealing with.
The current YAKG administrators are a small group of members in their early 30s. They are all long-term patients themselves and have taken responsibility for maintaining the group as a supportive, encouraging, patient-led community. The group has a set of House Rules to which all potential members must agree before they are approved. In the event of a safeguarding incident or an emergency, or if a member requires help beyond what we can directly provide, group members would receive help and support from Kidney Care UK.
The reason the YAKG is for kidney patients only is to allow our members to have a completely safe space in which to discuss their worries, fears, and feelings about life with kidney disease. We know that as wonderfully supportive as family members can be, there’s nothing like being able to chat privately with other people who understand your experiences. The only exception to our “patients only” rule is parents or family members who join to support a young adult whose learning or communication needs mean they would be unable to access our support without assistance.
In terms of support for friends and family members, we recommend the Kidney Care UK Facebook support group. This is a very large, knowledgeable, and supportive community and an excellent resource for both patients and their loved ones.