"But you're too young to have arthritis." It is one of the most common and most frustrating things young people with arthritis hear. Arthritis can affect anyone, at any age, including babies, children and teenagers.
| The numbers | UK figure |
|---|---|
| Children and young people under 20 living with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition | 600,000 |
| Children under 16 diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) | At least 10,000 |
| Children and young people diagnosed with JIA each year | About 1,000 |
| Children affected by JIA | About 1 in 1,000 |
Sources: Arthritis UK (2025); JIA at NRAS (n.d.).
No young person should face arthritis alone
Arthritis UK's Young People and Families Service supports people under 25 with arthritis or a related condition, and their families. All events are free, fully funded and run by trained staff (Arthritis UK, n.d.a).
What the service offers
- One-to-one support: advice and a listening ear if you are struggling with a new diagnosis, medicines or school.
- Face-to-face events: from cinema trips and social meet-ups to weekends away, so you can meet others who understand.
- Online events: quizzes, scavenger hunts and workshops that build confidence, including talking to health professionals (Arthritis UK, n.d.a).
- Book clubs: two online groups, for 11 to 16-year-olds and 16 to 24-year-olds. Because sometimes support is not about medical talk; it is just about a good plot twist. There may be a waiting list (Arthritis UK, 2024).
- My Arthritis app: a free app to track symptoms and medicines and keep your healthcare team informed. The idea came from a young person in Northern Ireland, and it has replaced the old Arthritis Tracker app (Arthritis UK, n.d.b).
Have your say
- Young People's Panel (ages 16 to 25): raise awareness and campaign for better care (Arthritis UK, n.d.c).
- Your Rheum (ages 11 to 24): help shape rheumatology research (Arthritis UK, n.d.d).
Support in your nation
| Nation | What's on | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| England | Regular social meet-ups for 11 to 18-year-olds in London, Manchester and the West Midlands (Arthritis UK, n.d.e). | YPFSUK@arthritis-uk.org |
| Scotland | Take Control (ages 10 to 18): workshops on pain and sleep, an activity weekend and the Joint Creativity arts project. Joint Potential (ages 16 to 25): residential weekends and workshops on themes such as self-image and positive futures (Arthritis UK, n.d.f). | takecontrol@arthritis-uk.org jointpotential@arthritis-uk.org |
| Wales | Youth and family workers at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, plus events across Wales (Arthritis UK, n.d.g). | YPFSWales@arthritis-uk.org |
| Northern Ireland | Residential weekends (ages 11 to 18), “adulting with arthritis” workshops (ages 12 to 18) on topics like alcohol, university and travel, family days and a parents' seminar (Arthritis UK, n.d.h). | northernireland@arthritis-uk.org 028 9078 2940 |
Key insight: help at school
Arthritis UK's information for schools includes an Individual Healthcare Plan template, a guide for staff, and a free awareness webinar. Schools must make sure arthritis does not hold a pupil back in lessons or exams (Arthritis UK, n.d.i).
How to get in touch
- Email: YPFSUK@arthritis-uk.org, or use the contact form. The team aims to reply within 3 working days.
- Helpline: 0800 5200 520, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
- JIA at NRAS: information and support for families on 0800 298 7650 (jia.org.uk).
More help for families
- Free Arthritis UK booklets, to download or order.
- AskSARA: a free report on gadgets that could help with daily tasks and schoolwork.
- Remap: volunteers make custom equipment for free.
- British Red Cross: short-term wheelchair hire.
- Our UK arthritis support directory, including CCAA, Juvenile Arthritis Research and Arthur's Place.
References
Arthritis UK (2024) Discover our book club for young people living with arthritis. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/news/2024/january/discover-our-book-club-for-young-people-living-with-arthritis/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (2025) The State of Musculoskeletal Health 2025. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/media/flpbvm2m/arthritisuk_state_of_msk_health_-report_2025.pdf (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.a) How we help young people and families. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/young-people-and-families/how-we-help-young-people-and-families/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.b) My Arthritis app. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/support-and-resources/my-arthritis-app/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.c) Young People's Panel. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/young-people-and-families/young-peoples-panel/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.d) Your Rheum. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/young-people-and-families/your-rheum/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.e) England. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/in-your-area/england/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.f) Scotland. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/in-your-area/scotland/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.g) Wales. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/in-your-area/wales/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.h) Northern Ireland. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/in-your-area/northern-ireland/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
Arthritis UK (n.d.i) Information for schools. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/young-people-and-families/information-for-schools/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
JIA at NRAS (n.d.) What is JIA?. Available at: https://jia.org.uk/resource/what-is-jia/ (Accessed: 27 September 2026).
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Important medical disclaimer
The content provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, psychiatrist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Never start, stop or change a prescribed medicine without speaking to your prescriber first.
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