Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland Launches “It Takes a Village” Practical Quick Guide for World IBD Day 2026

This World IBD Day, Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland is proud to launch It Takes a Village - a practical, compassionate quick guide designed to help people better support those living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

IBD, which includes Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, is often invisible, unpredictable, and widely misunderstood. For the thousands of people across Ireland living with the condition, the impact goes far beyond physical symptoms - affecting education, work, relationships, and daily life in ways that are not always seen or understood by others.

The It Takes a Village guide has been created to bridge that gap.

At its heart, the guide is about empowering communities (families, friends, schools, workplaces, sports clubs, and wider support networks) with the knowledge and confidence to respond with understanding, flexibility, and kindness. It offers clear, practical advice on how to support people at every stage of life, from children navigating school to adults managing careers and those living with stomas.

By bringing together lived experience and practical insight, the guide highlights simple but meaningful actions that can make a real difference - from believing someone when they say they are unwell, to allowing flexibility when plans change, to creating environments where people feel safe and supported.

This launch forms part of Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland’s “It Takes a Village 2026” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the collective role we all play in supporting those living with IBD.

The campaign reinforces a powerful message: no one should have to face IBD alone.

Speaking about the launch, Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland Interim COO Victoria Spillane emphasised the importance of shared understanding:

“Living with IBD can be incredibly isolating, particularly because so much of the condition is invisible. Through this guide, we want to equip people with the tools to better understand and support their loved ones, colleagues, and community members. Small actions such as belief, empathy, flexibility can have a profound impact.”

As Ireland marks World IBD Day 2026, Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland is encouraging everyone to take a moment to learn more, start conversations, and become part of the ‘village’ that people living with IBD rely on every day.

The It Takes a Village Practical Quick Guide is now available to download here