The vision of Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre (BARC) is to enable people with arthritis to have an improved quality of life and greater long-term independence through education about their diseases.

This information is provided in a variety of forms from audio CDs to written literature and is aimed at the multi-cultural society that makes up Birmingham, particularly those who infrequently obtain conventional medical help or refrain at all from seeking medical intervention when in pain.

BARC works through partnership with local communities and the research environment of the University of Birmingham.

The fundamental aim is to promote 'self care' and 'self-management', supporting people with chronic and painful conditions to cope with their problems.

We encourage patients to take an active role in managing their own care. Knowledge about their specific conditions can enable approaches that prevent these conditions from getting worse and reduce the disability arising from incurable diseases.

For further information please contact BARC using the following means: -

Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre
5th Floor, Birmingham Central Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ

Tel: 0121 464 2708
Web: www.barc.org.uk
Email: barccentre@bham.ac.uk