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About us

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and one of the biggest killers across Europe. It is predicted that by 2040, there will be 12 million people living with stroke in Europe.

We are a non-profit organisation representing stroke support groups across Europe, with 37 members in 32 countries. Founded in 2004, we lead projects to change policy and work in advocacy across the whole stroke care pathway.

Our vision

We want a Europe where preventable stroke is eliminated, death and disability is minimised and every person affected by stroke lives their best life possible

Our mission

Over the next five years and beyond, our mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke in Europe, by bringing together and empower SSOs to deliver campaigns, advocacy, education, research and raise awareness.

Our goals

That everyone affected by stroke is supported by a national stroke support organisation
A substantial reduction in preventable stroke through acting on risk factors and symptoms
Making stroke a European health, care, social and research priority
Equality of stroke care in each European country through implementation of comprehensive national stroke strategies
Maximise our effectiveness by being a professional, ethical, financially stable and sustainable organisation

Our recent successes

Advocating for stroke
In 2024, we continued to be a strong voice for stroke at European level. As co-chairs of the Stroke Action Plan for Europe (SAP-E) implementation committee with the European Stroke Organisation, we supported the development of key advocacy tools, including the Stroke Services Tracker and the Essentials of Stroke Care.

We launched our MEP election manifesto and presented at the Hungarian Presidency high-level event and several Brussels-based meetings. Our collective advocacy contributed to the European Commission’s commitment to develop a Cardiovascular Health Plan. We were also accepted as a strategic partner in the Brain Health Mission – further strengthening our presence in European health initiatives.

Strengthening Stroke Support Organisations
Our members remain at the heart of everything we do. In 2024, we continued to support stroke support organisations (SSOs) through shared learning and collaboration. Our growing membership now spans 37 organisations, up from just eight when we began. Member meetings and the Collaborative Space continue to spark new ideas and connections across Europe.

Raising awareness of brain health and preventing stroke
We relaunched our stroke prevention website with accessible, evidence-based content available in multiple languages, supporting awareness of modifiable risk factors and encouraging brain health and stroke prevention across Europe.

Focusing on life after stroke
The third in-person European Life After Stroke Forum (ELASF) took place in Prague, with a focus on lived experience and wider European participation and covering key topics such as new technology in rehabilitation, carers and secondary prevention. We launched the ‘Life saved is a life worth living’ report outlining the unmet needs of those affected by Stroke. In partnership with the Angels Initiative, we continued distributing the ‘Surviving Stroke’ brochures – now available in 12 languages.

Supporting research
We also played an active role in major EU-funded stroke research projects, helping communicate results to stroke survivors, families and clinicians across Europe.

Together, we are shaping a better future for everyone affected by stroke.

Our 2025 priorities

We will develop our plan for SSO capacity building based on the dedicated workshop at the Prague ELASF and regular Collaborative Space meetings.
In partnership with the ESO, we will launch the 2023 Stroke Services Tracker data and the updated SAP-E along with supporting advocacy tools. We will also host a stroke event in Brussels to engage MEPs and key stakeholders.
We will work to ensure stroke remains a priority in the European cardiovascular health agenda, contributing to the EACH CVH plan and attending MEP group meetings. A new communications plan will be developed with members to boost participation and visibility.
We plan for our next ELASF in Stockholm, with a focus on lived experience and wider European participation.
We will establish the European Life After Stroke Task Force to provide leadership on life after stroke services in Europe. We will also launch a lived experience network for stroke survivors, co-developing an ambassador programme and training offer.
In prevention, we will expand our online resources and visibility. We will also launch the Post Stroke Spasticity Patient Experience Map (Ipsen) and publish a White Paper on secondary prevention (Bayer).

Why join us?

A key priority for us is the support of our member SSOs, and to ensure your concerns are given a voice in advocacy, in research and awareness programmes, policy, campaigning and development initiatives.

As our member, you will:

Access a range of benefits to help support your work and growth (see below).
Help build a network across Europe and strengthen the collective voice of SSOs.
Use our logo (after approval) on your materials as appropriate.
Enhance our ability to drive change on stroke across Europe. Your logo and membership will be recognised on our website and appropriately in our materials.
Ensure that the voice of stroke survivors and carers is heard in the discussions about policy and stroke resources at both EU and national level.

What are the benefits of joining us?

Discounted place at European Life After Stroke Forum.
At least one free place at members meetings.
Opportunities to present at members meetings.
Networking with your peers through member meetings and subgroups.
Access to information, templates and pre-produced campaign and awareness materials.
Patient information translated into the language of your country.
Invitation to SAFE General Assembly meetings.
Board and officer election voting rights.
Eligible to stand for board and officer election.
Access to SAFE member-only online area on the SAFE website.
Listing in the SAFE online membership directory.
Right to use ‘member of SAFE’ logo on corporate materials (upon approval).
Opportunity to submit conferences and educational activities for SAFE endorsement.
Letters of support from SAFE for national advocacy on key stroke issues
Regular members’ only newsletters.
Showcase your work on a European level on our communication platforms such as our website, social media, networks and newsletter.

Who can join?

Our membership creates a community with like-minded organisations. Membership is open to civil society organisations from Europe engaged in supporting stroke survivors. Membership is available via three categories ordinary members, associate members and honorary members.

Ordinary membership confers voting rights and full ability to engage in all initiatives and consultations, and to access SAFE streams of funding if appropriate, and support to templates, press releases, the SSOFT training modules and all other material produced to support members to pursue their goals as SSOs.

Membership of SAFE will confer recognition of the organisation as a supporter of SAFE and the support of the voice of stroke survivors and carers in the stroke world, European (as defined by the World Health Organization) national organisations constituted according to the laws and customs of their country of origin, which represent the voice of stroke survivors and their families, support those at risk of and affected by stroke, and operate with a priority concern for life after stroke.

They will be non-profit, non-governmental organisations. The organisation will be able to demonstrate their involvement with stroke survivors and their families in the community, and that the aims of your organisation are guided by stroke survivor and family priorities.

Associate membership is available to organisations, constituted according to the laws and customs of their country of origin, which support those at risk of and affected by stroke, and who do not fulfil the criteria for ordinary membership.

They may be organisations or societies concerned with representing or driving forward the interests of medical professionals or researchers, or health professionals working in stroke related nursing, therapy, research and development. These will often be commercial organisations concerned with the development of treatments, aids, drugs, services, or research.

Associate membership does not confer voting rights and full access to all the benefits of ordinary membership but may confer access to many benefits such as SSOFT training modules, information and campaign resources, invitations to events and participation in appropriate consultation initiatives, and gatherings. It also confers recognition of the organisation as a supporter of SAFE and the support of the voice of stroke survivors and carers in the stroke world.

Honorary members are individuals or organisations, constituted according to the law and customs of their country of origin, which have provided outstanding support to SAFE in furtherance of its objectives. It does not confer automatic voting rights or automatic usage of logo.

What are the subscription fees?

Annual turnover				Fee 2025
< €200,000			=	€574
€ 200,000	to	€ 500,000	=	€861
€ 500,000	to	€ 1,000,000	=	€1170
€ 1,000,000	to	€ 2,000,000	=	€2341
€ 2,000,000	to	€ 3,000,000	=	€3602
€ 3,000,000	to	€ 4,000,000	=	€4.683
€ 4,000,000	to	€ 5,000,000	=	€5,962
€ 5,000,000	to	€ 6,000,000	=	€7,024
€ 6,000,000	to	€ 7,000,000	=	€8.196
€ 7,000,000	to	€ 8,000,000	=	€9,367
€ 8,000,000	to	€ 9,000,000	=	€10,538
> €9,000,000			=	€11,709