Local support group - do you have one?

sugarbuttie
sugarbuttie Member Posts: 225
edited 12. Aug 2011, 06:25 in Living with Arthritis archive
I was delighted to receive a letter last week inviting me to attend the first meeting of a new NRAS support group in Oldham (how rock n roll am I being delighted at such a thing??!)

I was pleased because a) we don't have anything else locally to my knowledge b) it is just 3 miles from where I live c) It is at 6pm so I can there straight after work.

I am keen to get involved in whatever way I can & am looking forward to the first meeting.

Do any of you attend local support groups? Do you find them useful? Have you made any good friends? Are there any tips you can offer me joining a new group?

Thanks for any replies, as always.

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi SB,

    Its odd what we gets pleased with now a days eh?! :wink:

    We have no support groups this way.... with AC its lumped in to the south.... some of us have views on that one this way :lol:

    Its to rural, too spread out and well financing it is hard.

    The Devon AC group did a combined course this way and that was helpful and good to meet folk with the same trouble so hopefully you will find it a rally good and helpful experience.

    Let us know ho it go please? Cris x
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    not heard of one near me either val
    val
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Not sure what NRAS stands for but I'm a member of our local Arthritis Care group......you will get a list of the ones in your area on the front page of this web site.
    We meet once a month and I'm a volunteer for them.
    Some Mondays we have a speaker {more entertainment than anything else} but you get a chance to talk to others with arthritis and who understand.......Other Mondays we have a speaker on things like controlling pain and that type of thing and that is very useful. Ours starts at 7pm and its about 25 mins drive away from me but thats not bad.
    Love
    Hileena
  • sugarbuttie
    sugarbuttie Member Posts: 225
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    NRAS stands for National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.
  • Compositor
    Compositor Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all, as some of the members on the forum may know I have made reference to helping to start a local AC Support Group within the Leigh area. It is at a very early stage, but, we have managed to get off the ground with appropriate local people to fill in the positions to manage it. I'm very encouraged with what we are trying to do, up to now, we have managed to encourage a group of 15-20 people over the last 3-4 meetings. Our intentions are to develope its intentions to the benefit of people with arthritis, carers/families and interested people. I have personally attended an AC Support Group within a few miles from home of which is very well developed, and, managed to the betterment of its members. They have regular speakers of varying topics in relation arthritis, and, work with local NHS Trust regarding assistance towards bettering the understanding and the management of arthritis. Our aim at Leigh is an attempt to reach the level of the other branches, we are currently having tremendous support from AC Regional officers, and, our prime concerns to give our members a listening ear and make the Support Group work for them. John x
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi John,

    Well done and I so hope it will keep going for years to come.

    We did think about one here.....

    The Devon group leaders were kinda encouraging till they said that it had been tried and failed every time....

    Its to spread out... 70 miles or so and well AC we are NOT the south :lol::lol: Oh Cornish through and through :lol:

    Its just too big an area and too spread out.... but it would be good to have a group here somewhere but knowing they have failed for financial reasons as well... We decided it was a non runner....

    Be nice though wouldn't it?!

    Well done again and hope your doing ok in yourself? Cris x
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well Done John
    From what I hear its not an easy job to get a new one of the ground.
    So thats great that you've got it started......Isnt it surprising the amount of people that have arthritis but are still so ignorant about it....they know so little. So education is one of the things. I was surprised when I was running a stall in our shopping center one time {to hand out leaflets and just talk to people and educate them a bit} the amount of people that said "no I cant have a blue badge...I dont get DLA" and things like that. We are all so lucky that we found this forum....I found this before my local group.
    Keep Going
    Love
    Hileena
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 12. Aug 2011, 05:19
    Cakes???????? Thats a better one than ours :lol::lol::lol: or is it special treatment :lol:
    We have coffee and biscuits It is very enjoyable and welcoming to new members

    Love
    Hileena
  • Ankyspond
    Ankyspond Member Posts: 626
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Derby have a NASS (National Ankylosing Spondilitis Society) meeting its an hours hydrotherapy then a chat, only been once but must go back. xx
    AS Sufferer
    Live, love and enjoy life, live each day as though it's your last!
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I don't think there is a local support group in Redditch, I would have loved to have gone to one if there was one there. shame. :sad:

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