Wigan Anxiety Group

• PR7 6DH, 9 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers

Our group is in its 10th year of supporting carers by providing helpful information, a listening ear, empathy and suggestions for getting the best care for loved ones living with mental illness. We have excellent knowledge of local and national mental health services, as well as strong relationships with local service managers (both NHS and also social services teams from Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire councils). Our group offers peer support both in the group and at meetings that carers may attend such as needs assessment or clinical interventions. This gives carers the confidence and support they need. Carers can access the group via email or telephone or attend meetings in central Lancashire These give people plenty of opportunity to share experiences with each other and also tend to be mini conferences featuring key speakers. If required, we can contribute to travel expenses or we can try to arrange lifts. Our basis is a belief that the best support for carers of people with mental illness is to have the best care for their loved ones. If you wish to get involved in the group, require any support or want to sign up to our newsletter, please contact us. This group is open to anyone across Lancashire.

• M60 0AB, 18 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers and People with Mental Illness

The Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group is a group for people affected by severe mental illness to come together to share information and support with each other. Our group was started in 2008 by Mary, who has a close family member with severe mental illness and wanted to meet others with similar experiences. The group is open to everyone: people personally affected by severe mental illness and their family members, friends and carers. As a peer-led group, we find that one of our most valuable offers is that members are able to feel comfortable talking about their experiences with others in a similar situation. Members often share suggestions based on how they overcame similar challenges in their lives, though sometimes just the opportunity to talk can help reduce feelings of isolation. We also occasionally arrange for guest speaker to attend a meeting, and we sometimes organise social events. In the past, this has included us going on the ‘folk music train’ to Glossop and running arts and crafts taster sessions which allowed members to try vinyl cutting and pottery. If you wish to find out more, or want to sign up to our newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact Mary.

• L1 1JD, 18 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers and People with Mental Illness

Struggling to cope? Would you like to meet others who have been through it and will accept you for who you are? Why not come along to our support group and have a cup of tea and a chat? We will provide a non-judgemental listening ear, friendship and social support that can make all the difference when you are trying to cope with life’s challenges. Our support group is run by people who have personal lived experience of mental health issues or have looked after someone who has.Our group provides a welcoming, safe place where people can come and have a chat. We will provide empathy, acceptance and reassurance.

• , 22 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers and People with Mental Illness

The Accrington, Burnley and Pendle Group runs a wide array of activities across Burnley for people living with mental illness. We believe that by providing sports and social activities we can help to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of members and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Our group activities vary from going to the gym to visiting the local cinema to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster. We meet on the first Friday of each month to plan our activities for the following month, so all our members can help decide what we do. The group is entirely peer led, and is run by Greg and a group of volunteers who each have a personal experience of mental illness. An important part of what we do is providing peer support to each other and sharing our experiences with others facing similar challenges. If you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you. Meets in various locations across Burnley.

• FY2 0HH, 23 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers

The Fylde Family Support Group was established by Stuart and Toni, who have close family members affected by severe mental illness. Today, the group runs several activities, including a monthly meeting focusing on campaigns for better mental health services in and around Blackpool. We provide a friendly, safe and supportive environment where people can meet others dealing with the challenges of caring for a loved one with mental illness. Our monthly Campaigns meeting takes place on the second Tuesday of each month (7–9pm). Our weekly Dog Walking Group meets every Wednesday (10–11.30am) at Stanley Park Visitor Centre, Stanley Park, West Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 9HU. And our Vinyl Community Group meets twice a month at Grenfell House, 5 Grenfell Avenue, Layton, North Blackpool, FY3 7BP, on the first and third Monday of each month between 7 and 9pm. These groups provide an opportunity for people to come together, relax and receive peer support whilst sharing experiences and giving and receiving suggestions on how we can overcome challenges. For many of us, the most important thing we get out of the group is that we're not alone and know that other members experience the same challenges.

• SK1 1EG, 24 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers and People with Mental Illness

The focus of our group is to build on the work of the Time to Change campaign led by Rethink Mental Illness. It aims to promote local educational activities and campaigns to help end the stigma that surrounds mental ill health. Our meetings provide a safe and relaxing environment for people interested in the campaign to meet and plan activities.

• CH3 5UD, 28 miles from this group
• Tag: People with Mental Illness

The Chester Support Group has been running since 2013 and provides an opportunity for people with lived experience of mental illness to come together and receive peer support. The group is entirely peer led, run by volunteers who have our own personal experience of mental illness, many of whom have made lifelong friendships. Today we run our weekly Monday Drop In, which starts with our breakfast club (10.00-11.30am) where we offer a bacon and egg sandwich, toast or a healthy option. The drop in continues until 3.00pm where people take part in arts and crafts activities, playing board games and sharing our experiences of mental illness. On the third Monday of the month we have our evening support group (6.00-8.00pm) where we offer similar activities. We also run a Guitar Group with separate sessions for beginners and more experienced players (please contact us for details). During the summer months, we look after our large garden and grow fruit and vegetables that can be used in our Cooking Group. If you wish to find out more about what we do or would like to take part in our activities, please contact us to find out more.

• ST7 1DG, 38 miles from this group
• Tag: People with Mental Illness

We are a peer support group in Kidsgrove that provides a safe and supportive environment in which group members can meet and talk about things they can't talk about elsewhere. Group members can join us for trips and to promote positive wellbeing.

• , 47 miles from this group
• Tag: Carers

Our Wakefield Carers group has been meeting for several years now. We are a friendly group that meets once a month in an afternoon. We offer a safe, relaxing space for people caring for someone with mental illness to share what sort of month they've had. This typically leads to members offering support and encouragement to each other. We never put pressure on anyone to share. We just offer the space for people to do so freely and without judgement, so our members feel less isolated and more supported. As we meet in an afternoon, we provide a simple lunch buffet with tea and coffee that we can enjoy together while we talk. On occasions, we also arrange social outings outside our regular meetings. New members are warmly welcome.