2023 eating disorder support Scotland - we can offer you support to help you achieve that goal

Happy New Year to all our group members and their families

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Everyone at NEEDS(Scotland) wishes you all the very best for 2023. Remember that all steps in the right direction, whether big or small, get you closer to your goal. NEEDS(Scotland) can offer you support to help you achieve that goal with monthly group self help sessions. Our facilitators all have experience of eating disorders, either personally or in supporting a friend or family member. We welcome any adult challenged by any eating disorder, carers and family members too, to come along to our group. For more details, contact our administrator.

We have now had a few months back in the Macrobin Centre which is our usual location, and we have seen our numbers return to pre- pandemic levels. Face to face meetings are so valuable for everyone, and we are lucky enough to have rooms where our group members can share their experiences safely and in confidence. Last month we resumed the quarterly visit from a Therapet and owner for the half hour before the start of our sharing sessions. We have had a variety of canine visitors now, some who love attention and strokes, and some who just want to lie on the floor contentedly, waiting for a treat or two. Animals can be so therapeutic, offering unconditional love, and bringing a smile to everyone’s faces.

We have also been fortunate to have three new volunteer facilitators join us, and we welcome their enthusiasm to support our group. One of these is a Beat Lived Experience Ambassador and she has been a great asset to our Carers’ group, recounting her story with the highs and lows along the way. This has been very much appreciated by our carer members giving a real and meaningful example of how recovery is possible.  Since we now have a few more facilitators, we hope to resume our Coffee Care and Share sessions with the Young Peoples Department within the next couple of months.

We also hope to restart inviting speakers to the group over the next few months and also planning for our next Wellbeing Day.

Although the start of a new year may be cold, dark and gloomy, we can look forward to the year ahead, brighter days, and new beginnings.

Eating Disorder Support Meeting Aberdeen Dundee

Aberdeen meetings update

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We have now returned to our usual meeting rooms in the Macrobin Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen and have already seen an increase in our numbers. This means we have our library and refreshments available once more. It also means that we are the only group using the facility at this time. Entrance to the Macrobin Centre is at the back of the building just past the entrance to the Adult Outpatient Eating Disorders Service. See our printable map.

Please also check out easyfundraising.org.uk, There is information and a link to the registration form on our Help us web page. With fewer shops in Aberdeen nowadays more and more of our shopping is done online. There is an easyfundraising app which can prompt you to ask for a donation when you shop with a huge number of retailers, including Amazon, Expedia and Booking.com This is such an easy way to raise money for NEEDS(Scotland).

Finally, in the Christmas 2021 post, we were able to announce that Peterhead Academy had won their school’s Youth Philanthropy competition by composing a presentation on our behalf. A team from Alford Academy also did a presentation on our behalf and won! We remain committed that this huge sum of money will go directly to support the wellbeing of our group members and carers, through complementary therapies, speakers and workshops. 

Eating Disorder Support Meeting Aberdeen Dundee

Dundee meeting news

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Unfortunately Bridging the Gap is still unable to meet as there is an ongoing problem with evening staffing at the Dundee Carers’ Centre. We will advise everyone when meetings can resume. However, all those seeking support in the Dundee area are very welcome to attend meetings in Aberdeen on the first Monday of each month.

Conversations

Update on meetings for group members and carers

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Wishing everyone a very belated happy New Year and hoping that at last, we can see some light at the end of the Covid 19 tunnel. We continue to have face to face groups in meeting rooms above Cafe Credo in Aberdeen city centre. There are two groups, one for adults with any eating disorder and one for carers of anyone with an eating disorder. These meetings continue to be held on the first Monday of every month at 7.30pm. The dates for the next two meetings are

Monday 7th March

Monday 4th April

Entry to the meeting rooms is to the left hand side of the entrance to the cafe. Places still need to be booked through our administrator beforehand. We are currently in discussion with Cornhill Hospital regarding our return to the Macrobin Centre, and will keep everyone informed via our website and email.

Bridging the Gap in Dundee hope to resume their meetings as soon as possible. Our administrator will confirm this by email and also on this web page.

NEEDS(Scotland) is a self help group who value the opportunity to share experiences in a welcoming and caring setting. All our volunteers have experience of eating disorders either personally or as carers. Some people attend regularly every month and others prefer to come along for extra support when necessary. If you have only just found our website, do please come along and feel the benefits of shared support and the knowledge that you are not alone.

2021 Christmas

Christmas Greetings 2021

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I can’t believe it is December once more, and we are getting closer to the festive season. Once again Covid means that we may be facing some restrictions, but some gatherings will certainly go ahead. This may mean that some of our group members may be feeling apprehensive. It would be good if you can share your worries with someone, either a friend, loved one, or perhaps the online/telephone support at www.beatingeatingdisorders.org.uk.

Decide what you are having to eat beforehand if you can. If that’s not possible, don’t worry. Try and make sure you have someone on hand to give you support if you need it. Remember, an eating disorder is like a bully, it does not take kindly to you having friends and family to help out. Some of you may not have as much support as others, but remember, Christmas is only one day, and it too will pass. Don’t worry, you are doing well and you will get there!

If you are a carer, try to help your loved one plan what they’re eating well ahead of the event and then focus more on the other Christmas activities such as, a walk in the fresh air, the present opening session, Christmas movies and games, or even caring for pets. Animals can be very therapeutic.

….. and something to look forward to ……

A team from Peterhead Academy chose to represent our charity for their school’s Youth Philanthropy Initiative and won £3000 for us!! This means that we can plan another Wellbeing Day with workshops and complementary therapies to be enjoyed by our group members and their carers. Many thanks go to the winning team for all their hard work and also for raising awareness of eating disorders in their school. We really do appreciate it.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year from everyone at NEEDS(Scotland).

Conversations

2021 Meeting Dates

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Hello everyone,

With the easing of the current COVID restrictions, we are now in a position to reconvene our monthly support group meeting.

Unfortunately, at present we are unable to access the Macrobin centre at Cornhill Hospital, however we have managed to secure the use of 2 rooms at Caf4e Credo on John Street. Due to the size of the rooms available, and to ensure we comply with the current Government guidelines, we are only able to offer 4 places within each group ( 1 person per household for each group).
These will be allocated on a first come basis to be as fair as possible until we are able to resume a normal service.

Meetings will be held on the 1st Monday of each month, with our first scheduled for July 5th, 7.30-9pm at:

Caf4e Credo
14-20 John Street
Aberdeen
AB25 1BT

If you wish to book a place, or require any additional information, please contact NEEDS.

Conversations

Coronavirus update

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Hello everyone,

We hope you are all keeping well and coping as well as you can with the ongoing challenging times. We want you to know that NEEDS(Scotland) are still here, and although we cannot function as normal presently, we do hope to resume our group sessions as soon as Scottish Government guidelines allow. We have secured a room in premises located in central Aberdeen where we can hold small socially distanced meetings once we are permitted to do so. Obviously numbers will be limited, and meetings will only be for those personally challenged by an ED initially, on a “first come, first served” basis. If you are a carer, and you would be interested in a group meeting via Zoom, please email our administrator via our contact form.

Should you feel in need of advice or support the agencies listed below can help.

beateating disorders.org.uk

anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk

samh.org.uk

mha.uk.net

mind.org.uk

The NEEDS(Scotland) volunteers in Aberdeen and Dundee are thinking of you all as we move through this pandemic. Hopefully now, with a vaccination programme, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep going, little steps help make big changes.

“Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse, “It’s refusing to give up.”

Christmas Greetings 2020

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We know that the festive season is a challenging time for those with eating disorders and their families, but this year with the pandemic, it is even more so. You will get through this by taking a little step at a time, and being kind to yourself. Everyone at NEEDS(Scotland) wishes our group members and their loved ones the best Christmas they can have, and hopefully in the New Year we can look to the longer days and Spring bulbs. Although we cannot hold our usual group meetings, we can direct you to telephone and or online support through the national eating disorders charity Beat at www.beateatingdisorders.org

Merry Christmas, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year and remember,

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Unknown

“I can’t see a way through, said the boy,

“Can you see the next step?”

“Yes.”

“Just take that.” said the horse.

“What else do you think?” said the boy.

“I think you are doing better than you think.”said the horse.

“Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse, “It’s refusing to give up.”

Charlie Mackesy

support

Beat extends helpline hours and support services to help people affected by eating disorders

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Hello everyone,
Due to the very high demand for support during lockdown, the national charity Beat have expanded their support services on the telephone and online. They were fortunate to secure National Lottery funding to enable them to do this. As our usual group meetings continue to be suspended, we hope that one of the following Beat support services may suit your needs.

  • Bolster – a telephone coaching service for sufferers
  • Nexus – a telephone advice and coaching service for carers supporting their loved one.
  • Solace – a peer-supported video group for carers, facilitated by experienced eating disorder clinicians.
  • Raising Resilience – a new workshop for anyone caring for someone with an eating disorder, so they can learn the skills to help their loved one towards recovery.
  • Extended Helpline opening hours – the Helpline, which covers phone calls, one-to-one webchat, email and online peer support groups 

For more detailed information, you can read more here about how Coronavirus has impacted those affected by an eating disorder and how Beat are able to help.

Stay safe and well everyone, and we hope to see you as soon as we can.

support

Eating Disorder Support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Hi to all our group members out there.

As you probably know, hospitals are still closed off for non- essential appointments and meetings such as ours. Like everyone else, we have to wait for guidelines on how we can proceed. We do not offer one to one consultations, as we only have a few volunteers who are only trained to facilitate groups. Until then, we would still refer you to Beat for specialised support online. However, Mental Health Aberdeen are offering a telephone helpline to anyone who is finding it difficult to cope just now.

Take care folks, stay safe and stay well. We are thinking of you all.

Mental Health Aberdeen phone number