Eating Disorders Support Group Dundee

Have you got your Wellbeing Voucher?

Due to the amazing generosity and drive of the charities group at Robert Gordon’s College, NEEDS(Scotland) received a donation of £2500. It was decided that this money should be used to promote wellbeing amongst our group members, carers and volunteers, as we have had so much success with our Wellbeing Days. There are a limited amount of £50 gift vouchers available, one per group member, to be used at The Rosemount Centre in Aberdeen, which has a number of complementary therapies available, such as Reiki, reflexology, massage and Shiatsu.

If you have not requested a voucher yet, please email Irene. Vouchers will be available for collection on Monday 5th  November and Monday 3rd December. No more vouchers will be available after this date.

Many thanks once again to all those at Robert Gordon’s College who contributed to this fantastic total.

Mindfulness

September presentation- The role of the physiotherapist in eating disorders

Prior to our sharing session at the September meeting, Sandra Philip-Rafferty, Highly Specialist Physiotherapist with the Adult Outpatient Service in Aberdeen, came along and gave us a very interesting insight on the physiotherapist’s role within the multi-disciplinary team. She highlighted the different ways physiotherapy could be used, such as for relaxation, tension management and breathing, the unity between body and mind, posture correction, exercise management, and the improvement of body image. Body size estimation can also be improved. Sandra took us through what happens when you eat, how food travels physically through the body, and also how food can  sometimes affect the brain with fears causing tension. She also explained topics discussed in groups on body awareness which promote body acceptance, using relaxation, touch/massage, mirrors, mindfulness and enjoying exercise again at an acceptable level. Sandra then discussed the different stages of change when someone is affected by an eating disorder and how service users can be supported through these stages. There was an excellent attendance for Sandra’s presentation which was very informative and well received by everyone. We really appreciate Sandra giving up her free time to come along and speak to us.

Mindfulness

Wellbeing Day Saturday 28th April 2018

  • Venue

    Café Coast, Beach Boulevard AB24 5HP

  • Date

    Sat 28th April 9.30-4pm

  • Arrival time

    Please Arrive at 9.15 to sign in

  • Registration deadline

    Monday 23rd April 2018

Join us for a day of positivity, relaxation & pampering.

This is a free event open to all NEEDS & Bridging the Gap members, past or present, Friends, family & carers. Everyone is Welcome.

Mindfulness

Wellbeing Day……save the date!

After the success of our two previous Wellbeing Days, we are holding a third on Saturday 28th April 2018 at Cafe Coast, in Aberdeen. We welcome all group members and their carers, to this event, which includes workshops featuring Body Image and Laughing Yoga, a light lunch and taster sessions of various complimentary therapies. Some “me” time for everyone!

 

More details coming soon………..

Sponsored walk

Dundee’s Bridging the Gap sponsored walk raises £1243

On Sunday 11th June 2017 members of the Bridging the Gap group completed a sponsored walk over the Tay Bridge. The idea of walking the bridge came from group members as it is symbolic with the groups ethos of Bridging the Gap into recovery and also as it’s a local landmark crossing the river Tay. There were 17 participants of all ages the youngest being 4 years old and who entertained us the whole way.

The weather started off a little drizzly but soon the sun came out and we enjoying the warmth. The start point was the Apex Hotel and it was decided that to complete the walk we had to touch the wall on the Fife side and then walk back to the Apex Hotel. We started at 11am and all had completed the walk by 1:30pm.

We would like to thank the Apex Hotel for supporting us in our first walk by providing refreshments in the form of cold water.

It was agreed by all it was a fabulous day and it was intimated that this could become an annual event.

Thank you to all group members who collected monies. Once all the monies had been counted it came to £1243 which is a fantastic effort by all.

The monies will be used by the group to secure our current venue and also to purchase books and other beneficial educational material for the group.

Merry Christmas

Coping with Christmas

What does Christmas mean to you? For most of us, it is many things, Friends and families coming together, works nights out, buying gifts for our nearest and dearest, writing out Christmas cards…I could go on!

For those struggling with an eating disorder, and their carers, it can instigate sheer panic. It becomes all about massive amounts of food, and more food, taking away any enjoyment, and adding huge anxieties. Carers become anxious about their loved ones being anxious and the combined anxieties can wind up stress levels.

Over the years NEEDS(Scotland) have built up a bank of helpful strategies from group members which can help you cope with this time of year. We are always looking for more ideas, so if you feel you can add to what we have, email our administrator via our contact formand we will add them to our leaflet.

Our December meeting dates are NEEDS(Aberdeen) Monday 4th December at 7.30pm, and NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap in Dundee  on Wednesday 13th December at 7pm.

Everyone at NEEDS(Scotland) wishes you all a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2018.

 

Recovery Is Possible

Self help at its best

NEEDS(Scotland) is a self help group. It has been around for 22 years now in one form or another supporting those affected by eating disorders and also carers, friends and families. Many group members have come and gone and appreciated the support they have had.

Over the past few months I have witnessed our group working at its very best with volunteer facilitators, members at all stages of these horrible illnesses and carers too, really showing how self help works. I commend everyone involved for their empathy, their compassion and willingness to help those in need.

Living with an eating disorder is a constant struggle. Our group members understand that more than anyone. Recovery IS possible!

Xmas shopping

Christmas shopping online? Support NEEDS(Scotland)!

 

It’s getting to that time of year…..Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas Markets… If you prefer to do your shopping online, please remember us at NEEDS(Scotland). Have a look at the Help us section of this website and you will find a link to www.easyfundraising.org.

Once you register to support us, you are only a click away from getting donations from many of the popular retailers such as Amazon, John Lewis and Marks and Spencers for our charity! You can do all your grocery shopping or even book flights or a holiday through this site.

All the donations mount up and currently we have £156.46 raised so far, just by shopping, but clicking on easy fundraising first! Don’t delay….register today, and carry on shopping!

Sponsored walk

Bridging the Gap amazing fundraising effort

Tay Bridge

NEEDS(Scotland)2 Bridging the Gap is our satellite group based in Dundee. On June 10th the group organised a fundraising sponsored walk, “bridging the gap” across the Tay Road Bridge. We now have the final total of monies raised which is an amazing £1243. Congratulations and well done to the organisers and all those who took part on the day. The funds will be used for building up resources for the group and also will help pay for rental of rooms at The Dundee Carers’ Centre. Bridging the Gap meet on the second Wednesday of every month, from 7pm-9pm. Dates are posted on the Meetings page of our website.

This is a self help group which welcomes both adults affected by any eating disorder and carers too. After an initial discussion together, the groups continue in separate confidential settings. Enquiries about this group or NEEDS(Scotland) Aberdeen should be made via our contact form or by telephone on 01224 557672. Please be aware that this is an answering service, but our administrator will return your call as soon as possible.

News Update

News Update

Here is a news update from our groups in Tayside and Aberdeen. NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap have been busy lately, fundraising and raising awareness in Tayside with a very successful sponsored walk across the Tay Road Bridge, bridging that gap and raising well over £500 for the group to spend on resources and accommodation amongst other things. More details of the exact amount raised will follow later.

Following the winding up of the Aberdeen group’s Arts and Crafts Group, due to low attendance, the materials purchased have been distributed to group members along with scrapbooks for individual use to create their art and design work and record positive affirmations, writing and poetry. One of our group members very kindly shared her own scrapbook which was beautifully done and inspired others to have a go at producing their own. Larger materials such as paint and card making items will go to the Eden Unit, and colouring books and pencils to the Young Persons’ Department. Donating in this way should raise awareness of our self help group in the wider hospital community and hopefully encourage others to attend the group when they can. Although we are an adult group, carers of younger people can attend.

On that note, two volunteers from NEEDS(Scotland) are initiating a Coffee, Care and Share Session on Thursday 24th August in the Oak Room, Young Peoples’ Department, Lower Garden Villa, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH from 10.30-12noon, and on Thursday September 28th from 7.30-9pm. The aim is to offer support informally to those caring for young people affected by an eating disorder, and encourage carers to support each other. If you are interested in attending, please email our administrator via our contact form.