Eating Disorders Support Group Dundee

Chairperson's Report

Chairperson’s Report 2017

Chairperson’s Report   24.04.17

Firstly, as always, I must thank all our volunteers, both in Dundee with NEEDS 2 Bridging the Gap and also in Aberdeen. Time is precious to all, but the time you give to those who are challenged by eating disorders, either personally or as carers, is priceless. We all recognise the benefits of support, especially facilitating self help. Our group members acknowledge this, as do the professional services in Tayside and Aberdeen, so thank you for your time and your individual skills. Thanks also to Irene, who diligently organises meetings and does our administration, and also to George Baird who maintains our website so efficiently.

A very special thank you goes to Emma Lindsay for going that extra mile this year, as well as holding down a job, and doing her finals. She has continued to support patients from the Young Peoples’ Department along with Katie Bedford, which is proving a huge success. She has also been instrumental in inspiring two winning Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) teams, Robert Gordon’s College and also Albyn School, talking candidly to pupils about her experience and raising awareness of eating disorders. She has also shared that experience at the second Aberdeenshire Schools’ Conference, which was widely appreciated by her audience of teachers and other school based staff. She also continues to work as a B-eat Young Ambassador, and support our group members each month. Well done, Emma, and all the best for your Master’s year wherever you choose to go.

We have focussed on looking after ourselves this year, with two very successful Wellbeing Days which were totally free of charge to group members, speakers on Kinesiology and Photography as therapy, and the launch of our Arts and Crafts Group, suggested by a group member. All these were made possible by monies raised by Rosehill TSB, Aberdeen University Raising and Giving Campaign 2016, and £3k from Robert Gordon’s College YPI team.

The attendance at the Wellbeing Days was low, but enjoyed immensely by those who did attend; volunteers, some past group members, some present and some carers. Presentations included Yoga, Mindfulness, Movement as Therapy, and Body Image. There was also a selection of alternative therapy taster sessions, Shiatsu, Reiki, Aromatherapy Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology available and a Nail Bar. Since we have recently won another YPI, thanks to Albyn School, and we hope to hold more Wellbeing Days next year using this extra funding. Comments ranged from “It was good to spend some time on me.”, to “I feel grounded, relaxed, chilled.”

Our Arts and Crafts Group has also had low numbers attend, but was very much appreciated by those who did attend, and latterly became involved in the Can You Hear Me? Recovery Song project led by 4th Year music student, Nadine Allan. This project used art, mind mapping and music to produce a song for the group. Unfortunately the Arts and Crafts Group will have to fold due to those low numbers, but hopefully we will be able to re-start it in the future.

During Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we were invited to attend a Wellbeing Fayre at Banchory Academy. This was an excellent event for raising awareness, as we were able to chat with pupils from all the different year groups and also school staff.

It has been an immensely satisfying year, with the Wellbeing Days and some group members deciding to move on, acknowledging the role NEEDS(Scotland) has had in their sustained recovery. We have had three new babies born, and we have a wedding, a graduation and an emigration ahead. Life goes on and NEEDS(Scotland) will have to adapt to the changes. It has before, and it will again.

Sourcing volunteers is a constant struggle, but we will survive in whatever way we can to continue to offer support in both Aberdeen and Tayside. I am still keen to pass on the mantle of Chairperson, due to increasing personal commitments, but I will endeavour to do the best I can to keep the group running until someone comes forward.

 

The following report is from our volunteers at NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap, who continue to provide a much valued and needed service to those in Tayside.

NEEDS 2 Bridging the Gap Report 24.04.17.

Our group was established in October 2015 and has been very successful since then. Our time has been spent developing a routine and settling in to our meeting rooms which are within Dundee Carers’ Centre.

This year we want to focus on fundraising for ourselves and hope to arrange a bagpacking event in a store such as Sainsbury’s, but so far there has been no response. We are also looking at using a pop-up café for an event. Our biggest event is to be a sponsored walk over the Tay Road Bridge on Sunday 11th June. The timings of this event are still to be confirmed. We have also had a team represent us in Carnoustie High School’s Youth Philanthropy Initiative competition. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful this time, but there is always another chance! We hope to publicise NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap so that other schools may select us as one of their charities.

Our volunteers are very appreciative of the local ED Service offering us supervision, which is proving most beneficial. We are most appreciative of the time that this involves out of hours. Unfortunately we have two volunteers leaving. Natasha and Duncan have been a great asset to both groups in Aberdeen and in Dundee, and we wish them well in their new home. Three of our volunteers hope to attend a training event which is being organised by Anne Tremble of the Linda Tremble Foundation in Fife.

Attendance has settled in the group with 8-12 members attending monthly with 3-4 volunteers. Sometimes there can be only one volunteer for carers as there are two needed for group members. It would be good if we could find more volunteers.

Tayside CAMHS have said they would like to become involved. However, there has been little contact so far. They are very keen to set up peer mentoring as in Aberdeen Young Persons’ Department, but sadly there are no younger volunteers available at the moment.

One evening which proved very popular with most group members, was a poetry reading session. Sara Preston’s poem, There is a light and there is a door, was read out and group members discussed their own favourites.

There continues to be regular enquiries regarding the group coming in to South Lodge in Aberdeen, and attendance remains excellent, which shows the continuing need for a group in Dundee.

 

 

Sponsored walk

Sponsored Walk across the Tay Bridge

Tay Bridge

We’re holding a charity walk on Sunday 11th June 2017, so please join with friends and family to raise money in aid of NEEDS 2 (Bridging the Gap), supporting sufferers and carers dealing with an eating disorder in Dundee and Tayside.

Meet at the Apex Hotel on Sunday 11th June at 11am.

The APEX Hotel has kindly offered us the use of toilet facilities and water.
There is car parking opposite HMS Unicorn at City quay.

Flyer
Sponsorship form

SEDIG Carers’ Conference

The Scottish Eating Disorders Interest Group (SEDIG) held their annual Carers’ Conference in The Eric Liddell Centre, Edinburgh on Saturday 4th March. The event, which usually takes place at the end of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, was hosted by Fiona Duffy who has recently become SEDIG’s chairperson, and featured some excellent speakers on a variety of topics. Fiona highlighted that Ben McPherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith had raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament to note and appreciate the theme of EDAW 2017, which focussed on early intervention and raising awareness of these serious mental illnesses.

Kathleen Taylor, Engagement and Participation Officer with the  Mental Welfare Commission gave the first interesting and illuminating presentation on her role within the MWC and her own personal experience as a carer. She highlighted the importance of The Triangle of Care, rolled out in Scotland several years ago which aims for better collaboration and partnership with carers in their journey through the mental health services, and also acknowledgment that carers need care too. Amongst other topics covered were The Mental Health Act and the issue of confidentiality. She stressed that carers can request a meeting with the professionals treating their loved one. If refused they should,

  • put the request in writing
  • repeat if necessary, and copy in the Mental Welfare Commission.

There is an information and advice line (call back service) at 0800 389 6809

She also spoke about an Advance Statement. These can be useful but need to be completed by the service user when they are well. They may be useful as the brain can become impaired if food intake has been restricted for some time.

Sara Preston, Senior Young Person’s Officer (Scotland) for B-eat then gave a very interesting presentation about her Winston Churchill Foundation Fellowship Research trip to the US and Canada. The focus was on

  • Children and Young Persons’ treatment models
  • Education
  • Stigma
  • Raising Awareness

Sara travelled extensively across the US and Canada meeting with individuals from many different organisations supporting those affected by eating disorders and their families. My own personal favourite and dream for Scotland, was Sheena’s Place, www.sheenasplace.org which is a large house where a variety of different support is available such as

  • Art and Craft
  • Emotional Control
  • Bereavement
  • Dads
  • Sufferers
  • Siblings

Eating disorders sufferers, their friends and families can feel very isolated and alone, and this concept provides a safe environment in which to access help and support.

Sara concluded her presentation by reading out a very moving poem which she had written.

Finally, Gill Todd, Clinical Trainer and Supervisor in Eating Disorders talked about Collaborative Skills-based Learning for Carers. She also highlighted the importance of The Triangle of Care, and discussed helpful and unhelpful beliefs about eating disorders.  One concept which is often neglected by both the carer and the sufferer, is the need to learn compassion for themselves. This was a very interactive session, which continued into the afternoon, working  in different groups with plenty of opportunities for input from conference delegates.

Gill stressed the need to remain calm and try to step back from high anxiety/confrontational situations. Eating disorders thrive in these environments, so they are to be avoided as much as possible. She also stressed the aim to support the sufferer to build new “train tracks” in the brain of coping mechanisms, to replace those the eating disorder has put in place and begin the process of change. We looked at the stages involved in making that change and did some exercises to illustrate how Motivational Training could help. The idea is to make goals realistic and timely. Little steps make big strides!

Many thanks to the SEDIG Committee for their organisation and provision of a great venue and delicious lunch. SEDIG now have a Facebook page and also a Twitter account.

I highly recommend going along to SEDIG Carers’ Conferences as they are informative, but also gives carers a chance to network and share their experiences with others going through similar challenging times.

 

 

SEDIG Carers Conference

Carers Conference 2017

The Scottish Eating Disorders Interest Group, SEDIG, are holding their 2017 Carers’ Conference at The Eric Liddell Centre in Edinburgh on Saturday 4th March 2017. Like last years conference, there features an interesting and varied programme.

Date & time
Saturday 4th March 2017, 9.30am – 4pm

Venue
The Eric Liddell Centre,
15 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DP

Please note this conference is open to Carers’ in the first instance.  Professionals who wish to attend will be put on a waiting list and in the event there are free places then they MAY be allocated one.

Please click here for a downloadable version of the programme.
Please click here for a booking form.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is coming!

Christmas and all its associated parties can be quite difficult for our group members who may find these situations really scary. We have put together some suggestions in this leaflet to help support you through the season.

Please remember, that Christmas is be about the people too, especially those close to you, and perhaps those who you don’t see very often, and perhaps your own family traditions, the present giving and receiving, the games, or not as the case may be! A lovely walk in the morning or afternoon can also be a time to have some time to yourself, or enjoy with family, friends or a pet.

Whatever you choose to do, we hope you can relax and enjoy the season in whichever way you choose. Merry Christmas everyone!

£100 for NEEDS(Scotland) funds

One of our group members valiantly ran the Baxter’s River Ness 10K race in September, raising £100 for NEEDS(Scotland). We are very appreciative of her time training and running this race and her efforts fundraising on our behalf. Thank you so much Lauren, and very well done!

Tayside support continues

Bridging the Gap meet again on

Wednesday 11th November

at 7-9pm 

The Carers’ Centre,

Seagate House,

132-134 Seagate,

Dundee, DD1 2HB

and following that, on the second Wednesday of every month.

Download the flyer here.

New group for Tayside

On Wednesday 21st October, our satellite group NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap held a Launch Night in The Carers’ Centre, Seagate, Dundee. It was very well attended. There were three guest speakers. First, Dr Paula Collin of the Tayside Eating Disorders Service gave an interesting overview of what is available for adults challenged by an eating disorder. Tina McGuff then gave a very emotional talk on how she came to write her book, Seconds to Snap, which is based on her struggling with, and then recovering from anorexia. She is now very focussed on helping others take steps to recover. Finally, Sara Preston, Beat’s Senior Young People’s Project Officer spoke about her own experience recovering and what Beat are currently doing in Scotland. Following refreshments the new group members split into groups of carers and those personally challenged with their own facilitators. The next group meeting will be on Wednesday 11th November from 7-9pm. If you have any queries please contact our administrator via contact form or leave a message on 01224 557672, and she will return your call.

Tay Bridge

Eating disorders support group launch in Dundee

We are delighted to announce that our satellite group, NEEDS2 Bridging the Gap, will hold its Launch Night on Wednesday October 21st from 7-9pm.

We hope to have a speaker and an opportunity for some sharing on the night.

Thanks must go to the eight volunteer facilitators who have been so enthusiastic taking this forward. Particular thanks must go to Fiona and Donald who have given so much of their time and talents finding a venue and organising planning meetings. We are also delighted to have the support of Tayside Eating Disorders Service and the North East of Scotland Managed Clinical Network.

Please download our flyer.

Tay Bridge

NEEDS Scotland 2- Eating disorder support Dundee & Tayside

NEEDS(Scotland) 2
BRIDGING THE GAP

Tay Bridge

SUPPORTING SUFFERERS AND CARERS DEALING WITH AN EATING DISORDER IN DUNDEE & TAYSIDE

WATCH THIS SPACE
COMING TO DUNDEE & TAYSIDE SOON