Eva Musby is the author of Anorexia and other Eating Disorders: how to help your child eat well and be well. This book is full of practical solutions, compassionate communication tools and emotional support for the parents of children and teenagers. Following a presentation at the Carers’ Conference in Edinburgh on 28th February, Eva Musby will be in Aberdeen on Wednesday 11th March 2015 to give a talk/workshop for carers. As yet, we do not have the timings and venue for this event, but  details will follow in the New Year.

This will be a very informative event, and it would be good if we could have as many carers as possible attend.

We had a really uplifting look at what we enjoyed about Christmas at our December meeting. Favourite songs/carols, activities, decorations and smells were discussed, and throughout it was very noticeable how many smiling faces there were. Christmas does bring its challenges and we hope our suggestions on coping with the season help. They will be emailed out to group members. If you have any helpful ideas please send them in and we will include them next year.

Beat are running online support groups around Coping with Christmas in December for under 18s.

The Recovery Club is for anyone struggling with an eating disorder, at any stage of recovery.

The Young Carers’ Club is for friends, brothers, sisters or children of someone with an eating disorder.
We have some guest speakers including author and blogger Ali Valenzuela, Kat a Beat young ambassador, Ed, a sibling whose brother has recovered and Jenny Grunwald, an expert in supporting young carers. The website is www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/onlineservices

All the volunteers at NEEDS(Scotland) would like to wish all their group members, families and friends a very happy Christmas and all our best wishes for the New Year ahead.

Next group meeting is on Monday 5th January 2015 at 7.30pm in the Macrobin Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital.

The end of September heralds the start of the new university term, and a new stage in life for first year students. Freshers’ Fairs provide a hub from which they can explore what’s available and what they could possibly help with. Having stands at these events raises awareness of eating disorders, and also allows staff and students to see what support is available locally. The stands have also brought us volunteers, and encouraged people to come along to meetings. Networking with other stallholders also gets NEEDS(Scotland) known in the wider community. We attended the Fairs at both The Robert Gordon and Aberdeen Universities.

NEEDS(Scotland) also took a stand this year at The Big Aberdeen Event held at Pittodrie Stadium on the September Holiday Monday. This was the first time we had done this, raising awareness of our group in a much wider audience. From this we were able to make contact with community radio stations, other welfare agencies in the community, and also possible sources of funding. We are delighted to say that our charity has been chosen to be one of the recipients of the Aberdeen Student Charities Campaign in 2015, so do please support them by attending one of their events and giving generously.

The presentation entitled”What is Recovery?” took place on the October Group Night. It highlighted the views of both the professional and the patient. The road to recovery can be challenging at times and hearing about someone’s personal journey was quite harrowing to hear. However, presentations like this do show that recovery IS possible and give real hope to those currently on their own journey, their friends and families. We would like to say a huge thank you to both Dr Jane Morris for introducing and talking us through the DVD featuring her conversation with our own Lori Noble.

We wish to inform you of new upcoming online support services Beat will be providing in the coming weeks, which may be of interest to our group members, and any other service users and their family/carers looking at our website.

Young Carers Club: Support for young people with a sibling, friend, parent or relative affected by an eating disorder [for under 18’s].

Our Young Carer’s Club online support is for under 18’s with a sibling, friend or other relative who has an eating disorder or is experiencing eating difficulties. This is a four week closed group that provides a space for young people to talk about how they feel and get ideas of how to cope, who can support them and what they can do to help. Each session has an individual theme which the facilitator will help guide through.

These themes will involve: Feelings: Come and introduce yourself and tell us what you would like to get from the Young Carer’s Club; Coping: How to look after yourself when someone you know has an eating disorder; Helping: How to support someone with an eating disorder; Hoping: Looking beyond the eating disorder

· The Young Carers Club starts: October 8th 2014.

· Time: 7pm-8.30pm

· To register: Registration is now open. To register, fill in the registration form found here: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/young-carer-s-club/

· More info: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/young-carer-s-club/

Adult Online Support Groups: Separate support groups for individuals affected and for carers [for over 18’s]:

Online support groups are an accessible alternative to compliment the Beat Network of face to face self help and support groups, they offer a comfortable and supportive environment for discussion between those with an eating disorder, or between carers, families and friends.

We are pleased to announce that we are launching an autumn series of national online support groups for over 18’s alternating between carers and recoverers sessions.

· The next online groups are: October 7th, October 14th and October 21st 2014, between 15.00-16.30.

· To register: If interested in registering email your name and date of birth to onlinegroups@b-eat.co.uk to receive more information.

· More info: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/online-support-groups/

All Beat’s online services are hosted on a secure platform, in a safe, confidential and supportive environment, and delivered and moderated by Beat staff.

For any questions or queries regarding the online support groups – please contact: onlinegroups@b-eat.co.uk

Sara Preston, Beat’s Scottish Young Peoples’ Participation Officer has informed us of two new online support services which Beat will be providing in the coming weeks. Here are the details below.

Recovery Club:
Firstly we have our Recovery Club which is a 4 week online programme for young people under 18 throughout England, Scotland and Wales to explore with others, what recovery means to them and to start to identify some steps they would like to take in their recovery. Starting on Monday 1st September and Wednesday 3rd September, more information can be found here: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/recovery-club

We realise that this Recovery Club is for under 18s, but perhaps some of our members who care for someone in this group, might be able to pass this information on to them.

University Support Chat:
We also have an online Live Chat session relating to University on the 12th of September. This is open to young people of all ages throughout the UK, whether going to University for the first time or returning to University.
More info can be found here: http://www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/get-support/online-services/
To register, individuals can email onlineservices@b-eat.co.uk to sign up.

All Beat’s online services are hosted on a secure platform, in a safe, confidential and supportive environment, and delivered and moderated by Beat staff.