Another Scottish support group is going to start up a Zoom support group on every Wednesday in July for anyone over 18 who is challenged by an eating disorder. Our administrator has the details and will be emailing all our group members shortly. If you do not receive these details, please email Irene.
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!
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.
There’s been quite a bit of interest in this project, which has been really terrific. Here is Nadine’s summary of where the project is so far…
So far for my community music project ‘Can You Hear Me?’, I have been working alongside participants to create a recovery song using art. Two sessions have already passed and I am so pleased with the effort and results from these.
Our first session resulted in mood boards being made from our favourite songs – where we all thought about the musical reasons these songs meant what they did to us. In our second and most recent session, we created lyrics using the four core aims of NEEDS, and together as a group selected phrases from our responses. Next session will be creating rhythms to our lyrics and it would be great to see some more faces! Both members and carers are welcome.
The next session will be held in Room M5 at Rosemount Community Centre in Aberdeen, on Tuesday 14th March at 7-9pm. All group members and carers welcome. You don’t need to have been before!
Nadine Allan is a third year music student at Aberdeen University. She visited our group on Monday 9th January 2017 to talk to group members about creating a pro-recovery song and related art work. This is a short explanation of what is involved. We hope as many group members and carers will become involved in this as possible as it is an extremely worth while project.
‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a community music project that aims to create a pro-recovery song for those who have experience with eating disorders. The project will use a multi-arts approach that will allow a positive and creative outlet through group music making. In order to create this song, we will use art as a tool to make lyrics and melodies in a sensory way. The art work created can be put on display at the end result of the project to showcase what you have accomplished – as well as recordings of the song for you to keep. This project’s main aim is to give you a voice and a platform to express yourself in a positive way. Both group members and carers of NEEDS are welcome to attend! Sessions will be held during the Art’s & Crafts group nights.
Dates and times of both the group nights and Arts and Crafts group are on our website on this news page. Please telephone or email any queries to our administrator.
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.
There is still time for you to join us for a free showing of Seen but not Heard, a film funded by The Butterfly Bursary set up by NHS Lothian. Niamh Allen and our own Katie Bedford will be on hand to talk about making the film and answer any of your questions. Refreshments will be served very kindly by staff from Aberdeen Rosehill Trustees Savings Bank who have generously funded this event. The event takes place at Cafe Coast, Inspire Building, Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen AB24 5HP on Saturday November 7th, 2-4pm
Please support this event, as we are one of the first groups to view the film outside Lothian. Please email Irene our administrator to book a place via our contact form .
One of our group members recommended this short video from Beat. It can help support motivation towards recovery. It features lots of positive quotes and is very uplifting.
NEEDS would like to say a big thank you to Mary Dalgarno who ran the Baker Hughes 10k on the 15th May 2015 in aid of NEEDS. Mary raised the fantastic amount of £160 which we shall use to extend our library resources.
