Support group name & description

Chair / contact name & contact information

How often are meetings?

Where are the meetings?

Age UK Essex

A sitting / companionship service to provide carers with valuable respite time.  All sitters are fully insured and police checked via the DBS service.

Southend office 01702 548423

Available Monday to Friday, 08.30 - 16.30

For more information contact Head Office on 01245 346106 or visit the website www.ageukessex.org.uk

Southend Beating Bowel Cancer support group (SBBC)

An informal support group for individuals who have been affected by bowel cancer and offer mutual support and friendship

Jacquie Joels / Joanne Glover or Janet - Chair

01702 385056 or 01702 312959

Every 3 months, dates set a year in advance, 13.30 - 16.30pm.  Generally with a visiting speaker,  Social & public awareness events are planned.

Nazareth House, London Road, Southend on Sea

Bosom Pals

Bosom Pals is a social support group for women who have been through treatment for breast cancer.

Nikki - 01269 752209

June 0 91792 555384

Third Wednesday each month, 19.30

The Stables, Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh on Sea, SS9 1LX

Southend Carers Forum exists to help Carers, by providing information and support, on the issues that concern them most, irrespective of age group and social, ethnic, cultural and religious background.

Southend Carers Forum offers a range of services to support Adult, Parent and Young Carers looking after friends, family, children or neighbours in Southend and the surrounding areas.

Services include

• Helpline
• Information & Advice
• Peer Support
• Support Groups
• Advocacy
• Young Carers Breaks
• Carers Events
• Health & Wellbeing
• Counselling

info@southendcarers.co.uk

T: 01702 393933

Twitter: @southendcarersforum

Facebook: Southend Carers

Website: www.southendcarers.co.uk

Office is open between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday (24 hour answerphone)

The office is at

29-31 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1BW

Carers Choices

Respite breask doe carers

For more information please phone 01268 881130 or email care@carerschoices.org

www.carerschoices.org

Castle Point Young Carers

Support group for young carers aged 8-18

youngcarers@carerschoices.org

www.carerschoices.org/youngcarers

01268 881133

Tuesdays 5.30-7.30

 The White House, Kiln Road, Benfleet, SS7 1BU

Carers Trust, carer coffee morning

All carers are welcome

Tina Judd tina.judd@crossroadsessex.org.uk

01268 881130

First Thursday of every month, 10.30 - 12.30

Hockley Methodist Church, Main Road, Hockley, SS5 4QY

CADGERS

For people with urological cancers

Ann Tull

01702 385369

Last Thursday of each month 18.00 - 20.00

Education Centre, Southend Hospital

COPES

Informal information sessions for women with gynaecological cancers.

Free complementary therapy sessions available.

Emma Azeem

01702 435555 ext 6464

1st Saturday of the month, 10.00 - 13.00.  All welcome.  Guest speakers, support, information and fundraising.  For those affected by gynaecological cancers

Education Centre, Southend Hospital

DIAL Basildon and South Essex

Gives free, impartial and confidential service of information, advice and practical help for disabled people, carers, their families and friends.

Jan Stevens

01268 294400/1

Admin / fax 01268 294495

Office is open Mon - Fri, 10.00 - 16.00

Visit the website www.dialbasildon.co.uk for details of advice desks

email enquiries@dialbasildon.co.uk

DIAL Southend

Gives free, impartial and confidential service of information, advice and practical help for disabled people, carers, their families and friends.

Ron Alexander   
29-31 Alexandra Street
Southend-on-sea SS1 1BW

Advice line: 0800 731 6372

Admin / fax 01702 356041

Mon - Fri 10.15 - 15.45 pm.

Will arrange hospital visits and carry out talks to staff and patients on benefits and disability  

Email: dialsouthend@tiscali.co.uk

Little Grey Cells (Brain tumour support group)

For patients diagnosed with primary braine tumours and their families

Kim Paskins / Gemma Lowdell, CNS Neuro-oncology

01702 385113 Monday to Friday

Every 6 weeks

Alternating venues:
St Lukes Hospice
WI Hall Rayleigh
Southend Hospital education centre
St Thomas's RC Church, Grays

BASIL

Informal group for patients, relatives or carers affected by lung cancer or mesothelioma .

Provide mutual support and friendship.

A nurse will be present at each meeting to provide additional support, information and advice

Jo Phelps, Jolly Barber

01702 435555 ext 6835

First Wednesday of each month, 12.30 - 14.00

Coleman Street Chapel
8 Coleman Street
Southend

Castle Point, Basildon and Thurrock Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support group

Light refreshments provided.

Michelle Palmer

01702 435555 ext 6835 or

07920 287075

Runs 3rd Thursday of the month, 11.00 - 12.30

The Paddocks Community Centre, Long Road, Canvey Island Essex SS8 OJA.

Lymphoma Support for you

Clinical nurse specialists for haemato-oncology at Southend hospital Avril Bunker and Rachel Tolley attend this group when possible.

Paul & Nikki Saunders

01702 552655

Thursday evening 19.30 - 21.00 on the following dates:

21st March 2013, 9th May 2013, 18th  July 2013, 19th September 2013

The Maths Room, Southend High School for Boys

Southend Optimistic Ostomates

Informal friendly group for patients with colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy.  We meet for a chat and cup of tea. 

We hold quizzes and tombolas and have entertainment at Christmas meeting.  Our meetings are supported by different stoma appliance companies who update us on new appliances on an informal basis.

Angela Taylor, Janet Blainey    

01702 385509 or 01702 385510

Twice a year.  Dates arranged in advance.  14.00 - 16.00  Plus day out and lunch trip.

Nazareth House
London Road
Southend on Sea

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS Essex region)

Informal meetings take place every 6 - 8 weeks for a coffee and a chat.

Chris Dugmore 01702 478244

MDS UK main office 0207 733 7558

Please call Chris Dugmore for further information.

PACERS

For pacemaker patients.

Jackie Bailey

01702 435555 extn 5033 or 01702 546719

Meetings approximately 3 monthly.  Have company reps in to speak to members

 Education Centre lecture theatre, Southend Hospital - varied days

Parkinson's disease support for younger people.

This group is specifically for the younger age group up to 60 yrs.

Sue Freeman / Maggie Stannard

01702 385383

Second Thursday of the month 18.30-20.30pm

EEG department, Southend Hospital.

Parkinson's Disease Society

Support group for people suffering with Parkinson's disease and their sufferers.

Awaiting updated contact name (Secretary/Chairman)

01702 352668

1st Thursday in the month 14.00 - 16.00

Crowstone Christian Centre (formerly St Georges United Reform Church),
King's Road,
Leigh on Sea.

Rainbow Centre for adults with disabilities

care@carerschoices.org

www.carerschoices.org

For more information please contact 01268 881130

Open Mon-Fri 9.30-3.30

The White House, Kiln Road, Benfleet, SS7 1BU

Southend Blind Welfare Organisation (SBWO)

117 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7ES

An independent charity which provides practical help to visually impaired people in and around Southend.

Maureen Stevens or Karen Carter-Blake

01702 342131

Information and support provided by volunteers Mondays and Thursdays (see also Equipment and Information Centre)

Eye Clinic, Southend Hospital

SCATTS (Stroke Club At The Tyrells)

It is aimed at people who have been affected by stroke (patients, carers, family members).  This is an informal gathering which was originally set up by the Stroke Support Team but we now just provide support and guidance.

Julie / Suzanne

01702 385381

Every Friday 10.00 - 14.00.  Incorporated into the time are quizzes, discussions, games, arts and crafts.  Occasionally there are guest speakers who attend, such as stroke support nurse, speech & language therapists, dietitians and occupational therapists.  Refreshments can be purchased.  The group tends to go for lunch at 12.30ish.  Transport cannot be provided.

Tyrell's Outpatient Centre, Seamore Avenue, Benfleet

Take Heart

Cardiac support group.  A cardiac nurse attends each meeting, provides social and medical needs, particularly for new patients.

Tony James

01702 293469

2nd Thursday of each month at 20.00

Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches, Eastwood

Silver Birch Centre for those suffering with dementia 

care@carerschoices.org

www.carerschoices.org

For more information please contact 01268 881130

Open Mon-Sat 9.30-3.30

The White House, Kiln Road, Benfleet, SS7 1BU

Southend Blind Welfare Organisation Equipment and Information Centre

Run by volunteers and supported by Southend Blind Welfare Organisation (SBWO).  An independent charity which provides practical help to visually impaired people in and around Southend

Maureen Stevens or Karen Carter-Blake

01702 342131

Opening times: Mon - Fri, 09.30 - 16.00

Situated at the SBWO Centre,
117 Hamlet Court Road,
Westcliff-on-Sea,
SS0 7ES

The Friday Club

Social Club for visually impaired people

Maureen Stevens

01702 342131

1st and 3rd Friday of each month, 14.00 - 15.45

SBWO Centre,
117 Hamlet Court Road,
Westcliff-on-Sea,
SS0 7ES

The Phoenix Club

Social club for visually impaired.  Luncheons and social events organised

Maureen Stevens   

01702 342131

 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 13.00 - 15.30 

SBWO Centre,
117 Hamlet Court Road,
Westcliff-on-Sea,
SS0 7ES

Southend / Essex  Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) Support Group

Run by a committee of volunteers and an NHS co-ordinator. Network with like minded people. Speakers provide information about the conditions and related issues.

Local helpline run by volunteers - telephone (01702) 556407.

Newsletters. Membership booklets. Keep up-to-date. Social events.

Jane Hollywood, rheumatology nurse

01702 587436

Prof. Bhaskar Dasgupta, Consultant rheumatologist   

Meetings twice a year

Crowstone Church 
Westcliff-on-sea