NRAS Group Meetings Next Week

[Kim-NRAS]

Dear All

Please find details below of the NRAS group meetings taking place next week:

NRAS Group Meetings—Week Commencing 18th July 2016

Swansea NRAS Group

Meetings are held at Sketty Parish Centre, De La Beche Road, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 9AR (on the corner with Gower Road - A4118) on a Monday from 7:30pm-9:00pm. Car parking adjacent and full disabled access.

July 18th - 'Podiatry and RA' by Mr. Jon Neathy, Podiatrist

Hertfordshire NRAS Group

Quarterly meetings are held at Welwyn Civic Centre, Prospect Place, Welwyn AL6 9ER on a Tuesday from 7:00pm-8:30pm.

19th July - Guest speaker 1: Jacky Bryant from Learning JBE will talk about non-invasive pain relief and guest speaker 2: Christine Halls from Essence Complementary Therapies will give a taster session on Meditation

Three Counties NRAS Group

This group meets at St. Francis Church Hall, 121 Upper Chobham Road, Frimley, Surrey, GU15 1EE bi-monthly on a Tuesday from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Meetings are open to anyone living with RA, JIA and inflammatory arthritis.

19th July - ‘Healthwatch’ – We welcome Chris Taylor from Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, to give us an overview of how they support and represent the views of people who use health and care services.

Blackpool NRAS Group

Blackpool and District NRAS Group (BADRAG) meet every other month in the cafeteria at Clifton Hospital, Pershore Road, Lytham St. Annes, FY8 1PB from 7:00pm – 8:30pm.

21st July - Guest speaker: Lyn Wilson, will present - 'Tai Chi, learn the basics, manageable exercise for those with RA'

Plymouth NRAS Group

Phil and Rika co-ordinate this group and call themselves PADRAGS (Plymouth & District Rheumatoid Arthritis Group Support). The group meet monthly on a Thursday in the Health Education Room at Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth PL4 7QD from 12-2pm.

July 21st - Guest speaker: Nikki Day, Rheumatology Sister, Derriford Rheumatology Department

You, your family, friends and healthcare professionals are all very welcome to attend and you don’t have to be a member of NRAS to attend a group meeting!

[hedgehog45]

Hi. Are there any groups / meetings in (West) London?

[nomoreheels in reply to hedgehog45]

Are any of these in London & SE near? nras.org.uk/groups/region/l...

[hedgehog45 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks. I could get to the Uxbridge meeting - should I contact them direct to ask about joining and dates?

[nomoreheels in reply to hedgehog45]

You could though I don't think you need to join as such, if it's like my local one it's normally a just a case of just turning up on the day/evening. The West Middlesex group have just had a meeting (14th July) so unfortunately you've missed that one & I'm not sure how often they meet as each group differs but Kim from the NRAS posts & let's us know here on the site when the next meetings are, like this one you're replying on, (the latest in Uxbridge is shown here healthunlocked.com/nras/pos....

[hedgehog45 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks so much - I'll keep a look out for the next meeting. Am feeling a bit 'on my own' at the moment apart from the lovely posts on this forum as I'm not getting any other support and am having a nasty flare at the moment so feeling quite low. I'm sure meeting other RA sufferers will help a lot.

[nomoreheels in reply to hedgehog45]

Well, it's always helpful to pop on here, anytime. It can be a solitary disease for some, I can relate to how you feel. When I first found the site I was living abroad & felt alone in the midst of friends, I knew nobody with RD (everyone was soooo healthy!). Then I lost it but later realised it was because the format had changed & I didn't recognise it as the same site but I could only read some of the posts, for some reason it blocked me from joining (poss due to not having a UK email address) but once back in the UK I was able to join.

I hope you enjoy the meeting when you go but we're always here even if it's just to chat or rant!

[hedgehog45 in reply to nomoreheels]

Bless you, it's kind and helpful people like yourself that really make this more bearable. Xx

[nomoreheels in reply to hedgehog45]

Aw thank you, we're all in this together, only we truly know how it is, keep hold of that. x

[Kim-NRAS NRAS]

Hi hedgehog45

You don't need to be a member to attend a group meeting, they are free and open for anyone to attend. As nomoreheels says the meeting dates are on the website and are posted here the week before they are going to take place. The next one in Uxbridge should be good as there a Consultant coming to talk! If you would like to talk to someone over the telephone who also has RA, we can match you with one of our Telephone Support Volunteers (TSV) who can be a listening ear for you and offer help and support. As there is not a group meeting till September, this might be helpful for you, worth having a think about it anyway. If you think you might like to speak to an NRAS TSV please call the NRAS Helpline on 0800 298 7650 Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:30pm and mention it to one of the ladies you speak to and we'll try to match you as close in age etc. as possible.

Best wishes

Kim