Tooting virtual coffee and chat meeting - Wednesday 22nd at 2pm!

[michaellasmith]

The South London Lupus Group are launching a coffee and chat group in Tooting, the first meeting will be virtual, with view for meetings to go face-to-face once established.

The link to the meeting will be sent nearer the time.

Everyone is welcome!

If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact [e-mail].

[MaximumRide]

Hope it goes ahead. You cancelled the Dundee one with no date to reschedule. We haven't had one since May or longer. And no answer as to when you'll reschedule it. You also cancelled the lupus information day meant to be in Dundee without telling anyone. It's very sad. The most well attended and long standing group has been dropped. Questions have been asked and completely ignored. Looks to me as if Scotland isn't really important to Lupus UK

[Alida_Bennett Partner LUPUS UK in reply to MaximumRide]

Dear MaximumRide

Thank you for your comment. I am sorry that you feel that Scotland is not important to LUPUS UK – this is far from the case – indeed there are now more coffee and chat/support groups in Scotland than has ever been the case, including regular face to face groups in Edinburgh, Musselburgh and Aberdeen.

As you will be aware as a member of the Dundee group (I am assuming that you are referring to the virtual NHS Tayside area group which was unfortunately cancelled in September due to staff ill-health?), all of our groups around the UK are dependent on there being a volunteer in the area who is willing to host the group on the charity’s behalf. You will also be aware that our long-standing and dedicated volunteer in South & East Scotland stood down earlier this year, and that members of staff have been giving up their time to host those meetings in the area, wherever possible, rather than have the groups fold. None of the groups in the area have been closed permanently, but until we have volunteers in the area who are willing to host them, then they can only be held as an when staff are able.

We are working on hosting an online meeting in the South & East Scotland area before Christmas, for anyone in the area who would like to join – this will be advertised on social media once we are able to identify a suitable day/time.

We were unable to host an information day in Dundee, as we had originally hoped to, as there was not a suitable venue available which could offer all the facilities that we required. We then looked at hosting the day in Edinburgh, and although we identified an appropriate venue, unfortunately, we were not able to secure suitable speakers. We do now have everything in place to host an information day in Edinburgh in May 2024, and more information on this will follow in due course.

I hope this addresses your concerns, and we are also hopeful that, in time, there will be volunteers in the area who would like to host either virtual or face to face meetings on our behalf. In the meantime, our staff will host virtual meetings as and when they can.

Should you have any further concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Kind regards

Alida