Wandsworth Self Help Groups Project
We are creating a new self help groups service for Wandsworth
Find out how: self help groups can help you and your patient. you can help build the Wandsworth self help group community.
Lifetimes
What is a self help group?
Wandsworth Self Help Groups Project
A self help group is where people who share similar experiences can come together to support each other.
Why do people join groups? Everybody who goes to a self help group has their own story however, there are common reasons why people go to groups: Connecting with others who can relate to their situation. Information and support. New ideas and coping strategies. An end to isolation and a reduction in anxiety. Hope and inspiration from people who are coping.
What do they gain? Participants cite lots of benefits from getting involved with self help groups including: Gaining a better understanding of their condition. Learning new coping skills. Raised self esteem and confidence. Reduced feelings of isolation, fear and anxiety. Gaining hope and inspiration from others. Feeling more in control.
Why work with groups? Self help groups can complement the care you offer and support you in your role. The benefits of working with groups include: Group members are likely to use fewer health services and use services more appropriately. Attending a group can help to increase positive health behaviours. Being part of a group improves the health and well being of your patient. Reciprocal learning, working with groups can boost your professional development. Groups can help you to communicate key health messages, to clarify information about new developments and support. It will provide you with access to people, who can help define services.
What’s happening in Wandsworth? Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group is working with Self Help Nottingham to help create a thriving self help group sector and increase the number of self help groups. Self Help Nottingham is supporting Lifetimes to build on its community support and become the specialist self help group support organisation for Wandsworth. Lifetimes is creating the ‘Care4Me’ website (www.care4me.org.uk), which will include an online directory of self help groups in Wandsworth. We will be promoting awareness of the potential of self help groups amongst health and social care professionals and the public. We want to help create a thriving self help group community in Wandsworth, a community that will build links between the groups themselves, and between the groups and health care professionals.
What else can I do? Look at the Care4me website (www.care4me.org.uk), get to know your local groups and help build the Wandsworth Self Help Groups Community. Put a link to Care4me on your desktop and website. Talk to your patients and service users about self help groups, explain what they are and give them the opportunity to get involved. If there isn’t a local self help group available, encourage patients to contact Lifetimes and Self Help Nottingham; we can support them to start a group. ‘Like’ the Wandsworth self help groups Facebook page. Use the Wandsworth self help groups’ Facebook page to share ideas with likeminded people, promote your events and get messages to self help groups. If you are involved with a self care/self management programme use our Facebook page to get messages out and tell us about your programme.
Want to know more? Contact the Wandsworth Self Help Groups project manager David Potter (Self Help Nottingham) Tel: 0115 911 1679 or 0779 596 4830 Email: david.potter@selfhelp.org.uk Web: www.selfhelp.org.uk
Or write to us: Ormiston House 32-36 Pelham Street Nottingham NG1 2EG
Join us: Wandsworthselfhelpgroups
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANY
No. 3309760 - CHARITY No.