Jo and Angela both have fibromyalgia and decided to start a support group in their local areas for Stockton/Billingham.
“In our Stockton support group there are a team of 4 admins Jo, Angela, Pete and Megan who work together to provide a safe placefor others who suffer with this condition to meet and come together to chat on a group basis but also offered is a 1 to 1 chats for anyone who feel they would be too anxious to step into a group environment.”
Jo & Angela says :-
We met before the pandemic when part of another fibro group that was running in Middlesbrough area and although that group stopped meeting due to covid we kept in touch with each other and fast became firm friends and then colleagues. On looking for other groups in the area we came across Stephen who runs Fibroconnect-TS in Hartlepool, we decided to meet up with Stephen to see what they had on offer to service users and we liked it so much that we decided to join forces in June 2022.
Our group has come together in Stockton town centre in The Link next door to The Globe as on visiting this venue we found it very warm and welcoming and the staff there are very accommodating in giving us our own section of the cafe to hold our group sessions.
Angela says:–
Fibro has been a condition that has affected my everyday life for around 5+ years. I feel i am no longer the person i used to be and although i have had therapy to help deal with this lifestyle change it us a huge adjustment in grieving for my old self and trying to learn to accept the person i have become. In volunteering for this group i can be very empathetic in understanding what others with this condition are going through.
Jo says:-
I have had fibro for the past 10 years+ and although fibro is known to stem from trauma when i was diagnosed the rheumatologist told me mine was probably genetic as my mam also has this condition. Around 10 years ago i started with a pain in my left arm muscle and over the years has spread to every part if my body. I have been a carer for the past 28 years working in elderly and mental health so i am able to bring my experience and caring nature into this group.
We also have 2 volunteer admins 1 of which (Pete) is a carer of someone with fibro and the other (Megan) has experienced problems herself in the past with mental health problems and widespread pain and is an asset to the group as still in her 20s and a young mum to 2 boys she can cater to the younger members who would like to join our group and feel they would like to chat to someone in their own age range.
The Group
The group is being held at The Link next door to The Globe in Stockton town centre. At present the group meets up fortnightly on a Tuesday afternoon between 1pm-3.30pm. We are considering going forward as of September of holding weekly meetings instead.
In the future we would like to be able to have our own premises like the Hartlepool group does already so we would be able to hold meetings and so users would be able to pop into the unit at any time for a chat Mon-Fri… This is our dream and we will get there eventually.
Stephen says:- “We welcome Jo and Angela and their team to the Fibroconnect-TS family. If you live in and around Stockton, have fibro and want to know more call Angela for a chat on 07361894930 or feel free to message Jo or Angela on the Facebook page Fibroconnect-TS Stockton.”
