Recovery In Sight … peer support and self-help. What new events are planned that might interest you?

In Hertfordshire, there are two Recovery In-Sight self-help groups in Watford and Stevenage.

Both groups are run by people affected by bipolar disorder for people affected by bipolar disorder, whether they are service users or carers.

Over 160 people have used these self-help groups at some time since the creation of the first one in Watford in January 2006.

About a quarter of our members are carers of people affected by bipolar disorder.

The groups run monthly and organize a variety of events (see below).

If you wish to receive advice on setting up a self-help group in your area, or suggestions on offering peer support to service users or carers, then please email the Recovery In-Sight team.

Hertfordshire Recovery In-Sight Bipolar Self Help Groups

Events Autumn - Winter 2010

Watford

The monthly self-help group meetings and venue for the events is every SECOND Saturday of the month from 10.30am - 12.30pm at the Friends Meeting House (Quakers), 150 Church Road, Watford, WD17 4QB. The group welcomes people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and their supportive carers and friends. We alternate speakers and training with self-help group sessions and ideas for these come from group members. We ask for a 50p donation for tea/coffee we provide at the break. Go to multimap.com for free directions/map.

* Saturday 11th September - the group welcomes supporters Dorothy Thornhill, Mayor of Watford and Richard Harrington MP for Watford for members to express the benefits they have received from self-help and In-Sight training opportunities as the Centre relocates to Watford in September.

* Saturday 9th October - self-help meeting

* Saturday 13th November - returning by popular request, Dr Stephanie Sadler, consultant psychiatrist with Herts Parts NHS Foundation Trust will be talking about bipolar disorder and taking questions from members.

* Saturday 11th December - self-help meeting followed by a Christmas Lunch to celebrate the fourth birthday of the Watford group.

Stevenage

The Stevenage Recovery In-Sight group meets at The Friends Meeting House (Quakers), Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, every FOURTH Wednesday in the month, from 1.30pm - 3.30pm.

Events, speakers and self-help sessions are run along similar lines to the above Watford events (see NEWS for the Newsletter giving details of both bipolar support groups in Hertfordshire).

* Wednesday 22nd September - invitation to Herts County Council, Adult Care Services, Joint Commissioning Team representative who will hear members’ views about how they have benefited from the services we provide, to evaluate them in the run up to public sector cuts in April 2011. All members across the 2 groups and In-Sight trainees and trainers are requested to attend this meeting.

* Wednesday 27th October - self-help meeting

* Wednesday 24th November - Food & Mood workshop. Roger Smith is invited back to deliver an updated workshop on how different foods affect your mood.

* Wednesday 15th December (3rd Wed. in the month) - a Christmas Lunch, details to be posted.

* Forthcoming for the Stevenage group in 2011: A theatre trip in January, a funding discussion meeting in February and a group planning meeting in March.

If you are a member of one of The Recovery In-Sight Centre’s Bipolar Support groups - let your committee know about your suggestions for future guest speakers, workshops or events or if you want to get involved in helping to run one of the groups!

For further information on peer support or self-help, please contact: the Recovery In-Sight team.

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