Ataxia UK Branches and Support Groups
Our Support Groups and Branches are what truly make Ataxia UK a nationwide charity. Living with a rare condition can feel isolating, and Ataxia UK aims to reduce that feeling by coordinating a network of groups across the UK, where people affected by ataxia can meet up, socialise, share experiences and advice, or just have a good time.
About Our Groups
Our Support Groups and Branches are set up and run by volunteers who are Friends of the charity. Support Groups tend to be spaces in which members can have fun and blow of some steam; Branches are localised bodies of the charity itself, which have a Chair and Treasurer and hold fundraisers throughout the year.
Over 50 groups and Branches across the UK meet up, socialise, share tips and advice and fundraise, finding solace, support and fun among people who understand their condition. Some meet weekly, others monthly and some just when and where they can. They are always welcoming to new people.
How to join/start a group
Ataxia UK is a charity that supports anyone affected by the condition, not just those who have it: family members, friends, partners, children and carers are very welcome to attend. If you want to join a Support Group or Branch, check the regions of the UK below to find one near you, along with their contact details.
If you want to start a Group or Branch, get in touch with us at office@ataxia.org.uk.
South East
Dover
Andrew Parkinson
E: andrew.parkinson@hotmail.co.uk
T: 07771333089
Our meetings take place at 11am at The Deal Centre for the Retired, 3 Park Street, Deal, Kent. Get in touch with Andrew to come along.
East Sussex and Kent
Jean Gillard
E: gillardjean@sky.com
Our meetings take place at The Roller Mill, Mill Lane, Uckfield TN22 5AA - please contact Jean for more information.
Rainham and Gravesend
Vanessa Bartlett
E: sandv.bartlett@googlemail.com
T: 07701007825
Yvette Loach
E: yvetteloach@hotmail.co.uk
T: 07738 366 433
Essex
Dawn Wooldridge
E: tynckas@msn.com
T: 01268 545584 or 07539061075
Farnham
Derek Wood
E: woody1404@live.co.uk
T: 07776 188 877
This August we are eight years old. From an original 10 members, we now have 35 on our mailing list while we normally have an attendance of 14 at our meetings on the second Thursday of each second month. Several of the those who don’t attend actually cannot do so but like to be kept abreast of our news and activities.
We enjoy getting together with non-judgemental friends who don’t need any explanation or apology for our ataxia. We share ideas and advice from our own experiences and we are always delighted to welcome anybody affected by ataxia to join us.
Ashford
Stewart Smith
E: potter.ss26@gmail.com
T: 07759 539 987
Our 2020 meeting dates are: 22nd September, 20th October, 17th November and the 15th December.
Thames Valley
Tim Flanders
E: tim.flanders@hotmail.co.uk
T: 07792 718178
See the latest going on here
Oxford
Jennifer Davies
E: jensaldav@yahoo.co.uk
We welcome new members, please contact Jennifer for more information.
Bishop's Stortford and Ware
Barry Munday
E: barrymunday22@outlook.com
T: 01279 843 687
See our website here
Meetings take place in the Beefeater at the Premier Inn, Marsh Lane, Ware, SG12 9QB. Please contact Barry for dates and times of meetings.
We are a friendly group and just have a laugh and joke, really. There is no fee or agenda, just come along and feel at home and have a chat! All kinds of people with ataxia are most welcome.
Southampton
Gina Lawrence
E: Gina_Lawrence@btinternet.com
T: 07786 226 404
Please join us for our first virtual meeting on 17 September. Contact Gina for more information.
East of England
East (generally the Peterborough area)
David Stubley
T: 01205 722 771
E: djstubley@aol.com
Read our newsletter here
You are welcome to come and join us for a social get together where we help one another to overcome everyday difficulties living with ataxia. Our meetings are at the Stanground Community Centre, Whittlesey Road, Stanground, Peterborough, PE2 8QS. They are approximately every two months. All are welcome. Please contact Dave for dates and timings.
Ipswich & Colchester
Patsy Riggs
E: patsy.riggs42@gmail.com
T: 07801 544 974
Read our latest newsletter here
When the lockdown is lifted, I will be sitting in the Holiday Inn from 11am to 1pm on the last Saturday of the month from February to November – no need to advise in advance if you will be attending the meeting but always pleased to hear from you.
This informal arrangement seems to work well – no membership fee. The Holiday Inn provides tea/coffee and biscuits at concessionary price, which you need to pay to me before leaving. You can also buy drinks from the bar.
In the meantime, I will host a zoom meeting at the same date time. You can get a link to the meeting from me or Head Office.
Ataxia UK Norfolk Online Support Group
Ami Tricker
Click here to see the group
A small, quick-to-respond online support group. Fancy a chat? Need to vent? Or just want to share your experience? Then we will be there for you every step of the way.
East Midlands
Lincoln
Chris Weston
E: westonchris45@gmail.com
T: 07887 662 667
West Midlands
Dudley
Mel Priest
E: megalopolis36@yahoo.com
T: 07403 280 338
You can find out about our group by checking out our Facebook group. Please get in touch with Mel for more details about when our next meetings will be held, or to ask for more information!
Cannock and Lichfield
Susan Deane
E: susied20045@hotmail.co.uk
T: 0121 7837 858
Meetings are held in Lichfield in the afternoons.
Coventry and Warwickshire
Kate French
katecfrench@gmail.com
07866 861362
Coventry & Warwickshire Ataxia Support Group is an informal group of people, with various types of ataxia, who meet at a Coventry pub for catch ups. We usually meet quarterly but during the Covid-19 pandemic, our meetings are on hold.
Redditch
Jane Maries
E: mattyjam@gmail.com
Sheldon and Birmingham Branch
Susan Deane
E: susied20045@hotmail.co.uk
0121 7837 858
We meet every other month and have a good time discussing all topics and we are very welcoming.
Leicester
Claire Huggett
chmrh.charjen2@yahoo.com
T: 01162 848 201
Read our latest newsletter here
New members are always welcome!
Nottinghamshire
Anita Hollis
E: anitahollis@live.co.uk
T: 07786634806
Derby
Kerry Bull
E: kezbull@btinternet.com
T: 01773 826699
See the latest going on here
The South of England
South Downs
Anneli Figura
E: anneli0909@googlemail.com
T: 01403 241859
Meetings are held at the Cart Room at the Oak Barn Restaurant, Cuckfield Rd, Burgess Hill RH15 8RE. Please contact Anneli for more details.
Read our latest newsletter here
Dorset
Chris Preece
E: preece173@btinternet.com
T: 0130 5823 013
Hampshire
Jenny Rose
E: aandbmorris@gmail.com
T: 01590 645 739
Read the group's latest newsletter here
The South West
Bath
David Hancock
E: Davidehancock@gmail.com
Bristol
Philip Clark
E: Philip@swmortgages.com
T: 07812 026632
Gloucestershire & Worcestershire
Dave Mathew
E: dgmathew@sky.com
T: 07970611840
West Country
Becky Downing
E: westcountry.ataxia@outlook.com
T: 07773 940 586 or 01392 660 398
St Austell
Ann Truscott
E: masontruscott@gmail.com
Yorkshire
Bradford
We meet once every six weeks on a Saturday afternoon however the date/time is flexible with your needs and requirements. We are a group that love sharing recipes and tips for living with our different ataxias. We welcome all affected by ataxia to join us!
Muhammad Shahid
07801976665
Join one of our meetings, please contact Muhammad.
Leeds
Mark Allen
mk.allen@sky.com
0113 219 1700 or 0777 387 5323
North Yorkshire
Please find below details of the North Yorkshire Ataxia Friendship Group - currently we are not holding meetings due to Covid-19, but hopefully they will start again when the lockdown allows.
The North Yorkshire Ataxia Friendship Group meet monthly at the Holiday Inn, Tadcaster Rd in York. We meet to have an informal chat about ataxia and a whole range of non-related things, and generally support each other and have tea/coffee, biscuits and a laugh. All together we have about 25 people who meet and about 10 of the people have ataxia of some form. Throughout the year we arrange days out, fundraising, hog roast/BBQ, a day at the races and also a Christmas lunch. We would love to see you at any of our meetings. We have people travelling from Skipton, Knaresborough, Ripon, Filey, Harrogate, Hull, Driffield and Malton and look forward to welcoming new members.
Karen & Gavin Dalton
gavinsdalton@aol.com
07730321946
Please contact Karen and Gavin Dalton if you would like to join.
Sheffield
Margaret Warnock
maggiewarnock@hotmail.com
OR
Toyah Wordsworth
wtoyah@hotmail.com
North East
East Durham
Philip Whitwell
philipwhitwell@sky.com
0191 581 9995
Newcastle
Beryl Park
berylpark@hotmail.co.uk
0166 187 1917
North West
Morecambe
Karen Martin
0152 483 2536
piepie1963@gmail.com
This is a new email address, if anyone has tried to contact Karen since May on her previous email address, please try again using this address.
Carlisle
Mhairi Jarvie
mhairijarvie@sky.com
0138 727 9431
Manchester
Maddie Clark
maddiefayeclark@gmail.com
0789 668 0080
London North-Central
We are a friendly group and just have a laugh and joke really.
There is NO fee and NO agenda, just come along and feel at home and have a chat! All
kinds of people with ataxia are most welcome.
Barry Munday
barrymunday22@outlook.com
01279843687
London North-West
Talita Banoori
talitap@icloud.com
07940166672
South London
Tim Kahn
1timkahn@gmail.com
07903 599104
Scotland
East of Scotland
Peter Dalby
01875820081
OR lizdalby58@googlemail.com
info@ataxia-east-scotland.org.uk
OR Penny Gardner
penny@ataxia-east-scotland.org.uk
www.ataxia-east-scotland.org.uk
West of Scotland
Derek Taylor
ataxiaukwestofscotland@gmail.com
Ayrshire
Nancy Collins
agnes@colgrafix.com
07483836854
(If anyone has tried to contact Nancy recently, try again please as these are new contact details!)
Wales
South Wales
Charlotte Case
xcharl@me.com
Ceri Pepper
ceripepper@live.co.uk
07583 211358
North Wales
Jeanne Fong
07929 181161
jeannefong@hotmail.com
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Alex Duncan
0289 187 3592
078869 08011
alexsduncan@hotmail.co.uk
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