Branches & Support Groups - Ataxia UK

Branches And Support Groups

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 share support and information, have fun and blow off some steam. Branches are localised bodies of the charity itself, which have a Chair and Treasurer and hold fundraisers throughout the year.

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.

Image showing members of the Dudley Ataxia UK Support Group meeting together
The Dudley Group In Action

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.

Meetings

Many of our groups are running virtual meetings on Zoom during the pandemic, while some are starting to return to in-person meetings. If you'd like to attend, please get in touch with the relevant group leader and they can send you a link to join or venue details. There is even a virtual support group, welcoming members from any area, which meets regularly online. 

November

  • Saturday 2nd November 12:30-15:00 North Yorkshire (in person)
  • Sunday 3rd November 14:00-16:00 West of Scotland (in person)
  • Wednesday 6th November 10:30-12:00 Newcastle (in person)
  • Wednesday 6th November 11:00-13:00 Gloucestershire and Worcestershire (online) [CANCELLED]
  • Sunday 10th November 15:00-17:00 South London (online)
  • Tuesday 12th November 19:00-20:30 Essex (online)
  • Wednesday 13th November 11:00-13:00 Hampshire (online)
  • Thursday 14th November 11:00-12:30 Farnham (online)
  • Tuesday 19th November 11:00-12:00 Ashford (in person)
  • Saturday 23rd November 11:00-13:00 Dover (in person)
  • Saturday 23rd November 12:00-15:00 Bradford (in person)
  • Monday 25th November 12:00-14:00 West Midlands (Birmingham) (in person)
  • Monday 25th November 13:30-15:30 South Cheshire (in person)
  • Tuesday 26th November 19:00-20:30 Episodic (online)
  • Wednesday 27th November 19:00-21:30 Essex (in person)
  • Friday 29th November 12:00-13:30 Blackpool (in person)
  • Saturday 30th November 12:00-14:00 Rainham and Gravesend (in person)
  • Saturday 30th November 13:00-15:00 Belfast (in person)
  • Saturday 30th November 13:00-15:00 East of England (Peterborough) (in person)

December

  • Sunday 1st December 14:00-16:00 West of Scotland (in person)
  • Sunday 1st December 14:30-16:30 North West London (online)
  • Monday 2nd December 14:00-16:00 West Midlands (Lichfield) (in person)
  • Wednesday 4th December 10:30-12:00 Newcastle (in person)
  • Thursday 5th December 14:00-16:00 Leeds (online)
  • Saturday 7th December 12:30-15:00 North Yorkshire (in person)
  • Sunday 8th December 15:00-17:00 South London (online)
  • Tuesday 10th December 19:00-20:30 Essex (online)
  • Wednesday 11th December 11:00-13:00 Hampshire (online)
  • Thursday 12th December 14:00-16:00 Autoimmune and Gluten Ataxia (online)
  • Thursday 12th December 18:30-20:00 Sheffield (online)
  • Saturday 14th December 11:00-12:30 Westcountry (online)
  • Saturday 14th December 11:30-13:00 16-30's (online)
  • Saturday 14th December 12:30-14:30 North West London (in person)
  • Saturday 28th December 11:00-13:00 Dover (in person)

If you want to start a Group or Branch, get in touch with us at volunteering@ataxia.org.uk.

South East

Dover

Clive Nuttall
E: clive.nuttall@btinternet.com
T: 07970 481424

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

Read our Latest Newsletter Here

Farnham

Derek Wood
E: woody1404@live.co.uk 
T: 07776 188 877

Ashford

Stewart Bessant-Smith
E: potter.ss26@gmail.com
T: 07717049747

Thames Valley

Katrina Greville
E: kaworthington1@outlook.com
T: 07909525365

East of England

Ataxia East Branch (generally the Peterborough area)

David Stubley
T: 01205 722 771
E: djstubley@aol.com
Read Our Latest Newsletter Here

Ipswich & Colchester

We are currently looking for a new volunteer Support Group leader after the wonderful Patsy stepped down after 14 years! Please get in touch with volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you're interested in finding out more information.

While groups are running virtually on Zoom, members from the Ipswich & Colchester area are free to join any of the other Support Group meetings. Please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you'd like to be put in touch with one of the other groups.

West Midlands

Birmingham and Lichfield

Susan Deane
E: susied20045@hotmail.co.uk
T: 0121 7837 858 or 07969465315

Coventry and Warwickshire

We are currently looking for someone to be the support group leader for this group now that the wonderful Kate French has stepped down from the role. Please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you are interested and would like to learn more about the position.

Redditch

Jane Maries
E: 
mattyjam@gmail.com

Leicester

We are currently looking for someone to be the support group leader for this group now that Claire Huggett has sadly stepped down from the role. Please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you are interested and would like to learn more about the position.

Nottinghamshire

We are currently looking for a new volunteer Support Group leader. Please get in touch with volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you're interested in finding out more information.

While groups are running virtually on Zoom, members from the Nottingham area are free to join any of the other Support Group meetings. Please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you'd like to be put in touch with one of the other groups.

Derby

Currently does not have a leader. If you are interested in this role please get in touch with volunteering@ataxia.org.uk 

The South of England

South Downs

We are currently looking for a new volunteer Support Group leader after the wonderful Anneli stepped down after many years! Please get in touch with volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you're interested in finding out more information.

While groups are running virtually on Zoom, members from the South Downs area are free to join any of the other Support Group meetings. Please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you'd like to be put in touch with one of the other groups.

Hampshire

Gina Lawrence
E: 
Gina_Lawrence@btinternet.com

The South West

Gloucestershire & Worcestershire

We are currently looking for a new leader for this group after the wonderful Marjorie stepped down, if interested please contact volunteering@ataxia.org.uk for more information.

West Country

Becky Downing
E: 
westcountry.ataxia@outlook.com
T: 07773 940 586 or 01392 660 398

Yorkshire

North Yorkshire

Karen and Gavin Dalton
gavinsdalton@aol.com
07740349040


Bradford 

Muhammad Shahid
shahid36@gmail.com
07801976665


Leeds

Phil Jones
phil.jones0803@gmail.com
07940 169286

Sheffield

Jonathan Lingard
Email: jlingard@ataxia.org.uk

North East

Newcastle

Beryl Park 
berylpark@hotmail.co.uk
0166 187 1917

North West

Blackpool

Amanda Heyes
aheyes@ataxia.org.uk

 

Morecambe

Karen Martin
0152 483 2536 

piepie1963@gmail.com


Carlisle

Mhairi Jarvie 
mhairijarvie@sky.com
0138 727 9431


South Cheshire

Gemma Sheen 
gemmasheen50@gmail.com
Moira Egan
moiraegan87@gmail.com

Scotland

East of Scotland

Peter Dalby
01875820081
lizdalby58@googlemail.com 

Penny Gardner
07712895771
pennyjgardner@hotmail.com

West of Scotland

Derek Taylor
ataxiaukwestofscotland@gmail.com

Read our latest newsletter here 
Please read our branch leaflet for more information about our group.

In this video members of our West Scotland branch tell us what made them join, but more importantly, what keeps them coming back. 

Ayrshire

We are currently looking for a new support group leader to take over this group now that the wonderful Nancy Collins has stepped down from the role. Please get in touch with volunteering@ataxia.org.uk if you would like to learn more about the role.

Wales

South Wales

Ceri Pepper
ceripepper@live.co.uk
07583 211358

North Wales

Jeanne Roberts (Jen) 
07929 181161 
jeannefong@hotmail.com 

Northern Ireland

Belfast

Alex Duncan
078869 08011
alexsduncan@hotmail.co.uk

Read our latest newsletter here

Ataxia UK Virtual Support Group

As most groups are now returning to face-to-face meetings in some form or the other, this group will aim to provide support to our community members who are not able to attend face-to-face meetings and would still like to be a part of a support group.

We usually meet on Zoom once every 4-6 weeks, and we alternate between weekday and weekend meetings. You can find some of the upcoming meeting dates here.

Every few meetings we like to start with a discussion about how you are engaging with the NHS. For example, you can let us know if you're a member of your GP's Patient Participation Group, or if you've recently shared the Ataxia UK Medical Guidelines with your NHS healthcare provider.

If you would like to join or ask further questions, please email Ed, Jay, and Gemma at virtualsupportgroup@ataxia.org.uk - we look forward to meeting you!

Episodic Ataxia Support Group

Dawn Wooldridge

E: tynckas@msn.com
T: 01268 545584 or 07539061075

Click here to see the group

Autoimmune & Gluten Ataxia Support Group

Carol Bullock

E: cbullock@ataxia.org.uk
T: 01344 776547

We are delighted to announce that for our next Autoimmune and Gluten Ataxia meeting on Thursday 12th December, we will be joined by Professor Marios Hadjivassiliou, a consultant neurologist working at one of the specialist ataxia centres.

To sign up for this session please register here: https://www.ataxia.org.uk/gluten-ataxia-meeting/

 

16-30's Support Group

Gemma Fish

E: gfish@ataxia.org.uk

Carers Support Group

Join us for a chance to meet other carers and exchange useful advice on caring for someone with ataxia. Our next meeting will be announced here soon.

If you have any questions, please could you send them through to jcostello@ataxia.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a chance to meet other carers and exchange useful advice on caring for someone with ataxia. Our next meeting will be announced here soon.

If you have any questions, please could you send them through to jcostello@ataxia.org.uk.

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