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 off 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.
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.
Saturday 9 October - Islington & Ware (online)
Thursday 14 October - Thames Valley (In Person - Theatre Trip)
Saturday 23 October @ 10:30am-12pm - Lincolnshire (virtual)
Saturday 23 October @ 11am-1pm - West Country (virtual)
Saturday 23 October @ 2-4pm - Ataxia East (in person)
Monday 25 October @2-4pm - Lichfield (in person)
Wednesday 27 October @ 10am-12pm - Southampton (online)
Wednesday 27 October @ 7-9pm - Essex (online)
Thursday 28 October @ 2-4pm - Leeds (online)
Saturday 6 November @ 11am-1pm - South East (Dover/Deal) (in person)
Monday 8 November @ 2-4pm - Birmingham (in person)
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 usually take place at 11am at The Deal Centre for the Retired, 3 Park Street, Deal, Kent. We will be running groups virtually via Zoom starting in January 2021. Get in touch with Andrew to come along.
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 the latest newsletter here
Meetings are currently being held online on Zoom. Please contact Dawn for more information.
Farnham
Derek Wood
E: woody1404@live.co.uk
T: 07776 188 877
In August 2020 we reached the 8th Birthday of the group. From an original 10 members, we now have 35 on our mailing list while we normally have an attendance of 14 at our meetings which are helf 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
Thames Valley
Tim and Sue Flanders
Katrina Greville
E: kaworthington1@outlook.com
T: 07909525365
Since Covid restrictions have been lifted, the Thames Valley group has organised a number of in-person meetings. We choose venues across the region so we can aim to accommodate as many of our members as possible, and rely on donations and fundraising to facilitate these. For more information on how to join and upcoming meetings, please contact Katrina using the details above.
Oxford
Jennifer Davies
E: jensaldav@yahoo.co.uk
Meetings are currently being held online via Zoom. We welcome new members so please contact Jennifer for more information and to get involved.
Bishop's Stortford and Ware
Barry Munday
E: barrymunday22@outlook.com
T: 01279 843 687
See our website here
Meetings usually take place in the Beefeater at the Premier Inn, Marsh Lane, Ware, SG12 9QB. Please visit our website or contact Barry for dates and times of meetings which are currently being held on Zoom.
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.
East of England
East (generally the Peterborough area)
David Stubley
T: 01205 722 771
E: djstubley@aol.com
Read the latest 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 usually 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 of meetings currently being held on Zoom.
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.
Ataxia UK Norfolk Online Support Group
Ami Hook-Ireland
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
We are now holding our groups online using Zoom. Please contact Chris for more information and upcoming meeting dates.
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 being held online via Zoom. Please contact Sue for more information and upcoming meeting dates.
Coventry and Warwickshire
Kate French
katecfrench@gmail.com
07866 861632 or 01789 509698
Coventry & Warwickshire Ataxia Support Group is an informal group of people with various types of Ataxia and their families/carers. Before Covid we met quarterly, at a Coventry pub. Members presently do not feel comfortable meeting face to face; we are holding online Zoom catch ups, other areas also welcome to join us. Kate is happy to chat on the phone, if you would like to know more.
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. We are currently holding meetings online so please contact Sue for meeting dates and information.
Leicester
Claire Huggett
chmrh.charjen2@yahoo.com
T: 01162 848 201
Read the latest newsletter here
New members are always welcome! We have now resumed in person meetings so please get in touch for further details.
Nottinghamshire
Anita Hollis
E: anitahollis@live.co.uk
T: 07786634806
Meetings are currently being held on Zoom so please contact Anita for more information.
Derby
Kerry Bull
E: kezbull@btinternet.com
T: 01773 826699
See the latest going on here
We will be holding our first online meeting on Zoom in January 2021 so please get in touch if you'd like to join.
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
Jenny Rose
E: aandbmorris@gmail.com
T: 01590 645 739
Read the group's latest newsletter here
The South West
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
Meetings are being held online using Zoom. Please contact Becky for upcoming meeting dates and information.
Southampton
Gina Lawrence
E: Gina_Lawrence@btinternet.com
We meet monthly on Zoom on the fourth Wednesday at 10am. We also meet in person on an ad hoc basis and plan to arrange social and fundraising events in the future. Please contact Gina for more information.
St Austell
Ann Truscott
E: masontruscott@gmail.com
Yorkshire
Bradford
Muhammad Shahid
shahid36@gmail.com
07801976665
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!
Leeds
Mark Allen
mk.allen@sky.com
0113 219 1700 or 0777 387 5323
We will be holding our first online meeting in December 2020 so please get in touch if you'd like to join us.
North Yorkshire
Karen & Gavin Dalton
gavinsdalton@aol.com
07730321946
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.
Sheffield
Toyah Wordsworth
wtoyah@hotmail.com
We are currently holding our meetings online using Zoom. Please contact Toyah for meeting dates and information.
North East
Newcastle
Beryl Park
berylpark@hotmail.co.uk
0166 187 1917
East Durham
Philip Whitwell
berylpark@hotmail.co.uk
0191 581 9995
The East Durham group communicates mostly via email with some quarterly meet ups. Please contact Philip for more information.
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
Barry Munday
barrymunday22@outlook.com
01279843687
See the latest goings on here
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 people with ataxia are most welcome. We are currently holding online meetings using Zoom, so please get in touch or look at our website for upcoming meeting dates.
London North West
Talita Banoori
ataxiauknwlondonchairperson@btinternet.com
Contact form
07940166672
See the latest goings on here or visit the group's website here
We are currently holding online meetings, so please get in touch if you'd like to join. You can see upcoming meeting dates on our website.
South London
Tim Kahn
1timkahn@gmail.com
07903 599104
Meetings are currently being held online. Please contact Tim for more information and meeting dates.
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
Read the latest newsletter here
Please read our branch leaflet for more information about our group.
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
OR Ceri Pepper
ceripepper@live.co.uk
07583 211358
North Wales
Jeanne Roberts (Jen)
07929 181161
jeannefong@hotmail.com
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Alex Duncan
0289 187 3592
078869 08011
alexsduncan@hotmail.co.uk
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