A mental health support group in Spennymoor is looking for new members to join in with their fun social activities and friendly chats.
The Survive and Thrive support sessions offer people the opportunity to come together to talk, offload and make friends in a welcoming and relaxed environment. The group meets each week to enjoy social activities and relaxing therapies and to share experiences.
Durham County Council’s Support & Recovery Service runs the group, which meets on a drop-in basis between 1pm and 4pm every Thursday, at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Spennymoor.
The sessions aim to help people improve their emotional wellbeing and members choose the activities they would like to do. Past sessions have included quizzes, cookery demonstrations, mindfulness taster sessions and relaxing group walks. People can also get one-to-one support from group leaders Julie Patterson and Paul Cooke.
Julie said: “We’re a really flexible group, people are welcome to come and go as and when they feel like it and can contribute as much or as little as they like. Some people just like to sit quietly and enjoy having company but we have other people who really throw themselves into the activities. It’s a very relaxed group and everyone who joins us is made to feel welcome. I love getting to know new people and watching their self-confidence improve as they get to know the rest of the group. I think one of the things people really like about the group is that they can talk to the group facilitators on a one-to-one basis too, so we can help with any issues they have, whether it’s techniques to manage stress or anxiety, offering advice about housing or money, or just for a bit of a chat.”
Tracey, from Ferryhill, who has been attending the group for a couple of years now, said: “My family are so far away, this group is like my second family. They know me better than my real family. I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for the group”.
