Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses which cause great distress and isolation to sufferers and their families. We offer a "Recovery Group" for adults suffering from an eating disorder, and a "Family & Friends Group" for carers (of adults or children). Our groups are open and support individuals in sharing ideas and information so they feel less alone and gain confidence to make positive changes to aid recovery. Email: beatwinchester.recovery@gmail.com or beatwinchester.carers@gmail.com

A family member: "Before I attended the group I felt very lonely, afraid and lost. I didn't know what to do and felt I had nobody to turn or talk to. I found out about the support group and at first was unsure whether I would have the confidence to go. I am so glad I did, without it I would not be where I am today." A recoverer: "It has helped me to stay motivated to try to recover from my eating difficulties. It has helped me realise I am not alone and a lot of people have issues around food."

Both groups meet monthly. They are facilitated by volunteers trained by Beat (Eating Disorders Association). Members can attend as often or as little as they like. This year we answered email or phone enquiries from 46 new people; 60 people attended groups; we had 3 joint meetings with professional speakers; 2 relaxation sessions with a therapist; updated our library of 32 books; signposted to relevant services or training; facilitators collectively attended 10 training workshops.