New! Helpline is now available every day. See below for details.
Please note that regular public meetings are not taking place at the moment, but
will resume in January 2004. If you would like to put your name down to attend, please
contact us as shown above. In the meantime, 1-to-1 counselling sessions can be arranged at times when
a counsellor is available. These sessions are free of charge. Please contact us to book a session.
EDSHED is a newly-formed non-profit-making group dedicated to the welfare of people
suffering with all types of Eating Disorder (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating, etc)
as well as family members, carers and friends of those affected by the disorders. EDSHED
was founded by a group of Exeter residents with eating disorders, and is totally
independent from the NHS, Social Services or any other body. We receive no money from
outside agencies and therefore depend on funds raised from our members for our operation.
We intend to apply for charity status in the future.
We feel that our independence is very important. Many people feel uncomfortable
attending groups which are run or overseen by the medical profession or statutory bodies,
and our independence allows us to criticize the medical/psychiatric services on offer to
eating-disorder sufferers when this is appropriate, and to campaign for better
understanding and treatment for sufferers.
What EDSHED offers you:
- Regular support group meetings: We meet on the second and fourth Monday of every
month, in the Rougemont Room, Exeter Community Centre, St David's Hill, Exeter. Meetings
run from 7.30-9.00 pm and everybody is welcome: eating-disorder sufferers, their family
members, friends and carers. Meetings are informal and confidential; you can say as much,
or as little, as you like, and you don't have to give your name or address. Meetings are
facilitated by an experienced counsellor who is anorexic herself, and provide a supportive
environment to share experiences, talk about your problems and obtain support. There is
no charge for attending meetings, though small donations to offset the cost of room hire
are very much welcomed.
Please see note above regarding meetings!
- Telephone Helpline. A helpline staffed by trained volunteers, who can offer help and
advice, or just a friendly listening ear, to people suffering from eating disorders, their
families and friends. We aim to keep the Helpline staffed from 7 pm to 9 pm, 7 days a week
except when an EDSHED meeting is in progress. We also cover other times when volunteers
are available. At other times an answering
machine will provide up-to-date information on group meetings and functions. If you need
to speak to a volunteer when the Helpline is unmanned, please leave your phone number, and
we will call back as soon as possible (please note, though, that we can't return
calls made from outside the UK).
- E-mail Helpline: A source of one-to-one help and support for all sufferers, friends
and family. In common with all EDSHED services, there is no charge for the use of the
Helplines.
- The EDSHED Library: We have a collection of books related to eating disorders,
self-esteem and similar topics. You can borrow these free of charge for a month at a
time. A £1 deposit is charged on each book but this is returned in full as long as the
book is returned in reasonable condition. All books in the library have been donated by
EDSHED members or bought with funds raised by EDSHED members, and we always welcome
contributions to our Library. The Library can be accessed at any group meeting.
- The EDSHED Website: A collection of personal stories of people with eating disorders
as well as background information, articles on recovering from eating disorders and links
to other resources. Constantly expanded and updated, we welcome contributions from our
members.
- Media representation: Another function of EDSHED is to speak out in the media, to
campaign for better understanding and treatment of eating disorders by the medical
profession and by society in general. We feel that our independent status and established
contacts with the media make us an effective 'mouthpiece' for people with eating disorders,
an often-neglected minority in society. Please note, though, that our campaigning and
support functions are kept entirely separate - our meetings are private and confidential,
and only those members who have volunteered for media work have any dealings with the
media.
- Fundraising: To enable the group to provide all these services, we have to raise funds!
Donations are always welcome, and we aim to hold regular sales of art and crafts products
made and donated by EDSHED members. All proceeds of these sales go direct to EDSHED funds.
Planned for the Future:
- Upgraded Telephone Helpline: We hope to extend the hours of availability of this
service, depending upon the availability of suitable volunteers.
- Drop-In Centre: We hope to organise drop-in meetings in future, which will allow you
to talk one-to-one or in a small informal group, with a trained volunteer.
The EDSHED Committee:
This list shows the initial makeup of the committee and our responsibilities. We
anticipate that new committee posts will be created as the group expands and grows.
| Natalie Winter: | Chairperson/facilitator, helpline, website, media contact.
|
| Heather Coleman: | Treasurer, fund-raising.
|
| Helen Pearson: | Secretary, EDSHED library.
|
Calendar of Meetings for 2003-2004:
Meeting dates will be posted as soon as regular meetings resume.
Click here to return to EDSHED index page.