Support & Advice Local Support Groups London 'Welcome to the London group. I am really looking forward to meeting you and supporting people in the area” What happens at the group? We have a variety of meetings across the year offering support, information and advice. Previous activities have included, walks, informal meetings, specialist events/ speakers, with lots more to come! Please have a read of our Support Group Guidelines for more information on how our support groups run. Group dates: Date: Time: Location: Extra Meeting Details: Sunday 28th July 2024 3:15pm- 5:00pm Hyde Park, London This meeting is for a picnic. The plan is to meet by the Hyde Park Band Stand (nearest entrance is from Queen Elizabeth Gate) at 3:15pm. At 3:30pm we'll then move to find a suitable space nearby for a picnic. In case of rain, the plan is to move to the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen if it rains. Please contact the support group lead if you'd like more info. Saturday 21st September 3:30pm-5:30pm St Mary's, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TX Saturday 2nd November 2024 2:00pm-4:00pm St Mary's, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TX Saturday 11th January 2025 2:00pm-4:00pm St Mary's, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TX Saturday 8th March 2025 2:00pm-4:00pm St Mary's, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TX Saturday 10th May 2025 2:00pm-4:00pm St Mary's, Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TX Please contact the group lead prior to attending a meeting so they can plan accordingly. Who can attend: This group is designed for any adult living with or affected by alopecia from the ages of 18 and above. For those aged 13-18 please see our London Teens Support Group. Morena Fiore - London Support Group LeadEmail: [email protected]Morena is happy to answer any questions about the group via email. Please be aware that any questions Morena is unable to answer will be sent on to staff at Alopecia UK.Support group leads are not professional counsellors but people who have personal experiences with alopecia and, along with members of the support group can help to give insight and advice on living and dealing with alopecia on a day to day basis. Please note that our Support Group Leads are volunteers and do this in their spare time, as such please allow up to a week for replies to emails. Support group leads also cannot give 1:1 support. Morena's link with Alopecia Hi, I'm Morena and I've had Alopecia Universalis for 25+ years. I wore wigs most of my life and it's only during lockdown that I started embracing not wearing wigs as much and getting more comfortable with being out (or on social media) without it, and in the last couple of years even going out with a bald head! It's taken many, many years, but accepting Alopecia has only happened thanks to being around others with Alopecia, listening to their stories and getting inspired by them. Alopecia can be a lonely place. We often feel 1 in a million, but thanks to Alopecia UK, our heart becomes much lighter when we discover we're not on our own. Just being near another person with Alopecia, can help us so much on our journey. Then once you start helping others, it goes tenfold: offering our support, experience or advice helps us as well as helping others. This is my experience in the last 15 years attending Alopecia UK meetings and for a while now, I have been wanting to help others in general, but I feel this is the best way to do it. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you have any feedback on this support group please consider leaving it here. Alternatively, if you have any Suggestions, Comments, Compliments or Complaints for the charity please do so here.