Support & Advice Local Support Groups Reading A very warm welcome is guaranteed at the Reading Alopecia UK Support Group! What happens at the meeting? We meet up to talk, discuss ideas and support each other. We think this helps our group members in managing their alopecia. Please do get in touch if you would like more information. Being a new group I welcome any suggestions for feedback to make this group as great as it can be. Group dates: Date: Time: Location: Extra Meeting Details: Tuesday 21st May 2024 6.00pm-8.00pm St Nicholas Church hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN Tuesday 2nd July 2024 6.00pm-8.00pm St Nicholas Church hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN Tuesday 20th August 2024 6.00pm-8.00pm St Nicholas Church hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN Tuesday 1st October 2024 6.00pm-8.00pm St Nicholas Church hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN Tuesday 12th November 2024 6.00-8.00pm St Nicholas Church hall, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN 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. Please note that those aged 15-17 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or over. For those with children up to the age of 15 please contact the group lead to discuss if the group would be suitable for them. Alternatively please see here for a list of our children and teen groups. Contact details: Neha BhargavaEmail: r[email protected] Neha is happy to answer any questions about the group and provide a listening ear at a time arranged by email. Please be aware that any questions Neha 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. Neha's link with alopecia: I was diagnosed with Alopecia quite late in life, in my early forties, when COVID hit. It was a time when most of us felt aloof and lonely, and especially with a condition like Alopecia, all I wanted to do was hide in my own shell. It was very difficult for me to look at myself in the mirror; I looked different everyday as the patches spread and more clumps of hair fell out. To my surprise, my eyebrows and eyelashes disappeared in just a week, making me even more miserable. Fast forward three years, I feel comfortable in my own skin and have found ways to feel good and get back to my old routine. Now, having accepted my condition, I feel ready to help others who may be going through similar emotions dealing with Alopecia. I look forward to building a community where we can all support each other and share our experiences without being judged. 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.