VMC have collated a list of local and national support groups. Please be aware that we have no connection with these groups or organisations and individuals must assess for themselves the suitability and safety of these sites.
Deaf/Hard of hearing
Blind/Sight Impaired
- Macular Society – Eastbourne Support Group – East Sussex 1Space
- Eastbourne Blind Society (Support and activities for those who are experiencing sight loss and their carers)
Mental Health
- Health in mind (Self-referral for counselling and support for people suffering with anxiety and depression)
- Wayfinder Woman (A women’s only support group for anxiety, depression and confidence building)
- ManHealth (Supporting men through difficult times in their mental and physical ill health)
- BAM “Becoming a man” (Supporting young men’s personal development and mental well-being) –
- CALM (Mental health helpline) – 0800 58 58 58 (5PM – Midnight)
- No Panic (No Panic is a registered charity that helps and supports those living with Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and other related anxiety disorders) –
Dementia/Alzheimers
- Online Dementia Carers Group
- Dementia Peer Support Group (in person)
- The Dementia Cafe (Drop in for families and carers of people living with dementia)
Respiratory Conditions
- Breathe Easy group (Support for those with respiratory conditions)
- Asthma & Lung UK (Charity that supports those with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions)
Stomach/Bowel Conditions
- Crohn’s & Colitis UK (Support with RADAR keys, toilet cards etc.)
- Pancreatitis support network
- The IBS network
Fertility and Pregnancy Support
- Midwives self-referral
- Muma Nurture (Support for infertility, pregnancy, perinatal mental health and perinatal death)
- Oscar’s Wish Foundation (Support for parents, family, friends and siblings who have experienced the loss of a baby before or after birth)
Cancer
- Eastbourne PCaSO (Prostate cancer support group)
- Macmillan cancer self-help and support groups – 0808 808 0000
- Breast Cancer Now support resources – 0808 800 6000
- Bowel Cancer UK Community Forum
- Melanoma UK Support Resources
- Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (Local support group that offers an opportunity to meet others and share experiences with people in similar situations)
- Teenage Cancer Trust Events
- Pancreatic Cancer UK (Support groups and nurse advice line for people living with pancreatic cancer)
Chronic Conditions
- Fibromyalgia and M.E support group
- Arthritis Action (Support for those living with arthritis)
- Diabetes UK (Local support groups for people living with diabetes)
- Pain Concern (A charity providing support to those with chronic pain and their carers/family)
- Epilepsy UK
Bereavement
- The Compassionate Friends (Support for bereaved families who have suffered the death of a child)
- The Seahorse Project (Self-referral for bereavement support for children after the death of a loved one)
- St Wilfrid’s Hospice Bereavement support (Self-referral)
Drug and Alcohol Support
- Eastbourne Recovery Alliance (For support with drug/alcohol recovery)
- STAR (Drug & Alcohol Recovery Support) – Firststep@cgl.cjsm.net
Social Support
- The Shed (Creative social group for people aged 50+ – gardening, woodwork, pottery etc.)
- Leaf Hall Community Kitchen (A free workshop for people to meet and cook for others in need whilst socialising in the community)
- Gather Community Garden (A gardening group for those wishing to socialise within their community)
- Seaview Homeless Support (Providing social support and affordable meals for the homeless)
Support for Children and Young People
- Amazing Futures (Support for young people with special needs)
- A band of brothers (Support group for young men involved in the criminal justice system)
Carer Support
- Bluebell Support group (For people with loved ones living in care)
- Online mental health carers support group
- Care for the Carers
LGBTQ+
- Beaumont Society (24hr helpline and other support for transvestites, transsexuals, their partners and families. Self help organisation offering advice on cross dressing and gender dysphoria) – 01582 412220
- Gendered Intelligence (Works with the trans community and those who impact on trans lives; particularly specialises in supporting young trans people under the age of 21)
- GIRES : Gender Identity Research & Education Society (Information for trans people, their families and professionals who care for them)
- Bourne Out LGBT (Providing support with issues affecting the LGBT community)
Finance & Benefits
- East Sussex County Council Welfare benefits helpline (Help for those facing financial difficulty)
- Eastbourne Citizens Advice
- Age Concern (Support for elderly people applying for welfare benefits such as attendance allowance)
Victims of Domestic Abuse
- Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men
- East Sussex County Council Domestic Violence Family Support
- SafeSpace Sussex (Provides safe refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence across East Sussex)
Sexual Abuse Survivors
Other
- Say Aphasia (Support for those suffering with Aphasia)
- Headway Sussex (Support group for those affected by an acquired brain injury, including family, friends and unpaid carers)
- Downs Syndrome Association (Supports people who have downs syndrome and their parents/carers)
- Nystagmus Network
