Online Support Groups and Activities

In line with the Government’s advice, we’ve made the difficult decision to suspend our usual face-to-face activities, courses and groups until it is considered safe to provide them again.

In the meantime, we’ve put together a programme of online groups and activities to continue to support your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Visit our Calendar page to see our Online Activities Calendar

Scroll down past the course descriptions for instructions on how to book your place 👇

Courses description

ONLINE PEER SUPPORT GROUPS

Coffee Morning – running every weekday at 10.30am to give you a chance to still connect with others, in a safe and fun environment. View our poster.

Peer Support Group – it gives you the chance to catch up with people you have not been able to see, and to share any concerns and support others who may feel the same way. Weekly on Fridays, 11.30am-12.30pm.

Women’s Group – A great opportunity to meet with other women and unwind with others who are experiencing similar things to you. You can pick up hints and tips about how they are coping with isolation and how to support others. Weekly, on Tuesday 11.00-11.45am – please note that the Women’s Group is now a part of the
coffee morning, you will be taken into separate “room” on Zoom by Anna).

Connect! Our Young People Peer Support Group – for people aged 16-25. It’s a safe space for young people to meet, talk about the issues that affect their emotional wellbeing as well as a chance to find out how other young people are dealing with life in lockdown. Activities and discussions for each session are decided by those
attending. Fortnightly on Thursdays, 5.30pm-6.30pm. Next sessions: 7 and 21 January 2021. Download the poster. (see our Wellbeing Courses section below for more info on our Young People workshop series called “Being Well/Doing Well” as well as our Arts & Craft section for Arts Connect! our art and craft groups for Young People )

LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group – this group is for LGBTQ+ adults aged 18+, living with a mental health condition,
either diagnosed or undiagnosed. Come and share your experiences and identities, support each other in a safe, friendly and confidential space, and reduce loneliness and isolation. This group is facilitated by MFT as well as volunteers from Pride in Surrey. Every third Thursday of the month, 7.30pm-8.30pm.

Bipolar Peer Support Group – this group is for people who have been diagnosed as bipolar to come and share experiences and difficulties, share ideas and coping strategies and support each other in a friendly environment. It runs on the first Thursday of every month, 7pm-8pm.

ONLINE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

ONGOING

Fitness Session – Michael will run a half-hour fitness session each week, based on light exercise to improve your mood and general fitness level. He will show you exercises that you can practice on your own so that your fitness improves over the coming weeks. Weekly, on Thursdays 1.30pm-2pm.

Zumba – a fun ‘party’ workout that combines Latin and international music with easy to follow dance moves. Designed to improve your cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. Suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Please wear loose comfortable clothing and suitable footwear (ie trainers or similar). Have a bottle of water to hand. Weekly on Tuesdays, 6.30pm-7pm and on Thursdays, 6pm-6.40pm.

Walk for Health – join our gentle 45-min walk in the Epsom Downs. Meeting outside Beefeater in Tattenham Corner at 11am every Thursday. Due to social distancing rules, only 8 walkers are allowed (+ 2 walk leaders). You’ll need to pre-book to attend on the Walk For Health website. Download poster. Please note this is suspended during lockdown.

Yoga for All Abilities – Yoga helps to elevate mood and and bring harmony to life, it calms the mind and reduces stress, encourages mental clarity, improves mind-body connection and helps with management of anxiety/depression. This class runs every Thursday, 1pm-2pm by Saara who shares and balances elements of fun, light-heartedness, strength and serenity, whilst encouraging a deeper connection with the self.

Rock Pilates – This weekly session offers the perfect fusion of classical Pilates with a modern edge. Classes provide just the right level of work out using small equipment to either support or challenge the body where necessary, targeting specific muscles to keep you on your toes. All reassuringly wrapped up in the underlying principles of Pilates! Run on Tuesdays, 11am-12pm. Download poster.

Salsacise – a 30-minute easy-to-follow basic steps and simple dance combinations with Salsa, Shimmy’s and Cha Cha Cha’s while enjoying the motivating music. It is suitable for all, just wear loose comfortable clothing and have a bottle of water to hand. The sessions will be run by Jayne who also runs our Zumba. Weekly on Wednesdays, 3pm-3.30pm.

Qigong – Qigong movements are slow and mindful, and aim to restore the flow of ‘qi/ energy’ that has been negatively affected by stress, ill health or trauma, resulting in greater feelings of wellbeing. The movements can be easily adapted for all ages and levels of fitness, with options to complete them seated if needed. This 6-week Beginners course will be delivered on Wednesdays, 10.30-11.45.

JANUARY 2021

Yoga for Beginners – This course is a great introduction to Yoga for absolute beginners or those of you that haven’t rolled out a mat for a few years. You will learn how to breathe in your yoga practice, how to move with the breath and introduce key standing postures and some seated practice. You will also learn some meditation techniques. This is a 4-week course starting starting on Tuesday 5 January, 3pm-4.15pm.

Funk and Flow Yoga – This 4-week course brings together a flowing sequence of dynamic yoga poses with music to match the movement and to uplift and deepen your practice. Find freedom in your flow; be inspired and let go to the rhythms in this fun class. Fun Yoga to stretch and shake off the week to uplifting music. This course is for all abilities and will help improve your confidence, physical wellbeing and mental health whilst learning yoga in a safe and friendly environment. Starting on Friday 8 January, 3pm-4pm.

ONLINE WELLBEING GROUPS AND COURSES

ONGOING

Mindful Meditation – Take half an hour away from the stresses of everyday living and develop your mindfulness and meditation skills to help you to manage some of the chaos that seems to be all around us. Weekly on Wednesdays at 2.15pm-3pm. (Please note the Friday weekly session has been replaced by our 8-week Intro To Mindfulness Practice course – see below).

Stress Matters – The last six months have seen our world’s been turned upside down by the impact of Covid-19, resulting in a heightened sense of stress and anxiety for many of us. Join us weekly, as we tackle the effects of stress together to help us in our day- to-day life during these unprecedented times. This is a weekly drop-in session but if you attend, you are required to stay the full hour. Every Thursday, 4pm-5pm.

Being Well / Doing Well – 4 emotional wellbeing workshops for Young People, aged 16-25 with a different focus and topic each time. Running on 14 January, 28 January and 11 February, 6.30pm-7.30pm. Download the poster for more info. Check out our Arts Connect! (art group for young people) and Connect! (peer support group for young people) which are all part of our Young People Programme.

JANUARY

Goal Setting and Decluttering – Goal setting involves the development of an action plan to motivate and guide a person or group toward a goal and is a major component of personal development. This is a 4-week course, starting Wednesday 6 January 2021 1pm-3pm.

Address Your Stress and Anxiety – This 4-week course will help you understand your triggers, get to know your unique stress signature, manage your stress levels with self-care and reduce the impact of stress on
your health and life. Starting on Thursday 7 January 2021, 1pm-3pm.

Mindful Music – an 8-week creative therapy course using music listening anddrawing to help people manage anxiety and depression. It is delivered by a registered healthcare professional and Music & Imagery Therapist from Whole Step CIC, who offers music and creative therapy to children, families and adults. Starting Thursday 7 January until 25 February, 1pm-2.15pm. Read more about how mindful music therapy works.

Sleep Difficulties – CBT Course, This 4-week course will help you learn Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to manage and overcome sleep difficulties. This course is run by a therapist from Centre for Psychology. To be eligible for the course, you will need to be assessed by Centre for Psychology and not be receiving other CBT or counselling. You will first need to register with MFT by 4 January 2021. Starting Thursday 14 January 2pm to 4pm. Download poster for full info.

Mind Over Body – Pain Management, an 6-week course will be run by Centre for Psychology. It will help you to learn Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to improve your emotional and physical wellbeing related to
your pain. This course is run by a therapist from Centre for Psychology. To be eligible for the course, you will need
to be assessed by Centre for Psychology and not be receiving other CBT or counselling. You will first need to register with MFT by 4 January. Starting on Friday 15 January 2021, 10am-12pm. Download poster for full info.

Think differently, feel better and positively thrive – this 6-week course will give you anew year boost by sharing learnings, tools, and techniques that you can incorporate into your daily life to feel more in control and calmer in this uncertain current environment. Starting Friday 22 January 2021, 11.30am-1pm. Download poster for full info.

Action for Happiness – Finding happiness doesn’t work- that’s why there are countless books about it! Creating happiness allows us to explore ways to increase our wellbeing and build happiness for ourselves and those around us. This 10-week course willexamine 10 key steps totake to create a happierworld for yourself andthose around you. Why notbe part of the change youwant to see in the world? From Monday 25 January to Monday 29 March 2021, 2pm-3pm.

Emotional health and wellbeing – Understand how stress and anxiety impacts our lives and learn new techniques to manage our response to difficult situations whilst also exploring ways to build confidence and self-esteem. A 6-week course from Wednesday 27 January to 3 March (no session on 17 February), 7pm-9pm.

FEBRUARY 

Managing Conflict – Many of us face difficult situations with family, colleagues and friends which, if not
handled effectively, can have serious repercussions. This training session will equip you with the tools and techniques for effectively managing different types of difficult situations with confidence and understanding. On Wednesday 3 February, 1pm-3pm.

Assertiveness and Learning to Say No Course – This 4-week course will help you to understand what assertiveness means and how to assert yourself in a range of different personal and work-place situations.
The course explains the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive behaviours, and how to
recognize and respond to them. Starting Thursday 4 February – 1pm-3pm (no class on 18 February).

Practical Mindfulness (using music and colour) – a 2-week course to help you to learn mindfulness tools to overcome limiting thoughts and behaviour patterns and to live healthier, happier, and a more productive life. On Wednesday 10 & 17 February, 1pm-3pm.

Mind over Body – Diabetes Management Course. This 6-week course will be run by Centre for Psychology. It help you to learn Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to improve your wellbeing related to your diabetes. To be eligible for the course, you will need to be assessed by Centre for Psychology and not be receiving
other CBT or counselling. You will first need to register with MFT by 30 January. Your details will then be passed on to Centre for Psychology who will conduct a telephone assessment. Starting around 15 February 2021, time will be confirmed once maximum people have registered for the course. Download poster for further info.

Life After Lockdown – A 3-week course of positive ideas to get you thinking about settling into the “new normal” after lockdown. Whilst 2020 was a hard year for everyone, in these sessions you will explore the positive aspects that have happened to help make our lives more sustainable and perhaps fulfilling. Running on Monday 15, 22 February & 1 March 2021, 11am-1pm. Download poster for more info.

An Introduction to Holistic Stress Management With Complementary Therapies –  A 3-week course that looks at a range of different complementary therapies (Reflexology, Reiki, Indian HeadMassage, Colour Therapy, Crystal Therapy, Massage,Aromatherapy, Homeopathy and Bach Flower Remedies), exploring how they can help reduce stress and anxiety. You will learn the underpinning theories of how each therapy is practiced as well as some tools and techniques which you can try out for yourself. Running on Wednesday 3, 10 & 17 March 2021, 11am-1pm. Download poster for more info.

ONLINE ART & CRAFTS ACTIVITIES

Creative Writing – Michele will run creative writing for us, designed to support your mental health and emotional wellbeing and let your voice be heard. Two sessions available (please only pick one to attend) on Tuesdays, 2pm-3pm or on Thursdays, 6pm-7pm.

Crafts At Home – Taryn will show you how some effective but easy crafts to do at home and to share with others who may be socially isolating with you. They will be using everyday items to create beautiful things. Weekly on Mondays, 2pm-3pm.

Arts Connect! (part of our Young People programme) – an evening arts and crafts weekly class for young people aged 16-25 aimed at boosting young people’s confidence, creativity and wellbeing. The first sessions on 8, 15 Dec and 5, 12 Jan, 6pm-7pm will focus on Zentangle, an easy-to-learn, fun and mindful way to draw beautiful patterns. Materials can be supplied but please book in early so they arrive in time! Download poster for more info. Check our our Connect! peer support group as well as Being Well/Doing Well emotional wellbeing workshops – all part of our Young People Programme.

ONLINE INTEREST GROUPS

Quiz Group – Come and connect and socialise with other quizzers in this light-hearted online General Knowledge Quiz Group – whether it’s showing off your knowledge or learning about new things, it’s a great way to come and make friends and have a laugh whilst doing it! Weekly on Mondays, 1pm-1.45pm.

Book Club – Do you enjoy reading? Then why not attend our new weekly Book Club! A selection of short stories will be nominated and selected each week and discussed at our weekly meetings. We’re running two weekly sessions – you have to pick one of them. On Wednesdays, 4pm – 4.45pm and on Tuesdays, 12.30pm-1.15pm.

Football Talking Group – Our light-hearted group is designed for anyone who has an interest in football, whatever level of the game! As a player, fan, referee or coach. The group will discuss various topics and reflect on clubs previous or current glories, as well as counting down to the new season ahead. Runs on Wednesdays, 1pm – 1.45pm.

Singing in Mind (Choir) – This is a time when we particularly need to look after our wellbeing and it is proven that singing makes you feel great! We are bringing the Choir experience to anyone who wants to sing, laugh and meet new people. The choir session lasts 45 minutes and requires no experience. Don’t worry, your voice won’t be heard on its own! But you will be able to hear your Choir Leader. It runs on Wednesdays, 2pm-2.45pm.

Afternoon Tea with MFT – join us for light-hearted chat on Tuesday afternoons to share tips about gardening, home, cleaning hacks and swap recipes. Every Tuesday, 2pm-3pm.

MFT On The Radio – we’re working with Surrey Hills Community Radio Station to run a series of radio shows on topics such as anxiety, depression, Covid-19, stress etc. We welcome anyone’s help to either take part in the show or suggest ideas of what to cover in the show. Download poster for more information.

How can I take part in any of the above activities?

• All our activities are free.
• To take part you’ll need to be registered with us. If you’re new to us, you can complete our online registration form and we’ll set up an initial appointment over the phone ASAP so we can get to know you and offer the appropriate support.
• Once you’re fully registered, you’ll need an internet connection, a smart phone or tablet (iPad or Android) or a laptop or desktop.
• Then download a free App called Zoom from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. Visit our Instructions page.
• Please note a new Zoom software update is now available. We recommend everyone using our online activities to download it to minimise technical issues. Download Zoom update now
• Then phone the office or contact one of the team to book your place (see list of contacts below).
• Once you are booked on, you will receive a link and password by email to click on at the time the group is due to start – it’s that easy!
• Remember that this is a closed group. For confidentiality and security reasons, please do not share the link and password with anyone. If you know someone who would like to join, ask them to book their place with us or they will be denied access on the day.
• Before you take part, please read our Participations Guidelines to ensure you keep yourself and others safe online and everyone gets the best experience.
• You can choose if you want to be seen or if you just want to speak. Don’t worry if you are not sure how to use Zoom – read our instructions or you can ring us for help.

Contact us

Mary Frances Trust’s main office: 01372 375400. Please note that it will go straight to answerphone and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can but this might be a bit delayed.

The phone numbers listed below will be answered during working hours, Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm.  If you phone outside of these hours, please leave a voicemail and someone will respond as soon as they are able to.

John O’Malley: 07868 203512 or johnomalley@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Michael Powell: 07961 487625 or Michael@maryfrancestrust.org.uk 

Parvin Ahmed: 07380 857701 or Parvin@maryfrancestrust.org.uk 

Lenny Roberts Flanders: 07929 024724 or Lenny@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Anna Silver: 07432 510493 or Anna@maryfrancestrust.org.uk