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

Courses description

PEER SUPPORT GROUPS

The daily Coffee Morning at 10.30am every weekday 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.

Men’s Group –  Join in and share your thoughts with like-minded people in a relaxed but confidential atmosphere. You can find out how other people are managing in isolation and what works for them. Weekly on Fridays, 1pm-1.30pm.

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 Wednesdays, 1pm-1.30pm.

New Mums’ Support Group – For mums who have had a baby in the last 12 months and are struggling with feelings of worry or low mood and finding things overwhelming or difficult to manage during this time of social distancing. This group is a safe space to share your worries and talk through your feelings with other new mums. Weekly on Tuesdays, 2pm-3pm. View our poster.

Young People Support Group – aka Connect, for people aged 17-25. It’s a chance to meet up online and find out how other young people are dealing with life in lockdown. Weekly on Thursdays, 7pm-7.30pm.

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.

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.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

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.

Yoga for Wellbeing – In this supportive group we will explore breathing exercises, gentle movement,
yoga philosophy and meditation as tools to ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety and support or maintain your mental health and wellbeing. No yoga experience is required and while it is helpful to have a yoga mat, if you don’t have one, exercising on a non-slip carpet or a rug will do just fine. Weekly on Wednesdays from 13 May until 17 June, 3pm-3.45pm with Anna from Happy Head Yoga and Coaching. Download the poster.

WELLBEING ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS

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 and Fridays, 1.45pm-2.15pm.

Resilience Building – this 45 minute workshop will focus on the 5 Pillars of Resilience, Self-Awareness, Purpose, Mindfulness, Relationships and Self-Care, and will help strengthen each area to be more emotionally resilient. It runs on Monday 1 June from 3.15pm until 4pm.

COVID-19 Stress Management – this workshop will address the key stresses associated with the Coronavirus pandemic, and help you find methods of managing COVID-19 related stress. It runs on Friday 5 June from 3.15pm until 4pm.

Supporting Your Own Wellbeing –this workshop will help you to find ways to support your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and give you some tools to maintain your own wellbeing. It runs on Monday 8 June from 3.15pm until 4pm.

Supporting Others’ Wellbeing – this course is a basic introduction to Mental Health First Aid skills, and will give you an insight into how you can support the mental wellbeing of those around you. It runs on Friday 12 June from 3.15pm until 4pm.

Confidence Building – this workshop will explore why self confidence is so important, help you develop confidence building habits and set confidence boosting goals. It runs on Monday 15 June from 3.15pm until 4pm.

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. On Tuesdays from 21 April until 26 May, 2pm-2.40pm for Advanced Learners. On Thursdays from 14 to 28 May, 2pm-3pm for Beginners.

Crafts At Home – Michael and 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 and Crafts blog – This is an individual activity you can do from home, not as part of an online group. Simply follow our Art tutor Beccy’s Arts and Crafts blog every Tuesday morning and create something new and fun! Go to the blogs’ section of this website where you can find instructions on a new arts and craft project each week. Alternatively, it is also available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to share your creations with us at connie@maryfrancestrust.org.uk or by tagging us @MaryFrancesTrust and Beccy: @TheCraftyHareUK. Weekly on Tuesdays around 11.30am.

How can I take part?

• 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