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. Please note there will be no session on Bank Holiday Monday 30 August. 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 Wednesday 10.30am – 11.30am – 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.

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. Please note the 2 September session has been moved to 23 September.

ONLINE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

ONGOING

Yoga for all abilities – running on Thursdays, 1pm-2pm. New joiners need to complete a medical form.

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 Thursdays, 6pm-6.40pm.

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! New joiners need to complete a medical form. Run on Tuesdays, 11am-12pm. Download poster.

Wellbeing Walk Epsom Downs – join our gentle 60-minute walk in the Epsom Downs. Meeting outside Beefeater in Tattenham Corner at 11am every Thursday. No need to book, just turn up.

Wellbeing Walk Leatherhead – join our walk for health in Leatherhead. We will meet outside the Leatherhead Leisure Centre and walkers will be expected to respect social distancing rules throughout the walk. Weekly on Tuesdays, 1pm-1.45pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Wellbeing Walk Walton-on-Thames – from 8 July, every Thursday, 1pm-2pm, departing from outside the Wilde Brunch Cafe by Walton Bridge Carpark. No need to book, just turn up.

Football Training – come and join us whether you’re an experienced player or not! Every Friday (excluding bank holidays), 1pm-2pm, at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, The Mole Barn. We ask for a £2 donation towards pitch hire, please pay the coach, not the reception. You will need to register your place with us for this activity as we can only allow 10 people to participate.

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 Mondays at 12pm-12.40pm and Fridays at 2.15pm-3pm.

Stress Matters – 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.

Improve Your Language, support classes for Non-Native English speakers. In these weekly sessions, you will have the opportunity to develop your English language through speaking, listening, reading and writing. There will also be some dedicated time in each session to discuss how to manage your emotions. On Fridays, 10am-11am

SEPTEMBER

Regaining Confidence and Building Self-Esteem – Join our 5-week participative workshop running on Tuesdays from 21 September, 2pm-4pm. Download poster for full info. Please note this course is delivered online by WEA. When you book your place with us, we’ll also ask you to book your place with WEA and we can guide you through this when you contact us.

Managing Stress and Anxiety – This 5-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. Running on Wednesdays from 22 September, 7pm-9pm. Please note this course is delivered online by WEA. When you book your place with us, we’ll also ask you to book your place with WEA and we can guide you through this when you contact us.

NOVEMBER

Assertiveness and Learning to Say No – A 5-week participative programme exploring the aims of assertiveness, showing how simple assertive techniques can help you to be more effective both in the work and home environment. Learning to stand up for yourself without being aggressive, developing the confidence to express needs and opinions using appropriate behaviour. Running on Tuesdays from 2 November, 2pm-4pm. Please note this course is delivered online by WEA. When you book your place with us, we’ll also ask you to book your place with WEA and we can guide you through this when you contact us.

Building Emotional Resilience – This 5-week course will explore different techniques you can use to build up your own resilience and ability to look after your wellbeing no matter what life brings. Running on Thursdays from 4 November, 7pm-9pm. Please note this course is delivered online by WEA. When you book your place with us, we’ll also ask you to book your place with WEA and we can guide you through this when you contact us.

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. On Tuesdays, 2pm-3pm.

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. Please note there will be no sessions on 23 August, 30 August or 6 September.

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. Every Tuesday 6pm-7pm. Download poster for more info. Current activity: Kumihimo bracelet making.

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. Please note there will be no session on Bank Holiday Monday 30 August.

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.

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, so please leave a voicemail and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can (generally within 24 hours, Monday to Friday).

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: 07868 203512 or johnomalley@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

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

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

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

Ruby: 07414 530043 or ruby@maryfrancestrust.org.uk