Website is being updated ~ March, 2024

We are delighted to annouce that our Bury and Bolton ME/CFS & FM Suport Group, has been granted charity status! Registered Charity number 1161356.

The Bury and Bolton ME/CFS and FM Support Group is aimed at supporting ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia sufferers and their carers.  

If you wish to become a member of the group, please print off this form (PDF file), or this form (Word doc) and send to the address/email given. Membership is £10 per year.

NICE Guidelines and Understanding the NICE Guidelines
What You Need To Know About My Condition Info Sheet (for hospital stays, respite, etc)
What You Need To Know About My Condition Info Sheet (PDF version)
Library list Update & FAQ's

MAIN MEETINGS:

Refreshments are provided, with gluten/dairy free, etc catered for. They either have a speaker who talks to us about various topics, e.g. nutrition, equipment to help around the home, reflexology, etc. After the talk, there is usually time for members to chat. Other times, we have social evenings which have no speaker and are an opportunity for members to chat, sometimes with a bring and share buffet, or a book swap.

Carers, friends and family are more than welcome to join us. We understand you may be nervous or shy, but we are a friendly and supportive bunch. If it's your first time visiting us, please tell the person on the door, who will find a committee member to show you around.

Next main meetings at The Friends Meeting House, Silverwell Street, Bolton, BL1 1PP :

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGES!
Our meetings are now on the FOURTH Thursday of the month, a week later than previously. Same time and venue.
This will mean a bigger, closer room, it's quieter and more car parking spaces available.
Entry £1, free for carers and under 16's. Refreshments provided. We are in the nearest room. Disabled toilet facilities. There is a small car park, on street parking and a car park next door to the right (gate will be open).

Thursday 23rd May - 7:30pm: Social Evening. Please check our social media or phone to check this is on before attending.

Thursday 27th June - 7:30pm: Social Evening. Please check our social media or phone to check this is on before attending.

Thursday 25th July - 7:30pm: Social Evening. Please check our social media or phone to check this is on before attending.

No Meeting in August
Our main meetings are either a social, or have a guest speaker. Speakers talk to us about various topics, e.g. nutrition, equipment to help around the home, reflexology, etc. After the talk, there is usually time for members to chat.

The social evenings have no speaker and are an opportunity for members to chat over tea, coffee and biscuits. Tables will be placed around the room for groups of around 5 or 6. Please help us at the end, by putting away your own chair if you are able. Carers are more than welcome to join us. The entrance fee is £1 (to pay for refreshments, etc) and carers are free. Refreshments are provided, with gluten/dairy free, etc catered for as well.



Yoga Classes:
Are 1:00pm-2:00pm on Wednesdays at The Sea Cadets, 101 Castle St,Bolton, BL2 1JP. Designed to cater for low energy ME and FM sufferer. Classes are just £1 each (for the room rent), and yoga mats, bolsters, etc are provided. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. For further information you can contact our instructor, Lisa Heaps, on 0770 803 66 36 or email: lisayogatori1@gmail.com.

Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Service:

Please see our "M.E Clinic News" page for more details on the service. New patients need to be referred to the Service by their G.P and have blood work send with the referral.

Existing patients, if they are encountering problems, may self refer back to the service by phoning the Clinic, for up to 12 months after their course of therapy has been completed. After that time they may be re-referred by contacting their G.P. This applies to both Bolton and Bury patients. At present all patients are seen at the Bolton Breightmet Clinic, except for extremely severe cases, where home visits may be arranged.

If you ask your doctor to refer you to the Bury or Bolton ME/CFS Clinics, please ask for a referral to:

CFS/ME Clinic
Breightmet Health Centre
Breightmet Fold Lane
Breightmet
Bolton
BL2 6NT

Telephone: 01204 462 765


Interested in becoming a member?
Please visit the "Join Us" page for an application form.

Our

Members are welcome to borrow our SmartCrutches, electric scooters or manual wheelchair (see "Contact Us" page).

The Newsletter:

The monthly newsletter (currently funded by Festival Medical Services  is put together by members of the group and proves a great read! It includes summaries of talks given to the group, future meeting dates, recent press articles,findings from the latest ME/CFS studies, book reviews,helpful hints for ME/CFS sufferers/carers and more. Contact information for other ME/CFS groups (as seen on our "Helpful Contacts" page) is given on the back page. You can see previous articles on the "Newsletter Articles" page.


What we offer:

• Regular meetings, 9 times a year on the fourth Thursday of the month, alternating between speakers and socials. Carers are very welcome too! There are no meetings in April, August or December.

• Private Facebook group
  
  
• Free yoga sessions, Tuesdays at 1:00pm-2:00pm at The Sea Cadets, 101 Castle St, Bolton, BL2 1JP.

• A bi-monthly newsletter for members, MPs, Health Authorities and other bodies.
• A well-stocked library of books and CDs.

• Access to research reports through the national ME/CFS charities' publications.

• Help and information on benefits.

• Links with all other ME/CFS/CFS Groups in the North West through regional meetings and shared newsletter exchange. Growing links with other Groups in the UK.

  And much more! Come and visit us - or see our "Contact Us" page for further information!