* please note, courses are subject to change depending on demand*
Our Groups
Living Well with Chronic Pain with Southmead Development Trust, Vitaminds & North Bristol Trust Pain Clinic
Do you want to explore ways of living well with chronic pain?
In this group we will discuss:
- understanding pain
- breathing techniques
- movement
- mindset
- sleep
- therapies and treatments
- goal setting
- working with health professionals
- courses and recourses
with Southmead Development Trust Health & Wellbeing, Vitaminds and North Bristol Trust Pain Clinic
Fridays x 4 sessions – online
10:30am – 12pm
FIND OUT MORE >Healthy Lifestyles with Southmead Development Trust
Do you feel you need to eat better, lose weight or start more exercise?
Our Healthy Lifestyles course combines education, activities and peer discussion to support participants to lose weight and exercise. We’ll address barriers to losing weight and provide you with tools to take control of eating behaviour and exercise levels, which you can always refer back to in the future.
Fridays x 4 sessions – in person at Greenway Centre
12:30 – 2:30pm
Another location is being launched soon in person in Clifton or Cotham. Time to be confirmed. You can sign up now by clicking the link below!
FIND OUT MORE >Carers Support Drop In with Carers Support Centre
Come along to the online Carers Support Drop In where you will be able to access information, advice, signposting and support to help you along your journey as a carer. You will find out about Carers Assessments, Carers Emergency Cards, which benefits and support you may be entitled to, how to look after your own health and wellbeing, and you will also have the opportunity to meet other carers in a similar situation to yourself.
www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/
First Thursday of each month – online
1pm – 2pm
FIND OUT MORE >Living with Long Covid with Southmead Development Trust
Starting late May – online!
You can sign up now by clicking the link below.
Long Covid is affecting many of us and having long lasting and damaging impacts on our lives. This group is a space to meet others experiencing this condition, discuss, share and learn about ways of coping and find out about groups and services in the community that might be a support to you. The group is led by Will, a Social Prescriber and is not a medical approach.
Wednesdays x 4 sessions
10 – 11:30am
FIND OUT MORE >Energy Help Desk with Bristol Energy Network
In this challenging time of rising energy prices, this in-person session will equip you with information and resources to support you to manage things as best as possible. There will be group time for questions, and an opportunity for a few minutes 1-1 with the facilitator at the end, should you want it. The session will look at:
- How to reduce our home energy use
- How to communicate with your energy company
- The Priority Services Register
- What help is available now and in the future
- Time for questions – group time and 1-1
Tuesday 26th July – in person at The Hub, Gloucester Road Medical Centre, BS7 8SA
Monday 30th August & Monday 27th September – location to be arranged
1:30 – 3pm
Housing - Know Your Rights with CHAS Bristol
Damp and mould? Anti-social behaviour? Disrepair? Landlord Harassment? What are your rights when it comes to poor housing conditions? What are your Landlord’s responsibilities? What are your options if your Landlord won’t put things right?
Presentation, information and discussion with time time for 1:1s – delivered by a Housing Advice Caseworker from CHAS Bristol.
Third Thursday of the month – at Shirehampton Methodist Church
1 – 2:30pm
“Rachael obviously knows her stuff and prepares for the sessions really well. She’s very kind and patient and has lots of great content every week.”
“It was helpful to listen to other people’s stories and to feel like others were experiencing similar things to me.”
What’s important to you?
Social Prescribing
Many things affect your health and wellbeing. GPs tell us that a lot of people visit them feeling isolated or lonely. Or they might be stressed out by work, money and housing problems. Sometimes it’s the stress of managing different long-term health conditions.
That’s where Social Prescribing comes in. It starts with a conversation. It might be the conversation you’ve just had with your doctor, or with another person in the practice team. Or you might not have felt able to talk to anyone about what’s going on for you. The aim is a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing – an understanding that aspects of life are interconnected and that there is a need for a joined-up approach to practical and emotional support.

Listening to you
How does it work?
Your Social Prescribing Link Worker is there to listen to you and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help you to feel better. Social Prescribing can help you to have more control over your own health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you. For example, that might be connecting you to a community group to meet more people or an advice service to support you with your bills.
For more information about social prescribing visit: www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/
For further details, please contact Colette Brown at colettebrown@southmead.org
To self-refer, or to refer someone you’re supporting, please fill out this referral form and send it to the details on the form.
Our support groups are provided in partnership with expert community organisations



