FMSupport works with Fibromyalgia Association UK to provide support, encouragement and information to anyone affected by Fibromyalgia.  Initially established to provide support for the Thurrock and Basildon areas, this quickly expanded to cover South Essex, and now we are actively supporting sufferers throughout Essex and London, as well as supporting others from all over the country via the website.

FMSupport holds regular meetings and facilitates peer support throughout South Essex, whilst supporting other local network groups throughout the Essex and Greater London areas to do the same where they are.

Who are we?

The group has been set up by local Fibromyalgia sufferers, to support other local sufferers. Steve, who is co-ordinating the development, is also Vice-Chair, Operations Manager and ICT Director of Disabled Parents Network. He was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2006 following the birth of his son, but has probably had it for many years before that.

He, and the rest of the team behind FMSupport are not medical experts - what they know about Fibromyalgia has been learnt the hard way! As such FMSupport cannot give medical advice or definitive solutions… though often medical professionals cannot either. One of the key aims of FMSupport, however, is to enable all those affected by Fibro to share their experiences and together work towards a better understanding of Fibromyalgia and all that it means.

Partnership

FMSupport are working with Fibromyalgia Association UK, a registered charity (no 1042582) and Steve acts on their behalf as the Regional Co-ordinator for Essex and Greater London.  We also work closely with other Fibromyalgia-related charities, local disability-related organisations, and local healthcare providers.

The list of organisations that we are working with is growing all the time but currently includes:

• Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMAUK)
• FibroAction
• UKFibromyalgia (FaMily Magazine)
• Disabled Parents Network
• Thurrock Disability Network
• Thurrock LINk
• Basildon Hospitals Foundation Trust
• NHS SouthWest Esesx
• PuzzledWorld