Local Support Groups

• Penrith ME/CFS Support Group:
  Run by Joyce Dixon under the umberella of the Carlisle ME/CFS Support Group.
  Meeting Dates: The Penrith Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday in the month.
  Meeting Time: 12 noon
  Meeting Place: The George Hotel, Devonshire Street, Penrith.
  Contact: Joyce Dixon on 01768-866719 or email Linda at the Carlisle Group for further information.

• Carlisle ME/CFS Support Group:
  Run by Linda Danielis, an ME sufferer and Senior Lecturer at Cumbria Business School.
  Meeting Dates: The Support Group meets on the 2nd Saturday in every month.
  Meeting Time: 2pm
  Meeting Place: Wigton Road Methodist Chapel, Carlisle (at the junction with Stanhope Road).
  Contact: Email Linda for further information or telephone her on (01228) 562988.

• ME in Cumbria online chat group:
  The aim of the group is to bring together people with ME/CFS in Cumbria. People are invited to share information and experiences relevant to ME/CFS in Cumbria, in the hope that a support network may develop. Click here to visit the website and/or join the group.

• West Cumbria Support Group:
  A small informal ME support group exists to serve Cockermouth and West Cumbria. They meet in the Dalemoor room at Kirkland's (old peoples home), Sullart Street, Cockermouth on the third Sunday of the month. Meetings usually start about 2pm and last about 2 hours. Everyone is welcome. Telephone Marie on (01697) 321230 for more information.

• Brampton Support Group:
  A small, informal ME group meets at a member's home in Brampton on the 1st Friday of the month at 11am. This group also covers people suffering from Fibromyalgia. Tel: Isabelle on (016974) 73123 for more information.

• There is also an ME support group running in Morecombe Bay if you live in south Cumbria.

• ME North East, is a large registered charity who provide a range of services and information to people with ME living in both the North East and Cumbria, including a dedicated Advocacy and Support Worker for the severely affected.

The ME Association

Action for ME

The 25% Group for the severely affected

There are dedicated Clinics for people suffering from ME/CFS within the NHS. Our regional Clinic is based at Keswick but has outreach services in Penrith, Carlisle, Wigton and Whitehaven.

Referral to the North Cumbria CFS/ME Clinic must be made by your GP who, if they don't already have an information pack, can contact the Clinic at Keswick Cottage Hospital on 01768-767033.

The 'ME North East' support group has a dedicated help line for information about the CFS/ME Clinics in our region. Operated by ME North East staff and trained volunteers, the helpline is open to all and provides a link to the CFS/ME Clinical staff for specialist advice, has information about the services available, details of the referral process and what to expect from a Clinic appointment. Tel: (0191) 3891841 Mon-Fri 11.30am to 2.30pm.