Chesterfield Fibromyalgia Support Group: Building Strength Through Connection
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Offering a vital lifeline to those navigating the challenges of fibromyalgia. Through shared experiences and mutual support, members find strength, understanding, and a sense of belonging.
"Social anxiety, depression, isolation and loneliness can be a big problem for those who live with chronic illness.
We, those who live with Fibromyalgia, all understand how difficult just getting to a meeting can be".
Living with fibromyalgia can be an isolating experience, marked by hidden symptoms such as chronic pain and fatigue, compounded by a lack of understanding from others.
But in Chesterfield, one volunteer-led support group is helping people feel seen, heard, and less alone with our support.
The Chesterfield Fibromyalgia Support Group offers a space where members can share, learn, and support one another.
“Through our positive activities—and simply by offering a safe place for the local fibro community to meet, where no explanations are needed—we’re able to connect and offer peer support at relatively low cost.”
The group currently has over thirty members, from 19 years old to 80 plus. Most come from Chesterfield and surrounding areas, though more people are now joining from further afield.
“More people are being introduced through social prescribing and are coming from outside Chesterfield. Groups like ours are filling a gap, serving a need and supporting the changing health service delivery model"
While everyone attends for peer support to help manage their long-term condition, members often share other common challenges. Many are living with multiple health conditions that affect both physical and mental wellbeing. Fifty percent say their opportunities to socialise are limited, and a huge ninety-five percent say they feel lonely or isolated.
Revitalising the Group
Thanks to a Micro Grant from the Feeling Connected Project, the group was able to revitalise its offering —reaching out to former members and welcoming new ones. The impact on both group members and volunteers was significant, and attendance increased by 50%.
“We wanted to improve what we offered as a group, reconnect with old members, and invite new people from the local fibromyalgia community".
The grant helped fund a guest speaker, Rachel Snowball from Sunshine and Shade, a local bereavement and friendship group. Julie, one of the volunteers who runs the Chesterfield Fibromyalgia group, connected with Rachel through the Feeling Connected Family network.
The funding also covered refreshments, removing a financial barrier for those who may struggle to afford food while out.
"The speaker was someone who we connected with through the Feeling Connected Project and she facilitated a workshop for us based around the grief and loss felt when you are diagnosed and live with a chronic illness.
Offering light refreshments also encouraged more people to come along, and it meant people didn’t have to spend money while out of the house.”
This external input not only benefited attendees, but also helped relieve the pressure on the group's volunteers, enabling the group to cover a much-needed topic they wouldn’t have been able to deliver themselves.
"This is something our attendees have wanted to look at for a long time, but we needed a professional to lead the meeting to ensure we approached it correctly".
Making a real impact on people's lives:
Speaking about the micro grant-funded session, participants said:
“There’s a lot of people who need to hear what she (Rachel) has to say. I told my parents about the workshop because I learnt so much. I think I’ll be making a self-care box too.”
“The grief talk was very good. It gave me a new perspective. I’m convinced buried grief and emotion can lead to adverse health issues.”
"As a newly diagnosed sufferer of Fibromyalgia, she helped me focus on ways to come to terms with this unplanned for change in my life and then how my symptoms relate to or can be affected by other things going on my life - previous trauma and dealing with the potential diagnosis of a parent with dementia. She identified both these events as causes of grief. Rachel was sympathetic but did not shy away from the "nitty gritty" of how grief manifests itself. I am seriously thinking of attending her new peer support class in Chesterfield in the new year"
A wider survey carried out by the group, revealed what members value the most about this vital support group:
Feeling strong, united, never judged and supportive
Friendly support from people suffering with Fibromyalgia
Able to ask questions
Believe the condition exists
Makes living with Fibromyalgia a little less lonely
Ongoing Support from Feeling Connected
Julie, who also lives with fibromyalgia, has also benefited from one-to-one advice from the Feeling Connected team, promotional design help, and the chance to make valuable connections at social events.
Julie has also supported other organisers at workshops, made new contacts through the Feeling Connected Family Facebook Group, and reflected on how to better involve volunteers. That reflection has been important, as volunteers live with fibromyalgia too.
“It’s important we retain our volunteers. Anything that takes the pressure off—especially me, as I deliver input each month—is a priority, because we can’t afford to bring in external speakers regularly.”
Julie said the guidance from the Feeling Connected team also helped her look at how she might share responsibilities and build a more sustainable group, whilst managing her own health.
“Thank you for supporting us—it's made a huge difference to the group and increased attendance by 50%.”
Continuing to Connect
The Chesterfield Fibromyalgia Support Group meets on the last Saturday of each month in the centre of Chesterfield at The Feeling Connected Hub, 61 Low Pavement, Chesterfield, S40 1PA
For more information including upcoming dates, visit the group’s Facebook page:
