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Local Support Groups

The Pituitary Foundation has Local Support Groups operating across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.  These groups are run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to offer support and information to the local pituitary community.

Meetings vary in frequency and content across the country and aim to give members the opportunity to learn about their conditions, both from specialists and the experiences of others. Group meetings are not only about supporting one another as patients and carers, but are also about having fun, making new friends and learning all manner of things that are not solely pituitary-related.

Click here for a complete list of Local Support Groups. New members are always welcome!

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Other ways to help

• Are you willing to offer your skills to help support your Area Co-ordinator?
• Would you be prepared to offer your time to help set up a new support group in your area?
• Are you able to offer a lift to any other members in your area who would like to attend meetings, but have problems with transport?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES! then please contact us.

If you would like to attend a meeting, but transport is a problem then please contact us.

We are looking for motivated people, who would like to make a difference to the lives of pituitary patients by running a Local Support Group
Title: Area Co-ordinator
Duties: This voluntary position involves organising meetings (formal or informal) and welcoming local patients with their families/carers to attend. You would be the co-ordinator for the local group and the main contact between the group and the Pituitary Foundation. This is an excellent opportunity to support others who have pituitary conditions in your local area; we currently have about 30 successful groups around the UK.
Responsibilities:
• Arrange meetings (venue and refreshments).  Meetings vary- some groups meet to listen to speakers, some have more informal meet ups to share their personal experiences and support each other
• Advertising locally about the meetings. Contacting speakers if appropriate
• Establishing/maintaining links with the local endocrine clinic and new patients
• Encouraging fundraising to cover the costs of running the group (i.e., raffles, quizzes, etc.)
Optional activities of groups include: Local fundraising activities to raise further funds for the group and the wider work of The Pituitary Foundation, organising local awareness activities and contact with the  media. Many support groups also have their own newsletter.
Note: you can create a meeting and activities schedule based on the time you have to commit to the role and some LSG’s meet less regularly than others " however, this role still requires responsibility and your group will be part of the wider national organisation.
Knowledge and Abilities:
• Understand the mission, goals and services of The Pituitary Foundation (General knowledge about pituitary conditions)
• Approachable and get on well with people; a desire to support pituitary patients
• Understanding the policies and procedures of volunteering for The Foundation and running a LSG
• Organised and good communication skills
• We must ask that you have access to the internet and be IT literate to fulfil this role
Benefits:
• Free membership subscription to the Foundation
• Ongoing support for you from the Foundation and you will be supplied with information/handbooks.
• Benefiting from our ongoing volunteer training - as funding allows.
• You will receive volunteer e bulletins and Volunteer News
• Great satisfaction that you are helping others

We are currently recruiting ACs in: Manchester, Cambridge, Northern Ireland and Exeter (But new groups need to be started in other areas too, so do get in touch for more information on this)
For more information or if you have any questions, without obligation, please contact Rosa Watkin on 0117 370 1316 or email rosa@pituitary.org.uk
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