We are people with Long Covid, CFS/ME, POTS and other long term fatigue conditions. We are also the partners, family, friends and carers of people with these conditions.
We meet every month for free tea, coffee and cake. We chat about how we are doing, what’s challenging us and what is getting better.
Sometimes we have guests who help us with activities like meditation and relaxing, singing and breathing, art, chair yoga, tai chi and more. Our guests always ensure each of us manage these activities within our specific abilities.
We meet in Brightons, Falkirk. We have members from across the central belt; Glasgow, Fife, West Lothian and of course people from the Forth Valley Health Board area.
For people not able to come to Cuppas we are available as friends and buddies to share and support as best we can.
Our Experiences
Noreen’s Story
Hi, my name is Noreen, and I have the great privilege of being a co-founder of the Long Covid Cuppa support group.
Myself and my friend Suzanne got together 3 years ago because of our Long Covid experiences. We thought of just getting together with other sufferers for a cuppa and a chat, and we hoped to make genuine connections with others who were affected by the long-term effects of Long Covid. Click here to read more of Noreen’s Story
Suzanne’s Story
Around the end of April 2022, I was in a very dark place after not recovering from covid/vaccine. No-one understood what I was going through, even my husband Mike, my daughter Amelia and my family. I was so bad I couldn’t face going out the door. My work was putting pressure on me to return and finances were a struggle. Click here to read more of Suzanne’s Story
Achievements
Group was Incepted in June 2022
Contributed to the Covid Enquiry
Lived Experience Contributors
And more…
Achievement Details
Founding members organised a fundraiser to start up the group in November 22. Noreen single-handedly went around local businesses in Falkirk, Grangemouth and Bo’ness to raise awareness of long covid and ask for donations for our raffles. Our fundraiser raised £1600 for the Cuppa Group.
We were represented in Scottish Parliament during the Covid Enquiry.
Several group members gave lived experience of long covid to NHS Forth Valley and were part of the setup of the Long Covid services within Forth Valley NHS.
Suzanne Grant, one of our founding members was invited along to Scottish Parliament as a Local Hero, where she met King Charles and spoke openly with him about the devastating effects long covid has on our bodies.
We work continuously to raise awareness of long covid and tirelessly reach out to our local community to support others living with the condition.
We have successfully navigated and received 3 grants from Falkirk Council mental health and well-being fund.
We have co-produced a programme of activities, free of charge, that help alleviate some symptoms and help improve the mental well-being of members. Activities include meditation, mindfulness, flexibility exercises to relieve muscle/joint pain and stress/anxiety management, to help reduce social isolation, improve mental well-being and gain confidence back.
