Welcome to the
North West Somerset Parkinson's Support Group website
About us:
The North West Somerset Support group was set up in 1994 to help those living with Parkinson's and those caring for them in Nailsea, Backwell, Clevedon, Portishead, Yatton and the surrounding areas. Membership is free to all.
We are part of Parkinson's UK (parkinsons.org.uk), the national Parkinson's support and research charity.
Monthly General Meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 12.15pm. These are social gatherings, often with a speaker on a subject of interest or curiosity to be enjoyed by those living with Parkinson's, those who are caring for them, their families and friends. Tea and coffee and biscuits are served!
We hold Singalong sessions twice a month to help with loss of voice or with speech problems due to Parkinson's.
We publish a newsletter with information and news - this is available to all members. Free information leaflets about Parkinson's are available at our Saturday meetings and on request.
For more information about our local group, please call Marie on 01934 742091 or 07800 815262
See below for monthly meetings, Singalong, announcements, other information and useful contacts. Please also check nearer the date as some dates may be subject to change.
Navigating this website: e.g. get your taxi paid for ! See our transport scheme - click on the page menu at the top: Home, Ability Net, Transport Scheme, Privacy Notice. On a computer you may need to maximise the current window to get the page menu, on a smartphone you will need to click on the little three lines button at the top left to get the page menu.
Meetings
Unless stated otherwise, meetings are held at St Francis Church Hall, Little Meadow End, Ash Hayes Road, Nailsea, BS48 2LP
General Meetings
These are normally held on the second Saturday of the month. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Saturday 12th April
10.30 am - 12.15 pm:
Medical Detection Dogs.
Saturday 10th May
10.30 am - 12.15 pm:
Michael Abolins - CWGC Talk on landscape, trees etc.
Saturday 14th June
10.30 am - 12.15 pm:
Caroline Craig Parkinson's UK Local Adviser.
Sunday 15th June
Nailsea & Backwell Rotary Walk, from Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea
Singalongs
Sing along to popular songs and old-time favourites led by Chris and Jan, our keyboard maestros. Helps preserve your voice. No skill required!
These are at 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm They are normally held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The next ones are:
Tuesday 25th March
Tuesday 8th April
Tuesday 22nd April
Tuesday 13th May
WORLD PARKINSON’S DAY: FRIDAY 11TH APRIL 2025 at 2-4pm
Pop up afternoon event – Friday 11th – 2pm, Scotch Horn Leisure Centre,
Nailsea. Hosted by exercise groups – all welcome. Refreshments provided. RSVP to stephenfischer1@googlemail.com See also detailed statement by POWER group via the page menu at the top left of this screen. You will need to click on the little three lines button at the top left to get the page menu.
Below is an advertisement for a couple of concerts with the well known conductor Ben England. The Saturday 5th of April concert at Gordano school will have a retiring collection for our North West Somerset Support Group of Parkinson’s UK, the Sunday concert at the Beacon will have a retiring collection for the Bristol branch. Tickets are available on the door or from www.nsphilharmonia.org.uk
EXERCISE GROUPS:
Disclaimer: The NW Somerset Support Group only funds the supervision provided in the POWER joint supervisory sessions below. All the groups below are run totally independently of Parkinson’s UK and of the NW Somerset Support Group of Parkinson’s UK.
LOCAL EXERCISE GROUPS:
The NW Somerset Support Group only funds the supervision provided in the POWER joint supervisory sessions below. All the groups below are run totally independently of Parkinson’s UK and of the NW Somerset Support Group of Parkinson’s UK.
Exercise helps people with Parkinson's manage their symptoms.
THURSDAY Exercise group, under £5 per session:
A Parkinson’s exercise group open to all. Run by physiotherapist Amanda Burroughs at the Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea. For information or for Amanda to ring you back, call the Scotch Horn, on 01275 856 965.
POWER “Warrior” Parkinson's Exercise Groups: £20 per 2 months
Backwell:Tremeloes: Mondays 10-12 Cuppa at 11
Portishead: Mondays 10.00 -11.45 Strictly PD & 12.00 - 1.45 Walnut Whips
Tickenham: Parkin' Lot: Mondays 10-12
Yatton: Warriors: Mondays 10-12 Cuppa at 12
Clevedon, Strode road: tbc
Joint Supervisory Sessions for the POWER group are held at 12.30 - 2.30 at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.
For further info about the POWER exercise groups contact stephenfischer1@googlemail.com
To join one of the POWER groups first contact Rowan 07518964332 or Amanda 07917116154
WEDNESDAYS Parkinson's Exercise group,
Wednesday 10am, Parish Wharf Leisure Centre. £7 per session
Contact Alistair on 07825 033741
pdfitnessbristol@gmail.com
Parkinson’s UK North West Somerset Branch became Parkinson’s UK NW Somerset Support Group on 1st September 2022. The group is run entirely by volunteers and we are nevertheless keenly seeking more volunteers. We need volunteers for various roles including for becoming a future coordinator to relieve Marie. Please do get in touch with Marie, or one of the other Support-Group contacts listed below if you can volunteer in any way.
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Please contact Vicki e.g. on vbworldwide@gmail.com or Robert on puknwsmem@gmail.com with any changes to this website that are needed.
SPECIALIST ADVICE
Parkinson's UK has a specialist adviser team who can provide information about any aspect of living with Parkinson's, managing symptoms, medication, social care, employment rights, benefits and much more. They can offer emotional support and liaise with health, social care and other local professionals to get you the support you need.
Call the Helpline on 0808 800 0303 or email hello@parkinsons.org.uk, the Helpline Advisers will deal with any general enquiries and you will be put in touch with someone in your area if more local knowledge or in depth support is needed. Our particular Local Adviser is Caroline Craig, she is contactable via ccraig@parkinsons.org.uk Her number is 02079 633696. Advisers work mostly on the telephone but do some face to face work and visits as well.
If you haven't already, we would love you to properly join Parkinson's UK and our local support group .
To do that, please email our membership secretary on: puknwsmem@gmail.com for joining instructions.
Newsletter
If you would like to have a look at past copies of our Newsletter, click on the links below* or email the membership secretary Robert on puknwsmem@gmail.com and he will email them to you.
June/July2023 Aug/Sept2023 Oct/Nov2023 Dec2023/Jan2024 Feb/March 2024 April/May 2024 June/July2024 Aug/Sept2024 Oct/Nov2024 Dec2024/Jan 2025 Feb/March2025 April/May 2025
*then click on menu/Download if necessary to get full view.
Useful North West Somerset Support-Group Committee Contacts:
Coordinator: Marie PEARSON 01934 742091 - 07800 815262 puknwscord@gmail.com
Newsletter: Kevin YOUDE 01934 824400 - 07855 936762 Kevin.youde@gmail.com
Treasurer & IT - Neil Turp 07422 965598 neilturp@gmail.com
Fundraising: Wendy GIBB 01275 394124 prwgibb@mypostoffice.co.uk
Social / Events Secretary: VACANT
Committee member: Richard (Rich) JENKINS 01275 394989 - 07854147895 richbj2@gmail.com
Secretary: Vicki BREWER vbworldwide@gmail.com
Committee member: Don BREWER dvbrewerworld@yahoo.co.uk
Membership Secretary: Robert BROWN - 07751 606670 - 01275 603146 (No messages) puknwsmem@gmail.com
Parkinsons UK Network Support Officer Claire DENBY 07842445020 / 02079633731 cdenby@parkinsons.org.uk
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS:
Singalong (NWSomerset) - Pat and Belinda Kington 07779819513, kingtonfamily@btopenworld.com
Parkinson's UK Specialist advice - see above - Caroline Craig etc.
Local NHS Parkinson’s specialist practitioner (Sirona): Mel FALK 0300 125 5550 Sirona.parkinsons@nhs.net
Local NHS Parkinson’s Specialist practitioner (Sirona): Emily MORRISON 0300 125 5550 Sirona.parkinsons@nhs.net
Parkinson’s UK:- 0808 800 0303 parkinsons.org.uk
Parkinson's UK National membership issues:- see parkinsons.org.uk > Supporter Enquiries
Parkinson's UK Facebook:- en-gb.facebook.com/parkinsonsuk/
Parkinson's UK Twitter:- twitter.com/ParkinsonsUK
Privacy notice: See page on menu at the top.
Parkinson’s UK is the operating name of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales (00948776). Registered office: Parkinson's UK, 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0DB . A charity registered in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SC037554).
