Groups

Peer Support Groups in Edinburgh

Carers are welcome to join a support group in an area local to them. A Carer Support Practitioner from VOCAL will facilitate the group in a mixture of formats (online and in person). To find out more contact the Carer Support Practitioner for the group or call VOCAL on freephone – 0808 196 6666

Local groups for all conditions

SMART Recovery meeting for family and friends

  • SMART recovery family and friends is a secular mutual support programme for family and friends of individuals with addictive behaviours. In our meetings we explore ways participants can look after themselves better, even in stressful circumstances, and establish healthier relationships with their loved one.
  • In person – every 2 weeks, on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month
  • Contact – 0131 622 6666 or Stuart on sbyrne@vocal.org.uk or Heriot on hphilbrick-smith@vocal.org.uk

Conversation Cafe (North West)

  • In person – last Tuesday of the month, 10:30am-12pm
  • Contact – Gillian Smith, VOCAL gsmith@vocal.org.uk

Connecting Carers (North West)

Connecting Carers (South East)

  • In person – the second Tuesday of the month, 2pm – 3pm at Gilmerton Community Centre
  • Contact – Mark Ralton, VOCAL mralton@vocal.org.uk

Connecting Carers (North East)

Connecting Carers (South West) in partnership with The Meeting Place

  • In person – every second Monday of the month, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
  • Contact – Claudine Davison, VOCAL cdavison@vocal.org.uk

BEMAS Carers Group- Run by The Action Group For Parent Carers from Black Minority Ethnic Communities who have a disabled child/child with support needs (18 and under).

Parents Carewell Group- For Parent Carers of young adults (16+) (Run by The Action Group)

Carers Peer Support Group (Partners in Advocacy Edinburgh Carers Services)

  • In person – second Tuesday of the month from 11am-12:30pm at Great Michael House, 14 Links Place.
  • In person – last Friday of the month from 2pm-3:30pm at SAMH Redhall Walled Garden, 97 Lanark Road.
  • Contact – edinburghcarers@partnersinadvocacy.org.uk or call 07784 922206

One Sixty Group

  • Monthly café offering practical and emotional support for people living with dementia (of any age), their carers, and families. VOCAL have a carer support group which runs during the group, whilst there is an activity group for the people living with dementia.
  • In person – third Wednesday of every month, 2pm-3:30pm at 160 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 1DQ.
  • Contact – Alzheimer Scotland on 0131 551 9350

Space Adult Carers (by Space @ The Broomhouse Hub)

  • In person – last Wednesday of the month, 6pm – 8pm at Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, 78-89 Broomhouse Crescent, EH11 3RH
  • Contact – 0131 455 7731 or adultcarers@spacescot.org

Mental health carers

Peer support group for parent carers of a child (of any age) with additional support needs or struggling with their mental health

  • In person at VOCAL Edinburgh Carers’ Hub
  • Every first Friday of the month, 10am-11am
  • Upcoming dates: 1 November, 6 December
  • Contact – Tammy Davidson at VOCAL: tdavidson@vocal.org.uk

Support group for carers of Complex PTSD or borderline personality disorder (Health in Mind)

  • In person – last Friday of every month at Health in Mind, 40 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, EH2 4RT
  • Contact – Paulina Szach, Health in Mind paulina.szach@health-in-mind.org.uk

Support group for carers of Bipolar (Bipolar Edinburgh)

Mental health peer support group for carers (Eric Liddell Community)

  • In person – third Tuesday of the month, 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Eric Liddell Community, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH 4DP
  • Contact – Eric Liddell Community, McCarthyl@ericliddell.org.uk