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

Conversation Cafe (North West)

  • In person – last Tuesday of the month, 10.30am-12noon
  • Contact – Gillian Smith, VOCAL gsmith@vocal.org.uk

Connecting Carers (North West)

  • In person – Third Tuesday of the month, 11am-12noon
  • Contact – Sophie Johnston, VOCAL sjohnston@vocal.org.uk

Connecting Carers (South East)

  • In person – the second Tuesday of the month, starting Tuesday 14th March 2023, 2pm – 3pm at Gilmerton Community Centre
  • Contact – Leesa Mackintosh, VOCAL lmackintosh@vocal.org.uk / 07958427437

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)

Eating Disorders Carers Peer Support Group (Edinburgh Carers Council)

  • In person – last Tuesday of the month from 1:00pm-2:30pm at Great Michael House (ECC office base, 14 Links Place).
  • Contact – Emmy (Edinburgh Carers Council) at emmy@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or call 0131 322 8480.

Carers Peer Support Group (Edinburgh Carers Council)

  • In person – last Friday of the month from 2:30pm-4:00pm at SAMH Redhall Walled Garden.
  • Contact – Rachael (Edinburgh Carers Council) at rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or call 0131 322 8480.

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

Mental health carers

Peer support group for carers of a child with a disability (citywide) in partnership with LCIL

  • In person – once a month on a Monday, 11am-12.30pm
  • Contact – Megan Copley, VOCAL mcopley@vocal.org.uk

Peer support for carers of young people with mental health problems (citywide)

  • Online – once a month on a Monday 6pm-7pm
  • In person – once a month on a Friday 10am-11am
  • Contact – Megan Copley, VOCAL mcopley@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