Action for M.E. update: extending our support service
June 30, 2020
In April, we launched our new Crisis, Advocacy and Support Service for people with M.E. of all ages, supporting you to make informed decisions, secure essential practical local assistance, emotional support, and services that meet your needs.
We did this in direct response to the need created by the Coronavirus pandemic, and to address the 30% increase in demand for our support.
Three months on, we are pleased to be able to confirm that we will now offer this service permanently, including extending our previously regional advocacy service to make it UK-wide.
Our dedicated, experienced team can offer immediate short-term support and one-to-one longer-term advocacy for people with M.E. of all ages, and their families, including:
- sharing information about all aspects of living with M.E., welfare benefits, social care, symptom management and accessing health services
- offering emotional support, including sign-posting to peer-support
- sourcing practical assistance local to you, such as your local mutual aid group or community hub
- advocating for your needs, explaining processes in an accessible way, and supporting you to challenge the opinions of others in situations that affect you.
We are also saying goodbye to Mary-Jane Willows, Head of Action for M.E.’s Children and Young People’s Service, who retires today after supporting children and families with M.E. for 17 years. Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for M.E. says:
“Mary-Jane has empowered and supported hundreds of families in accessing the health, education and social care they are entitled to, and successfully challenging inappropriate child protection allegations. We have received so much positive feedback and appreciation for all the passion, commitment, hard work and expertise that Mary Jane has shared with a large number of children and families over her time with Action for M.E., and without a doubt will be missed.”
Mary-Jane moved to work with us in April 2017 when the Association of Young People with M.E., where Mary Jane had been CEO for 14 years, merged with Action for M.E.
Our Crisis, Support and Advocacy Service continues to support adults, children, young people and their families: you can call us on 0117 927 9551 or send us an email.
We also work collaboratively with people with M.E., advocates, charities, clinicians, biomedical researchers and other professionals to stamp out the stigma of M.E., and to understand the disease and ultimately find treatments through DecodeME, the world’s largest M.E./CFS DNA study.
