England

North England

Barnard Castle:  5 week Self Management : Richardson community hospital -Tuesday 10th September to Tuesday 8th October 2024 - 14:00 - 16:00 - https://forms.office.com/e/f9J3CAS254 

Newcastle: 5-week self-management course, Disability North, Dene Centre, Gosforth, weekly, Tuesday 4th February – Tuesday 4th March 2025, 13:00 – 15:00 https://forms.office.com/e/f9J3CAS254 

Our branches and support groups offer friendship, fun, information, and a chance to meet other people who know what it is like to live with arthritis or other muscular skeletal conditions.

We have support offered by local volunteer-led branches and groups across England. Branches and groups usually meet monthly, some during daytime, some in the evenings. Activities vary based on local interests and can include guest speakers, physical activity and social activities. Search to find your local branch or group.

Young People and Families Service (YPFS)

Our Young People and Families service offers a range of services to support young people and their families. We encourage young people to get together for a variety of fun activity and discussion-based events across England.

Nuffield Health- Joint Pain Programme

This free-to-access programme is designed to help you self-manage your chronic joint pain and lead a more independent life.

It’s a 6-month programme, which begins with 12 weeks of lifestyle advice and exercise sessions led by a Rehabilitation Specialist. This will equip you with the tools to better manage your pain.

And it works. People who’ve completed the programme have shown improvements in mobility, pain, general fitness levels and overall quality of life.

For further information see the Nuffield Health website Joint Pain Programme | Nuffield Health

YPFS - Our Activities

Young people tell us that sometimes friendships and activities have been affected by their health and coming along to one of our events gives them the opportunity to rebuild confidence in themselves and trust in others. All events are run with our volunteers who themselves have grown up with arthritis or similar conditions, so we know there is no such thing as being too young to have arthritis.

We know it is daunting to try something new, but our volunteers and the other young people remember their first time and know exactly how that feels and work hard to make sure everyone feels welcome and safe.

Local Events for young people

We run regular small social meet ups for young people aged 11-18 in London, Manchester and the West Midlands. These are a chance to meet others in your local area, listen to talks and try out different activities.

All our events are fully funded, insured, and run by qualified and experienced staff. All staff and volunteers have criminal records check. Find out more and keep an eye on what’s coming up in your area or contact us at ypf@versusarthritis.org.

Connecting with us online

Arthritis Tracker: A mobile app for teens and young adults

Created with young people for young people, Arthritis Tracker lets you rate your symptoms in seconds and see a simple summary of your recent pain, sore joints, medication side effects, energy levels, activity, sleep and emotions. You can use these summaries to help you talk to your healthcare professionals at medical appointments or simply to see how you have been doing recently. Download the app.

YPFS - Social Media

We have social media pages available for both parents and teenagers, to allow you to connect with others locally who understand. These are a great place to stay updated and ask any questions you may have for people who have been through similar experiences. Connect with us on social media.

Volunteers

To volunteer for an organisation is to give the invaluable gift of time and at Versus Arthritis our volunteers play a vital role in raising funds and raising awareness about the pain of arthritis. We couldn't operate without them. All of our services are delivered or supported by our amazing volunteers, and there are opportunities to get involved in campaigning, fundraising, take part in events or even organise your own. Volunteering is at the very heart of Versus Arthritis and it is thanks to the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of volunteers, that we can support millions of people living with arthritis every year.

We have several volunteering opportunities available across England and provide all the necessary training and support that will help you feel part of our organisation and equipped to perform your role. As a volunteer, we will support you to learn new skills, meet new people and help you increase your confidence and self-esteem. Many of our volunteers live with arthritis and related conditions, which means together we can deliver a quality service, and help you to enhance your self-management skills.

Please get in touch to find out more by emailing volunteering@versusarthritis.org.

Campaigns

We need your help to make arthritis a government and health service priority. Sign up to our Campaigns Network today and join thousands of others campaigning for change. We’ll email you with campaign updates and how you can get involved. Find out more about the issues we’re campaigning on. Do get in touch to find out how you can support our national campaigns by emailing campaigns@versusarthritis.org.