Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
"serving those affected by eating disorders"

Somerset &
Wessex

Eating Disorders
Association

Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association - SWEDA - is a user-led charity based on the principles of self help. Our aim is to serve those in Somerset and the surrounding counties affected by eating disorders - anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive eating, binge eating and related eating disorders, whether they are a sufferer themselves, someone caring for, or supporting a sufferer, a professional or anyone in any way affected by eating disorders. We are based in Street and provide services across the Somerset and the surrounding counties.

We are a ‘Pro-Recovery’ organisation and firmly believe in enabling and empowering people to live with as normal and satisfying a quality of life as possible. At SWEDA we are motivated by the the principles of self-help and a belief in the importance of honesty, openness and trust in relationships with all users of our services; SWEDA's confidentiality policy aims to support these principles.

We believe that all people have the right to feel that they belong and that they are valued. That they should have the freedom and opportunities to make well informed decisions and the power to change and manage their lives

We aim to provide resources and informal services which reflect the needs of the community. We aim to encourage people to use SWEDA to seek information, support and guidance in order to enhance their opportunities and make informed choices about their lives, through access to our website, telephone helpline and MSN Messenger Support, Support Groups, Community Support Workers, library and various other services.

At SWEDA we believe all people are unique and have a valid contribution to make. Our aim is to create a non-judgmental environment that supports individuals and their families regardless of their mental and/or physical health, race, culture, gender, age, ability, spiritual belief, or sexual orientation.

SWEDA currently employs seven paid, professional workers—Business and Client Services Managers, two Community Support Workers, a joint Clerical Support Worker and Frontline Services Manager, a joint Life Skills Worker and Volunteer Coordinator, a Schools Project Coordinator and a core group of committed and trained Volunteers .

SWEDA is managed by a dedicated Board of Trustees and a Steering Committee comprising service users and volunteers, which has been in existence since the organisation began.

Whilst maintaining its independent, voluntary status, Somerset & Wessex Eating Disorders has always worked towards working in partnership with statutory services. The result of which is a unique joint working partnership with Somerset Partnership Trust. This joint working resulted in the formation of the Somerset Eating Disorders Service which, as a consequence, has developed an eating disorders service strategy based both on the skills and knowledge of the statutory authorities as well as the voluntary sector expertise and experience gained from 10 years of active, user led working. The Somerset Eating Disorders Service began operating in September 2001.

We are proud to have as our Patrons:

Dr Hugh Herzig,
Consultant Psychiatrist in Eating Disorders

Kate Williams,
BSc, SRD, Dip ADP - Chief Dietician

Dr. Alex Yellowlees,
BSc, M.B.ChB., M.R.C. Psych., M.Phil. - Consultant Psychiatrist

Helpline & Messenger Support

The SWEDA Telephone Helpline and Messenger service aim to offer sufferers of an eating disorder and their carers a chance to.

• be listened to;
• share some of their concerns;
• obtain up to date information;
• find out about the services offered by SWEDA.

The Helpline is available on 01458 448611, to use our Messenger services add support@swedauk.org to your list of contacts. Both services run in parallel on:-

Community Support Workers

The Community Support Workers are usually the first personal contact a client makes with SWEDA. It may be the first time that a person has talked through their eating disorder, and it is their opportunity to talk through their concerns and difficulties and our opportunity to discuss with them what SWEDA has to offer.

Community Support Workers can see clients in the SWEDA offices or may make arrangements to see people in their own home.

Community Support Workers also provide presentations and talks on eating disorders, these are aimed at schools, agencies and other organisations who wish to gain more awareness of eating disorders.

Help by letter or email

Write to SWEDA or email support@swedauk.org and someone will reply as quickly as possible.

Pen-Pal scheme

Ring SWEDA or see our website for guidelines
Correspond with someone in a similar position to yourself, through SWEDA without disclosing your own address.

Bulletin/Information pack

SWEDA produces a number of information leaflets and a Newsletter. Most of our printed literature is available on our website but you can write to or email SWEDA for copies of leaflets and to be put on our Newsletter mailing list.

Library

A small selection of information and self help books. Accessed during drop-ins or by appointment.

Low Cost Counselling

Counselling gives you the opportunity to explore the issues underlying your eating disorder, to work through the distress and difficulties that these cause and to explore and manage how food is used to cope with them.

Education/Talks and Training

As requested e.g. specialist eating disorders training for statutory workers and those working in private treatment centres. In-service training for schools and colleges. Sessions for voluntary agencies. Talks to groups.

Website

Eating Disorders can be very private and very isolating and don't restrict their crisis times to convenient office hours. Somerset is also not the easiest of rural counties to get around and the SWEDA offices at Street will be inaccessible to many of you. The SWEDA Website is intended to be a place of support and information that is easily available 24 hours a day. We have a guestbook where you can leave us a message and Message Boards.

Support Group

This group offers sufferers and carers the opportunity to meet with others who have similar experiences and to gain support. For parents, partners, relatives or friends.

Life Skills Support

Our aim is to offer support for individuals wanting to develop their independence. Often, when you suffer from an eating disorder, it begins to steal your life away from you. This
project can help you to reclaim your life and move on.

Schools Project

Staff training and student teaching sessions aim to de-mystify eating disorders, their causes, presentations and effects, by providing an informative and interactive space in which to learn about them.Energise
Energise can help you work towards developing::

Healthy and varied eating managed by you, to match any changes in your lifestyle.
Exercise and activity plan/routine aiding improvement of muscle mass over fat mass and increasing metabolism.

For further information on any SWEDA services, ring the Helpline. Or use the Leaflet Request Form (in the downloadable version).

Somerset & Wessex Eating Disorders Association has a lot to offer. A great deal of this is provided by SWEDA Volunteers (Vols); in particular the Helplines, Drop-Ins and Leaflet production are volunteer run as is the Resource Library, Web Site and some Helpline & Drop-In Cover and the new Help By Letter scheme.

Volunteering with SWEDA is great fun and very rewarding and a great way to meet a really lovely 'family' of SWEDA people - the paid workers, volunteers and clients as well as new friends from the newly formed Somerset Eating Disorders Service (part of the NHS Somerset Partnership Trust).

As well as providing many of SWEDA's services the SWEDA Vols. have plenty of social activities and plenty of time to enjoy each others company.

Training is provided (as is coffee of course!!), expenses are paid and there is plenty of opportunity to be involved in further training and learning throughout. Support and supervision is also provided regularly and formally and of course is always available in the form of friendship and mutual support from all at SWEDA be they other volunteers or paid staff (we don't differentiate and they even do their own washing up).

Many SWEDA Volunteers have had a personal experience of an eating disorder (perhaps as a suffer or a carer) and would like to use this experience to help others, but this is not required, all that's needed is a desire to help those affected by eating disorders and perhaps have a fun and rewarding time along the way.

You can contact SWEDA for information about eating disorders and the range of services offered (including: one-to-one support, self-help support and the telephone helpline) at :-

SWEDA’s telephone helpline, which is staffed by trained volunteers, many of whom have a personal experience of an eating disorder, can be reached on:-

01458 448600
an answerphone is available when the helpline is closed.


support@swedauk.org
Email support and MSN Messenger contact ID

SWEDA is a registered charity (No.1056441)
and a company limited by guarantee (No.3208772)