Support group celebrates 40 year milestone

Support Group celebrates 40 year milestone

In March of this year, Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Tinnitus Support Group celebrated 40 years of supporting people with tinnitus. Over this time the group has helped and supported thousands of people suffering with tinnitus. The fantastic milestone was lively, celebrated with poems and stories from members as well as contributions from organisations which the group has worked with over the years.

1986 The groups conception

The group was established in March 1986 when a small number of people met with Hearing Therapist, Margot Boss, who had written about establishing a tinnitus self-help support group as part of her dissertation.  One of these founder members was Audrey Carlin, who still works tirelessly today. Everyone who has been supported by the group will have spoken to Audrey.

Audrey had been diagnosed with tinnitus two years earlier. At that time there was no roadmap to navigate the journey, or support. “Instead of surrendering to despair, I made a conscious decision – tinnitus would not ruin my life or dictate its course. My first steps were tentative bearing in mind there was no one to talk to who understood tinnitus at the time, so I had to navigate the journey myself. It took time, research, mistakes and a conscious commitment to positivity and a huge learning curve, particularly, about myself!” Therefore, when Audrey received the phone call from Margot, she recognised there was a lack of resources for tinnitus sufferers and agreed to help. “Little did I know that 40 years later, I would still be running the voluntary support group.”

Support

The support which has evolved over time has taken many forms including

• Support Group meetings: With speakers talking on a range of topics including help with sleep problems and mindfulness techniques.
• Information & Education: Providing resources on management techniques and coping strategies.
• 1-to-1 Support: Offering confidential, personalised guidance and emotional support through our helpline and by letter and information
• Workshops: The group developed a course of interactive workshops about understanding and managing tinnitus.

Support Group Wellbeing Magazine

Since 1986, the group had been a cornerstone for those navigating the often-overwhelming journey with tinnitus and since the formation of their group, Audrey had produced a monthly newsletter, offering information, support, reassurance and a sense of community. When the country was forced into lockdown due to the COVID pandemic, the group established online meetings including assisting Tinnitus UK with their newly established online support. They also expanded their written communication.

Recognising the heightened need for positivity, they reached out to all their members, inviting them to contribute uplifting stories from their own lives. “Whether sharing memories of holidays, the joy of pets, or the beauty of nature, each story became a thread that wove the tapestry of our tinnitus community closer together. This collaborative spirit led to the evolution of our newsletter into that of a vibrant Wellbeing Magazine, designed to uplift and inspire” Audrey explained.

Out in the community

Over the years the group has recognised that tinnitus can be an isolating condition, picking up the phone or coming to a meeting can be daunting and not always accessible for everyone. Therefore, the group have run outreach sessions at community venues and libraries to reach out to those in need, as well as larger events and conferences.

New ideas in nature and for creativity

Throughout Audrey’s own tinnitus journey, nature and creativity have played important healing roles. This has been reflected in the group’s activities with organised walks and poetry workshops. During Covid the poetry sessions moved online and still continue today.

The group’s longevity is testament to everyone involved especially Audrey and this was reflected in the number of members, past and present, supporters and organisations attending the 40th Year Anniversary Celebrations.