Celebrating Pride at Fibromyalgia Friends Together
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honour those who fought for the rights many enjoy today, and recommit to building a world where everyone can be themselves without fear.
At Fibromyalgia Friends Together, we know something about what it means to be seen, believed, and accepted. So this month, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate Pride from where we stand as a community built on understanding.
Two experiences that often overlap
Living with fibromyalgia and being part of the LGBTQ+ community can carry a surprisingly similar weight. Both can mean carrying something other people can’t always see. Both can mean explaining yourself, being doubted, or bracing for how others might react before you’ve said a word.
For people who live with both, those experiences don’t sit side by side — they overlap. Navigating healthcare can feel harder when you worry about being judged. Finding spaces where you’re fully accepted, exactly as you are, can take more searching. And the exhaustion of constantly advocating for yourself is something many in our community know all too well.
That’s exactly why community matters so much.
What Pride and our community share
At its heart, Pride is about a simple, powerful idea: you don’t have to hide who you are to be worthy of respect, care, and belonging. That’s a message that resonates deeply here.
Whether it’s an invisible illness or an invisible part of your identity, the longing to be believed and welcomed is universal. The relief of finding people who get it — who don’t need you to perform, explain, or justify yourself — is one of the most healing things there is.
That sense of belonging is what we try to offer every single member, all year round.
“As Chair of Fibromyalgia Friends Together, and as someone who is both part of the LGBTQIA+ community and living with fibromyalgia, this month means a great deal to me. I know what it is to carry things others can’t see, and to long for a place where you don’t have to explain or apologise for who you are. That’s the community I want us to be, one where every part of you is welcome. To anyone reading this who has ever felt unseen: you belong here, and we’re proud to have you with us.”
Mark, Chair, Fibromyalgia Friends Together
A space for all of you
You are welcome here as your whole self. Your fibromyalgia is part of your story, and so is everything else that makes you you, your identity, who you love, and how you move through the world.
This Pride Month, and every month, our promise is the same: this is a place where you don’t have to leave any part of yourself at the door.
Looking after yourself this Pride season
Pride can be joyful, but celebrations, busy events, and big emotions can also take a toll — especially when fatigue and pain are part of daily life. A few gentle reminders:
Rest is not giving up. Pacing yourself so you can enjoy what matters most is a form of strength, not weakness.
You set the terms. You can celebrate quietly, loudly, in person, online, or not at all. There’s no single right way to mark Pride.
Reach out if you need to. Whether you’re celebrating, struggling, or somewhere in between, you don’t have to do it alone.
Happy Pride 🌈
To every member of our community who is part of the LGBTQ+ family, and to everyone who stands alongside them: we see you, we believe you, and we are so glad you’re here.
Happy Pride Month from all of us at Fibromyalgia Friends Together.
Living with fibromyalgia can feel isolating — but no one should have to face it alone. At Fibromyalgia Friends Together, our volunteers make sure people find understanding, connection, and a community that truly “gets it.”
Today, we’re excited to share that we’re expanding our volunteer team, and we’d love to welcome new people who want to make a difference.
Whether you can offer an hour a week or help occasionally, your time could turn someone’s hardest days into hopeful ones.
And yes — volunteers with fibromyalgia are warmly welcomed. You don’t need to be symptom‑free, full‑time, or perfect. You just need kindness, patience, and a desire to help others feel less alone. We also cover all volunteer expenses, so you’ll never be out of pocket.
🌟 Why Volunteer With Us?
Make a real impact
Your support helps people who feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn.
Join a warm, supportive community
We understand chronic illness, pacing, and the need for flexibility. You’ll never be judged for needing rest or having a flare.
Use your skills — or learn new ones
Whether you’re great with people, social media, organising, or driving, there’s a place for you.
Flexible roles that fit your life
We offer roles that can be done in person or from home, regularly or occasionally.
💼 Volunteer Roles Available
🚗 Driver
Help members get to support groups and events. A small act for you — a life‑changing one for someone who would otherwise be stuck at home.
🎉 Fundraiser
Support our events, campaigns, and community activities. Perfect for creative thinkers and organisers.
💻 Digital Media Assistant
Help with social media posts, website updates, or digital campaigns. No professional experience needed — just enthusiasm.
🤝 Group Co‑ordinator
Welcome members, help organise sessions, or simply offer a listening ear. A warm, friendly role that makes a huge difference.
💜 Community Awareness Champion
Help spread understanding of fibromyalgia in local communities and online. This flexible role includes sharing information, attending events, and helping people discover our support services.
💜 We Cover All Expenses
Travel, materials, printing, refreshments — whatever you need to carry out your role. Volunteering should never cost you anything.
💌 Ready to Join Us?
Whether you’re confident and outgoing or quiet and thoughtful, whether you can help weekly or just now and then — you are welcome here.
Volunteering with us means being part of something meaningful, supportive, and full of heart.
Fibromyalgia affects both the body and the mind and this Mental Health Awareness Month we acknowledge this truth. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally drained, it is only natural.
Living with chronic pain, fatigue, and fibro flare‑ups can impact your emotional wellbeing and you deserve support, understanding, and compassion.
This is a reminder to: Take a breath. Take a pause. Take comfort in community.
In our Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group, you’re never alone: Share how you’re feeling Connect with others who truly understand Remember: your struggles are valid, and your strength is real
Help make this invisible illness seen as we support every fibro warrior through the tough days.
Our next in person meeting is Monday 18th May 2026
And a quick reminder to please Nominate Us in the Movement for Good Health and Wellbeing Draw
We will be ask you to share our experiences at this meeting, of living with Fibromyalgia to inform our research with Loughborough University.
Our meetings take place at Bright Hope House, in Swannington. Leicestershire. You can access the room from 12pm till 3pm. With our meeting starting at 1.15pm. I f you cannot find us, call: 07825 610925
Our next in person meeting is Monday 18th May 2026
We will be ask you to share our experiences at this meeting, of living with Fibromyalgia to inform our research with Loughborough University.
Our meetings take place at Bright Hope House, in Swannington. Leicestershire. You can access the room from 12pm till 3pm. With our meeting starting at 1.15pm. If you cannot find us, call: 07825 610925
Here is a message from Nadia, who is carrying out the research:
At the last meeting, Mark and I introduced a project we are working on with Dr Roger Newport at Loughborough University on Fibromyalgia and we asked for your help!
For those who were unable to make the session (or would like a refresher), the aim of the project is to get a better understanding of the lived experience in Leicestershire of Fibromyalgia symptoms beyond medical descriptions typically used for diagnosis. We intend to use this work to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia symptoms.
We will be speaking to those with fibromyalgia as well as with healthcare professionals to get two perspectives on this.
When can I do this?
We plan to run this at the next in person group meeting (on Monday).
If you have already made something, please do bring it along!
There is no obligation to take part, but the more who feel able to, the better for the project overall.
You are also welcome to take supplies home and make something at home if you are more comfortable.
We would need these returning to us at the June meeting.
If you are unable to come to the meetings, but would like to take part, please let me know: [email protected]
Thank you so much for being involved - I know it is a big ask, but we’re hoping this will be a meaningful contribution to the wider conversation and awareness of fibromyalgia.
Some examples how others represent their illness through artwork to give you an idea:
We’re excited to share that Fibromyalgia Friends Together has been entered into the Movement for Good Health and Wellbeing nomination programme. This special draw, run by the Benefact Group, awards £5,000 to ten charities supporting health and wellbeing across the UK. Your nomination could help us continue providing vital support to people living with fibromyalgia.
At Fibromyalgia Friends Together, we work to reduce isolation, offer peer support, and create a safe community for anyone affected by fibromyalgia. A £5,000 award would allow us to expand our services, reach more people, and continue offering free resources to those who need them most.
Why Your Movement for Good Health and Wellbeing Nomination Matters
The Movement for Good Health and Wellbeing nomination draw is only open for 14 days, and every single nomination counts. As a small charity, community support makes a huge difference to us. By taking just one minute to nominate us, you help strengthen our work and ensure more people living with chronic pain receive the understanding and support they deserve.
How to Nominate Fibromyalgia Friends Together
Visit the Movement for Good website. 👉 Nominate us here: https://movementforgood.com/health
Search for: Fibromyalgia Friends Together (Charity No. 1210681).
Submit your nomination: it takes less than a minute.
Thank you for supporting our community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.
Fibromyalgia Friends Together has been entered into the Movement for Good Health & Wellbeing Draw, and your nomination could help us win £5,000 to support people living with fibromyalgia.
This funding would make a huge difference — helping us reach more people, run more support sessions, and continue building a safe, understanding community for anyone affected by fibromyalgia.
To provide the best experiences, we use techonologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
It only takes 30 seconds to nominate us:
