Fibromyalgia Friends Together is pleased to report that we have received a donation from Fibromyalgia Scotland, who’s Trustees decided that due to health, they were no longer sadly able to keep their organisation going. We are overwhelmed by their generosity receiving a donation from them of over £8,000! This boost to our resources will mainly be used towards our core running costs, to enable more people to access our services and to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our next Fibromyalgia Friends Together meeting this coming Monday!
This month, we are delighted to be joined by the Lightbulb Project.
They are a fantastic local service dedicated to helping people stay safe, warm, and independent at home. They will be discussing housing support, including home adaptations, technology to assist with daily living, and general housing advice. It is a great chance to see what practical support is available to make life a little easier.
Please note the timings for this session. You are welcome to arrive early (from 12pm) to get settled before the formal start at 1.15pm.
Doors Open: 12:00 pm
Main Meeting Starts: 1:15 pm
Close: 3:00 pm
Refreshments will be available for purchase before the meeting begins. If you would like tea or coffee, we kindly ask for a donation towards the cost of these.
We will be meeting at:
Bright Hope House in North West Leicestershire
Full address: Bright Hope House
Talbot Lane
Swannington
Leicestershire
LE67 8QT
Google maps link: https://www.google.com/maps?
what3words: ///trying.items.fuses
Look out for people wearing lanyards – if you need any support joining us for the first time or with anything else on the day they can help!
If you are having problems finding us, then please call 07825 610 925.
We look forward to seeing you there for a cuppa and a chat!
Warm regards,
The Fibromyalgia Friends Together Team
January can be a difficult month for those of us living with Fibromyalgia.
The weather is often cold and damp, causing our pain levels to flare, yet the world around us is shouting about “New Year Resolutions,” gym memberships, and doing more.
At Fibromyalgia Friends Together, we believe that traditional goal-setting often sets people with chronic illness up to fail. It doesn’t account for fatigue, pain, or the unpredictable nature of our condition. It encourages the “Boom and Bust” cycle—doing too much on a good day and paying for it for the next three.
This year, instead of rigid resolutions, we invite you to try Gentle Intentions. Here is a simple tool to help you look ahead without punishing yourself.
The problem with a standard goal (like “I will declutter the house” or “I will walk for 20 minutes every day”) is that it assumes your energy levels are the same every morning. We know that isn’t true.
Instead, try setting your intentions using the Traffic Light System. This gives you three different ways to succeed, depending on how many “spoons” you have when you wake up.
This is for days when your pain is manageable and your brain fog is low.
The Goal: The ideal version of what you want to achieve.
This is for the days where you feel “meh.” You aren’t in a crisis, but you are tired.
The Goal: A scaled-back, gentle version of the task.
This is for days when your body is shouting “No.”
The Goal: Rest. On a Red Day, stopping to rest isn’t “giving up” on the goal—it is part of the goal. It is maintenance work to help you get back to Amber or Green.
If the Traffic Light system feels like too much right now, try the concept of One Tiny Thing.
Pick one intention for the year, but make it small. Then, make it smaller.
Instead of “I will read 20 books,” try “I will listen to a story when my eyes hurt.”
Instead of “I will cook from scratch every night,” try “I will add one piece of fresh veg to my easy meals.”
Instead of “I will go for a walk,” try “I will open the back door and breathe the fresh air for 30 seconds.”
If you are reading this and feeling the weight of the “New Year, New Me” pressure, please take a deep breath. Your worth is not measured by your productivity. Living with Fibromyalgia is a full-time job in itself.
Be gentle with yourself this year.
Many people in our community rely on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to help manage the additional costs of living with fibromyalgia — including travel to medical appointments, heating, mobility aids, and daily living support.
The government has recently expanded the terms of the ongoing PIP review to include current claimants, not just future applicants. This means people already receiving PIP could be affected by any recommendations that result from the review.
For those living with long-term pain, fatigue, and daily challenges, this uncertainty can be especially worrying. PIP is a vital source of stability, independence, and dignity for many.
As a charity, Fibromyalgia Friends Together is committed to:
Raising awareness of issues affecting people with fibromyalgia
Providing clear, reliable information to our community
Amplifying the voices and experiences of those with long-term health conditions
Supporting efforts that protect essential disability support
Understanding changes to PIP — and how they may affect you — is an important part of that mission.
Disability-focused organisations are gathering people’s views to ensure the experiences of those who rely on PIP are represented during the review.
One of the questions being asked is whether the government should rule out cuts to PIP for current claimants.
If you would like to share your thoughts, you can take part in the short survey by the Organise Network here:
👉 Share your view on PIP changes
Your response can help highlight why stable, reliable financial support is essential for people managing complex, fluctuating conditions like fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia often brings:
Chronic pain
Fluctuating mobility
Fatigue
Impact on ability to work
Higher daily living costs
Any changes to PIP could have real-world implications for the wellbeing and independence of thousands of people with fibromyalgia across the UK.
We will continue to monitor updates and share information as the review progresses.
Fibromyalgia Friends Together Annual General Meeting as a CIO takes place on Thursday 9th October 2025 from 10.00 – 11.30 AM. Below is the agenda for this meeting. As a CIO the voting members are the Trustees.
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Our July 2025 Fibromyalgia Social Meeting takes place on 25th July at our new venue
*Please note our meetings now take place on the Third Monday of each month.
Since our group socials have become so large we have had to find a new venue.
We are pleased to announce that our new venue is
Bright Hope House in Coalville, North West Leicestershire
Talbot Lane
Swannington
Leicestershire
LE67 8QT
Google maps link: https://www.google.com/maps?
We hope this will be the start of a long-term association with Bright Hope House.
We will have the meeting at 1.15pm but the room is available from 12 – 3 pm for our members.
There will be refreshments available for purchase before the meeting starts – on offer will be jacket potatoes and quiche, both served with a drink. Please may you make a donation towards refreshments.
If you are new, please keep an eye out for members with lanyards and they will welcome you to the group, especially if you are feeling nervous and unsure or any other support on the day as they will be more than happy to help 🙂
We will use this meeting to:
Please call: 07825 610925 if there are any problems finding us.
