About FirstSigns meet-ups

First of all, thank you to everyone who has contacted us to confirm they'll be coming to our summer meet-up in Leeds on 11 July. If you haven't already downloaded your invitation, please do so as it contains all the information you need.

Our meet-ups are an important feature of FirstSigns, our members and our community; so for those of you who haven't been to one before, we thought we'd share with you the ways in which you might benefit by joining us in Leeds.

First of all, our meet-ups are fun! We're not there to talk about self-injury – self-injury is only a small part of who we are as people, and our meet-ups are about the rest of us. So it's great finding other things we have in common and chatting about the fun stuff in our lives – the healthy, happy stuff that really makes us who we are.

Also, our meet-ups are a great way to meet with the people you've got to know online, including Wedge and myself, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. But even if you don't really know anyone yet, then they're a perfect opportunity to meet new people and possibly even make new friends – and unlike internet friendships, you get to meet the real people straight away, and in a safe environment.

Of course, attending a meet-up is not easy. I've been to several and I guarantee I'll still be nervous on 11 July, so I know how daunting it can feel – especially if it's your first time. It takes courage to travel, courage to get yourself to a venue and meet a group of people, none of whom you may have met before. But your bravery will be worth it once you settle down with a drink and relax into the experience. And you don't need to come alone – everyone is welcome to bring a friend, partner or family member with them if they wish.

All our meet-ups are different. They're held in different locations and different people attend; but even after a relatively quiet meet-up, people always rave about how good it was to share time, space and ideas with other FirstSigns members.

So if you can be in Leeds on 11 July, then do download an invitation and pop along to join us. If you're on Facebook you can join our Event and see some of the other people attending.

If you're coming along, or if you have any questions or concerns before deciding, then please do email me Jules@FirstSigns.org.uk and I'll do my best to reassure you. Or if you follow our Twitter, then send us an @ or DM.

We look forward to meeting you.

Wedge and Jules

My first training session (Jules)

I had planned today on blogging about what it's like to attend a FirstSigns meet-up, but that will have to wait until tomorrow now as I'm too excited about my first training session!

For some time now, Wedge and I have been working on our training package, and he's been tutoring me on how to deliver our training. It's something I've been keen to do for some time, as the real life work we do as an organisation is very important to me, and it's great to be out and about meeting people. I've accompanied Wedge on several occasions to both training sessions and conferences, which made it easier as I've been slowly learning all this time. But it also meant I knew I had a great deal of work to do if I was going to be anywhere near as good as Wedge!

Over the last few weeks Wedge has spent a great deal of his time with me, listening to my developing presentation, and guiding me. I don't mind admitting that I was pretty awful to begin with, but Wedge's patience and confidence in me never ceased, and eventually I was ready to face the world; well, Hampshire!

Last night I delivered my first training session to around 40 members of Hampshire Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Being an evening session, I had the whole day to worry about it, and by the time I set off for Southampton I was terrified. But Wedge, despite being out of the country, was on the end of the phone for me, and as I pulled into Southampton station I was beginning to calm down, and part of me was even looking forward to it. I mean, this is what it's all about – raising awareness about self-injury and sharing FirstSigns' seven years experience.

The venue was lovely, and as the audience began taking their seats many of them smiled warmly at me. That really helped me to relax, and as I started to speak the passion I feel for the subject and for FirstSigns overtook all my fears. When it was time for a break, everyone clapped as I made a hasty exit to find a smoking area!

I finished my presentation a little early, but I just laughed and said I hoped there were going to be lots of questions to fill the time, and I wasn't disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed answering the questions and interacting with people, and of course I was delighted with all the lovely comments and praise, not only about me, but about FirstSigns, Wedge, our website, and the handouts I'd provided. In the end, the organisers had to bring the evening to a close as we'd run out of time, but still people were coming up to me and congratulating me, handing me their cards, and asking more questions about self-injury and FirstSigns.

I think the biggest compliment of all came from the committee member who'd actually booked us after hearing Wedge speak at a conference last year. He told me that wherever he goes he always mentions that Wedge is the best speaker / presenter he's ever seen, and now he's going to add me as well! I couldn't have done this without Wedge; to be the best, you need to be trained by the best, and I certainly have been :)

I'd like to thank the lovely members of HACP for their warmth and kindness, the organisers for taking such good care of me, and of course Wedge who made it all possible (I know that sounds a bit like an oscar speech, but hey, I feel as though I've just won one!)

Anyway, I'm now looking forward to my next training session in a couple of weeks, and just as soon as my big head has deflated a little I'll get on with the meet-up blog I've promised :)

Media Request: Female aged 20-35

A top magazine are currently researching a feature on self-injury in women in their 20s and 30s, and are looking for a woman aged 20-35 who either began self-injuring in that age group, or started younger and returned to self-injury when faced with the stresses of adult life. They are keen to bring the issue of self-injury in adults to their readers' attention , especially those who may be suffering the pressure of the recession.

If you can help, they would interview the volunteer on the phone, and ask them how it started, what form the self-harm took, how it made them feel and how it affected their jobs, social lives, etc. The journalist in question has personal experience of self-injury, so I will treat the issue with the sensitivity required. The deadline is the end of this week, so if you fit the criteria and would like to volunteer, please email Jules@FirstSigns.org.uk as soon as possible.

Many thanks.

Invitation to our Summer Meet-up in Leeds (UK)

After holding our Meet-ups in London and Birmingham last year, we have decided to travel further north this year in order to keep things fair for our members. Accordingly we will this year be holding our summer meet-up in Leeds on Saturday 11 July 2009 and hope to meet as many of you as possible for a drink and a light-hearted chat.

Our meet-ups have always been popular, giving people the opportunity to meet friends they have made on our message board and also to meet the people who keep our organisation going. Both Jules and I will be there, and hopefully one or two of our moderators as well.

Please download your 'invitation' now – it gives you full details and will help you find us on the day :)

You don’t have to be a member of our message board in order to attend – everyone who is a ‘member’ of FirstSigns in any way, either on the message board, our mailing list, our Facebook Group, Facebook Page, Bebo or MySpace groups, or indeed our Twitter followers, are all welcome to attend*.
 
If you’d like to attend, please email Jules@FirstSigns.org.uk now to let us know you’ll be there.

We look forward to seeing you and buying you a drink!

Wedge and Jules

FirstSigns is Seven today!

FirstSigns (aka LifeSIGNS) is 7 years old today!

In 2002, Wedge founded our organisation after discovering that there was no helpful, relevant, UK based information online for people affected by self-injury. Over the last seven years we have been raising awareness about self-injury, and supporting people affected by self-injury in any way, both in the UK and beyond.

Several directors and volunteers have come and gone over the years, and Wedge has worked with some fantastic people who have helped our organisation develop and grow; but it's Wedge himself who has remained the one continuum throughout, and his determination, passion and dedication have ensured we have succeeded where many other would-be organisations have failed.

Back in 2002 we were probably the only UK based, user-led voluntary organisation focusing on self-injury – it was certainly the only UK organisation I could find. Today there are many that have tried to mirror our success, but I'm confident that we remain the best and the most inclusive.

FirstSigns is 'real'. Wedge and I really care about our organisation, and we care about our members. We don't have any hidden agendas or motives – we simply want to do what we do best – and that is providing free, helpful, relevant information to everyone and anyone needs it. And if that means travelling the length of the country to meet with an organisation who wants our help, then that's what we do.

As you already know, Wedge is currently on a well deserved break from the day-to-day running of FirstSigns (although he of course remains our Chair and leader), and I've taken on more responsibility until he returns, but he's never far from my mind and or the minds of the people and organisations I work with. FirstSigns isn't just an online organisation – we love getting out into the real world and interacting with people – and the opportunities I have had to do so over the last few months have been largely as a result of Wedge's work over the last seven years. Nobody cared when we changed our name because it's always 'Wedge' who people remember, and who people ask me about time and time again when I'm out and about representing FirstSigns.

In the last couple of months we've worked closely with schools in North Wales as they develop their Schools Self-injury Policy, and we've also worked closely with the BBC on an exciting project that will be revealed here over the coming weeks. Our ethos and our vision for the future remain consistent with our Mission Statement, and it's exciting to think where we could be in yet another year's time, and in five and ten years. FirstSigns isn't an organisation that will ever give up, either on ourselves or our members, and even through adversity we fight on, becoming stronger and stronger with each year that passes.

I currently miss working so closely with Wedge on a daily basis – it's not easy running our organisation alone - but Wedge has continued to be a great source of support to me and I'm proud to be running his organisation and hopefully maintaining his high standards until he fully returns. We have great plans for the future, and we will be looking for new members of our Management Committee over the coming months to help us implement some of our ideas and maybe even offer some new ones.

I know Wedge will join me in thanking everyone who supports us in any way – our volunteers, the people and organisations who use and circulate our information, and all the members of our thriving community. As I said before, it’s not easy managing a whole organisation, and it’s not even always pleasant, but it’s certainly worthwhile. We are passionate about raising awareness about self-injury, and with your help, we really do make a difference. Thank you.

Happy Birthday FirstSigns, and congratulations to Wedge on another year of fantastic work. To celebrate our Birthday, we are giving away Awareness Wristbands to anyone who leaves us a birthday comment!Please email Jules@FirstSigns.org.uk with your address after leaving your comment.

Thank you, and I look forward to the next year :)

Jules