Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Bristol Live & Let Live meetings for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender alcoholics and those who have a desire to stop drinking. See AA website for details of meeting times.
Resources: Support groups
ACT Peer Recovery Bristol
ACT Peer Recovery is a community MUTUAL AID organisation that uses Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) to help people build a FULL and MEANINGFUL life. We have meetings where we practice ACT and teach the skills to help people make CHANGES in their BEHAVIOUR.
ACT is focused on accepting the things that are out of your control – such as thoughts and feelings – and committing to actions (behaviour) that take you TOWARDS what is important to you.
By peers, for peers
Meetings are run by peers who have changed their lives by applying the principles of ACT. Our meetings are:
- safe and accessible
- open access
- confidential
- experience-based
- non-judgemental
- voluntary
All meetings are open access. Please just turn up.
Art Group for Gender Wellbeing
A supportive and sociable wellbeing art group for adults 18+ who identify under the trans and/or non-binary umbrella. The first group is being held on 6th September 7pm – 9pm in Yate and monthly thereafter. Please see Art for Gender Wellbeing… Read more
Avon Trans People
Self-help group for those considering or undergoing gender reassignment. Signposting and personalised support for: medical and treatment issues, emotional and family concerns, passing problems and legal matters.
Bipolar UK
Bipolar UK is dedicated to supporting individuals with bipolar, their families and carers. They support and develop self-help opportunities for people affected by bipolar, offer information on bipolar, self-help groups and education and self-management. Bristol Support Group meets monthly.
BIVISIBLE
Socialising and support for Bristol’s Bi Community.
Every 2nd Wednesday of each month at Hydra Book Shop from 8pm – 10pm.
Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project
Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project works to help those having problems with prescribed psychotropic medications (benzodiazepine tranquillisers/sleeping tablets, and antidepressants). They help people who are taking or have recently withdrawn from this type of medication.
Bristol City Council Support Groups Directory
Directory of support groups and organisations, both local and national, that provide advice and support to different sections of the local community in Bristol.
Bristol Eating Disorder Support Group
The Bristol Eating Disorder Peer Support Group has been running for over twenty five years. They aim to provide a space for sufferers (aged 18 years and over) and for friends/families/carers to support one another. They work in association with b-eat.
Bristol Gendered Intelligence
Youth group for trans, non-binary, gender variant and/or gender questioning young people aged between 13 and 21.
Bristol Hearing Voices Network
Hearing Voices bring together a number of people who share the experience of hearing voices, to help and support each other. This group aims to understand voice-hearing and intrusive thoughts through sharing information and experiences.
Bristol ROADS – Recovery Orientated Alcohol & Drugs Service
DHI (Developing Health & Independence) is a partner in Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service). We run three Community Recovery Hubs in Bristol; in the centre, north and south of the city. Whether you are preparing to make… Read more
Bristol Survivors Network
Bristol Survivors Network is a group of people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, campaigning to improve mental health services. Our socials are a great chance to find out more about our group and share any concerns. We do… Read more
Care Forum
The Care Forum support communication, consultation and networking with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). They work to empower adults and young people to voice issues about local social and community care services, and provide information and advice about voluntary and statutory sector health and well-being services.
Changes Mutual Help Group
Changes is a user led mutual support group for anybody experiencing mental distress living in and around Bristol. It offers a structured and focused approach to management of mental health symptoms.
Cocaine Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from their addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances. There are no dues or fees for membership; we are fully self-supporting through our own contributions.
Anyone who wants to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances (including alcohol and other drugs) is welcome.
UK Helpline: 0800 612 0225
Local info line: 07760 632 986
Email: info@casw.co.uk
Website: www.casw.co.uk
Crossroads Transgender Support Group
The Bristol Crossroads group has been supporting the transgender community in and around Bristol, under various names, for over 25 years. The meetings are informal and provide the opportunity for all transgender people (Transvestites, Crossdressers, Transexuals, both male-to-female and female-to-male) and their partners and family to meet and dress in a safe and supportive environment. There are changing facilities available for those who need them.
Elefriends
Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. Elefriends is run by national Mind.
FFLAG (Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay, bisexual and Trans daughters and sons.
They offer support to local parents groups and contacts in their efforts to help parents and families understand, accept and support their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members with love and pride.
FFLAG members are parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual or Trans sons and daughters. These young people and their families face serious homophobia and transphobia in our society, which brings in its wake prejudice, bullying and alienation.
Fishponds Women’s Support Group
Fishponds Women’s Support Group has been running for 16 years, offering mutual support for women with shared experiences of mental illness. Members meet weekly for coffee and a chat. Some members bring their knitting with them, others just come along.… Read more
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
A fellowship of people who have experienced difficulties in life as a result of our relationship to food and eating and joined FA because of an obsession with food. Group in Bristol who aid each other through shared experience and mutual support, we help each other to recover from food addiction. Their program of recovery is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. We make use of AA principles to gain freedom from addictive eating.
Freedom Youth
Freedom Youth is a fun, safe, inclusive and supportive project for those aged 13-25 years, where you can meet other lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer or questioning young people. It’s open to anyone questioning their sexuality or gender – no labels applied! As well as groups, the Freedom staff offer one-to-one support and signposting, including to Off The Record’s in-house LGBTQ counsellors. The service is operated by Off The Record.
Gay West
A social and support group for gay people in the South West.
Gender Jelly
A monthly safe space for young people (13-25 years old) who might be questioning their gender identity, or who identify on the trans spectrum, to talk about gender and what it means to them. Sessions are workshop based and provide support, information and signposting.
Hope Project
To mark World Mental Health Day 2018, Second Step has launched a new project called Hope to prevent suicides among men.
The Hope Project will provide short-term emotional and practical support for middle-aged men (aged 25-64), specifically those who are in psychological distress or have recently self-harmed, but are not currently engaged with other mental health services.
The Hope Project team are experienced support workers keen to make a difference and save lives. To find out more or to make a referral and talk to a member of the Hope team, please call: 0117 4288 930 or email hope@second-step.co.uk
LGBT Bristol
LGBT Bristol works to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to become actively involved in community life. We pride ourselves in challenging homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the wider community and helping to promote understanding of equality and inclusion of LGBT+ people.
Mind Without Borders – Working in the Community
Mind Without Borders is an ongoing commitment by Bristol Mind to reach out to wider communities living here in our city. We celebrate difference and see that others whose background and culture may not be the same as ours, can… Read more
NB:South West
Non-Binary South West is a peer support group for trans* people in the South West of England (or beyond) with non-binary gender identities
Off The Record: Bristol
OTR isn’t just a charity providing mental health services, it’s a mental health movement mobilised to support, promote and defend the mental health, rights and social position of young people! We offer counselling in Central Bristol, and Yate.
We also offer a whole range of other services,including but not limited to projects and social action, nature works, and inspiration works which covers our creative side of the service. Examples of these are, Book club, Mindfulness, and Bristol meet ups, as well as our allotment.
We are a self referral service so you can either sign up online, or come to one of our hubs.
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. The OA Programme is based on the twelve step recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Positive Minds
Positive Minds offers support and advice to help adults improve their wellbeing and reduce the mental and emotional stress in their life through one to one support and monthly coffee mornings.
Rethink – Bristol Siblings Group
The Bristol Siblings Group is open to anyone aged 18 or over with a brother or sister with mental health issues.
Rethink Bristol Carers Service
Rethink Bristol Carers Service is a local service that offers one-to-one and group support to people caring for a family member or friend who is living with/experiencing mental distress.
Rethink Mental Illness – Bristol Community Support Services
Rethink community support services offer individualised support to people recovering from mental illness/distress through working with a person centered approach to plan support responses.
Rethink Mental Illness – Bristol Community Support Services website
Safe Link
We provide support for anyone (women, men and children) who has been the victim of rape and sexual abuse across the whole Avon and Somerset area. We also provide women’s mental health and domestic abuse support services.
Self Injury Self Help (SISH) Group
‘Self Injury, Self Help’ are a Bristol based community organisation, who run self-help support groups for people who self-injure. They create a safe space to talk, offer and receive support in an accepting environment.
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is a fellowship of men and women who meet regularly to solve our common problem of sexual addiction.
Our individual sexual addictions have involved any number of practices. Some of us had trouble with one unwanted behaviour, some with many. All of us once felt trapped in a cycle of addictive sexual behaviour. In SAA we have found a means of recovery which has released us from our addiction. As part of our recovery programme, we try to help others who have similar problems. The programme is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, although we are not affiliate with AA.
- National Helpline: 07599 917 686
- Bristol meetings helpline: 07794 769 494
- Email: info@saa-recovery.org.uk
- Website: www.saa-recovery.org.uk
Single Parents Website
This website is aimed at parents who, for whatever the circumstance, are raising children on their own. It provides information, expert advice, interactive learning, multi-media content, links to other support organisations and news for anyone parenting alone.
Social Anxiety Bristol
Social Anxiety Bristol (SA Bristol) is a self-help group open to anyone who experiences or has experienced social anxiety. The group offers a safe place to talk about your social anxiety and get help and advice from like-minded people who have been through similar experiences.
Studio Upstairs
Studio Upstairs provides artistic resources and support to adults experiencing mental and emotional distress and in drug and alcohol recovery. As well as visual arts, the Studio also has active music and creative writing groups.
TransUnite
TransUnite is a comprehensive resource for people in the UK searching for support in the transgender community. Our easy to use, mobile friendly directory connects you to an established network of trans support groups near you. Support groups bring together people facing similar issues to share experiences and advice. It can be helpful just getting to talk with other people at all stages of the transition.
Our aim is to bring these together and make finding them as easy and accessible as possible. TransUnite connects you to a network of groups throughout England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland and can be split into physical local and online groups.
Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK)
Triumph Over Phobia (TOP UK) is a UK registered charity which aims to help sufferers of phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and other related anxiety to overcome their fears and become ex-sufferers.
TOP UK runs a network of self-help therapy groups for sufferers of phobias, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and other related anxiety disorders. Our groups are open to anyone, aged 18 or above. You do not need to have seen a doctor or have a formal diagnosis to attend one of our groups.
UK SMART Recovery
“Helping individuals recover from any addictive behaviour and lead meaningful & satisfying lives; using a science-based therapeutic programme of training.”
SMART Recovery helps participants decide whether they have a problem, builds up their motivation to change and offers a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
Our SMART Recovery Programme can help if you are looking to change your harmful addictive behaviour and lead a balanced and fulfilling life. Our family and Friends programme helps individuals who have a loved one struggling with addiction. For more information about our Programmes, attending a meeting and accessing training please select the appropriate link below:
- SMART Recovery Programme
- Family & Friends Programme
WECIL Supporting Independent Living
The West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL) is an organisation run by and for Disabled people. This service provides specialist advice and advocacy support to anyone with a disability aiming to challenge the barriers to independent living.
Windmill Hill City Farm Tuesday Group
Windmill Hill City Farm is a great community resource and offers a variety of volunteering and educational opportunities for mental health users. They run a Mental Health Support Group. This group is for anyone living with a mental health problem. They aim to offer support, friendship and information.
Womankind – Therapy Group for Transgender Women
Do you need to talk about your journey and life as it is today? Are you struggling to find a sense of belonging in the community? Feeling low, anxious or depressed?
Womankind are offering a 12 month group therapy starting Spring 2018. The aim is to provide a therapeutic space where you can share your experiences with others. The group is free. For more information call the Womankind helpline or email Womankind
Women’s Independent Alcohol Support (WIAS)
WIAS offer services including ‘drop-in’ sessions, helplines, women’s groups as well as 1:1 counselling. They are a not-for-profit organisation specifically focused on women and supporting them with past and present alcohol issues.
New support sessions starting in October 2018 in central Bristol. Friendly, helpful atmosphere and expert advice and support. Booking essential as groups are small.
Telephone: 0117 942 8077 or email contact@wiaswomen.org.uk
“No Blame, No Shame. Women helping other women to recover from alcohol issues”