“You’re not alone”: New fibromyalgia support group launches in East Northants
Fortnightly sessions offer support and a chance to connect with others
A new East Northants Fibromyalgia Group has launched this month, offering closed support meetings for people living with fibromyalgia across the local area.
The group has been set up by Northamptonshire Carers, working in partnership with the East Northants Primary Care Network, and aims to provide practical, emotional and peer support for people managing the long‑term condition.
The fortnightly meetings will include access to GP advice and guidance from a Fibromyalgia Clinical Specialist, alongside gentle guided exercise, wellbeing activities and occasional healthy food sessions. Places must be booked in advance and referrals are made through GP surgeries.
Catherine James‑Oliver, Service Manager at Northamptonshire Carers for adults with long‑term health conditions, said the group was launched to address a clear gap in support.
She said: “People are often diagnosed and then told to just get on with it. We needed something more empowering, something that can actually help people make positive changes.”
“Fibromyalgia is one of those hidden disabilities and it’s affecting so many people.”
She explained that the group was created collaboratively with local GP surgeries, including doctors who have a specialist interest in fibromyalgia.
“It made good sense to work together to get this group set up and give people the right information and support,” she said. “Community asset groups like this really work as people learn from each other and feel less alone.”
Catherine, who also lives with fibromyalgia herself, said the condition is widely misunderstood: “Some days you can’t tolerate clothes on your skin or even the bedsheets touching you,” she said. “Pain can feel completely disproportionate to any injury, and that’s very hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it.”
Emma Connor, a group facilitator with Northamptonshire Carers, also lives with fibromyalgia and brings lived experience to the sessions.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that it’s a ‘lazy disease'.''
She added that cognitive symptoms can be just as challenging as physical pain. She explained, “The fatigue isn’t just being tired because we don’t get restorative sleep, even after 12 hours in bed.
“With fibro fog, you know what you want to say but the words just won’t come out.''
Emma said the group offers a rare space where people feel truly understood.
“You don’t have to explain yourself,” she said. “If someone is quiet or overwhelmed one week, everyone just gets it and there’s no judgement.”
The group also encourages members not to dismiss new symptoms.
“A lot of people say, ‘it’s just the fibro’, but sometimes it isn’t,” Emma explained. “We really empower people to still go to their GP and ask for things to be checked properly.”
Catherine added that the wide‑ranging support on offer reflects the varied ways fibromyalgia affects people.
“Not everyone wants to take medication, and it doesn’t always help,” she said. “So we look at lifestyle, movement, wellbeing, nutrition...all the things that help people live their best life without apology.”
Fibromyalgia affects more than three million people in the UK, around one in 20 of the population. Northamptonshire Carers say groups like this can significantly reduce isolation and improve quality of life.
People interested in accessing the East Northants Fibromyalgia Group should speak to their GP surgery. Further information is available through Northamptonshire Carers’ website.