The York ME Community

The York ME Community is a patient group in York, UK.

Aims
Bill Clayton describes the group's aims:

THE YORK ME COMMUNITY

This site started as a focal point for those in the York area, be they sufferers, family or friends, to gain support and friendship, knowing they could interact with like-minded people suffering from the same ailment. A large part of that is feeling lonely, guilty in not being who you once were for your family and friends, and a feeling of desperation that the Government and the medical system give limited support, funds for research, or even belief that this is a real illness.

BUSINESS LINKS

The social element of the site has now moved to a Facebook Group where people can meet and chat. Although this site is still used by many house and bed bound who enjoy the mix of news and stories, it is now also a focal point for business supporters of The York ME Community. I emphasis the word Community as those with ME live next door to you, are your co-workers, your family, your friends. We have already had support from The Press, Minster FM, Vale Radio, YorkMix, York Centre for Voluntary Services (CVS), The Barbican, The Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic, York Healthcare and York Council who have us listed as one of their Family Support Services. I have also had assurances from York City FC that we will be able to link to their Community site in due course, in the way that The Barbican and Local Link have done. I have also been taken on by The Yorkshire Times as a Features Writer to write articles about the ME topics of the day.

TWITTER

There is a Twitter Account at @YorkMEAwareness which I would ask you to follow. Through this you will learn more about ME, and the people in your community with ME. I will also re-tweet messages from businesses who have shown us support to help get your company a wider audience !

THE AIM

The aim of this site now is to build links with local business, and through this, raise awareness of ME in the community. I am but one voice. The sooner we can bring on board more voices, the sooner a cure might be found for this devastating illness.

How can you help ?

Would you let me come in to speak to you or your staff at your workplace ? Are any of your staff doing a sponsored run soon and maybe wondering what charity to run in aid of ? Do you know what help to give to any of your staff who may be suffering from ME, or maybe in a phased return to work from an absence ? Do you attend Business Breakfast Meetings that might be willing to listen to a short talk on the subject of ME ? What about sponsoring our Inter Company Fantasy Football League, or entering a team for next season ? Finally, I’m open to any and all suggestions that will help in building a partnership between York Businesses and The York ME Community with the aim of raising ME Awareness. If you would like to get in touch, please use the Contact tab at the top of the site.

Funding
Bill Clayton describes the group funding:

"Currently we are self funding. I do not expect members to pay anything towards the upkeep of our site.  ME has robbed us of many things including income, and I would not expect members to pay for support and use of this Community.

Any work carried out in raising awareness will hopefully be sponsored by businesses who will in turn be able to link to our site and gain local recognition through media outlets such as radio, press and social media.

Other funding channels are being investigated."

Notable people

 * Bill Clayton

History
The York ME Community was launched in September 2015.

Online presence

 * Website
 * Twitter