Welcome to the Somerset group!

What happens at the group?

Our group is very informal, we have tea/coffee and a chat – it's all very relaxed. I do organise wig demonstrations and alternative headwear sessions. I am happy to take requests from the group and arrange what I can.

Please contact the group lead prior to attending a meeting so they can plan accordingly. 

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Who can attend:

This group is designed for any adult living with or affected by alopecia from the ages of 18 and above. 

• For those with children up to the age of 18, please see here for a list of our children and teen groups. 

Contact details:

Mandy
Email: [email protected]
Mandy is happy to answer any questions about the group via email. Please be aware that any questions Mandy is unable to answer will be sent on to staff at Alopecia UK.
Support group leads are not professional counsellors but people who have personal experiences with alopecia and, along with members of the support group can help to give insight and advice on living and dealing with alopecia on a day to day basis. 
Please note that our Support Group Leads are volunteers and do this in their spare time, as such please allow up to a week for replies to emails. Support group leads also cannot give 1:1 support.

Mandy's link with alopecia: 

My name is Mandy and I have scarring alopecia. My hair started to fall out in 2015, slowly at first, then the bald patches spread considerably. In the summer of 2016 I took control of a very stressful period of my life and decided to shave my head. My hair was rapidly falling out and i just couldn’t hide the bald patches anymore. I initally wore headscarves/buffs/hats to cover my head all the time as I felt embarrassed. 

I became a volunteer for AUK in that year and have never looked back. I have volunteered at lots of different events for adults and kids. I am also a kids activity group volunteer and help woth kids events in the Southwest. 

I have become far more confident with the way I look over the years and now I embrace it. I normally just cover my head when I’m cold now. 

I first attended the Somerset support group back in 2016 and remember how I was made to feel welcome and that I wasn’t alone in my alopecia journey. I understand how important it is to have support groups and meet others  going through the same journey. I am excited to be taking on the Somerset group and I hope that I can continue to run it as well as my predecessor. 

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If you have any feedback on this support group please consider leaving it here.

Alternatively, if you have any Suggestions, Comments, Compliments or Complaints for the charity please do so here.