‘Working to enable working-age stroke survivors in West Kent to live well after stroke‘
Peer support group
The Different Strokes Peer Support Group was founded in 2018 to connect people who live with the effects of brain-injury in West Kent. It’s an autonomous group, operating within the national Different Strokes charity, which supports the needs of working-age survivors of stroke (aged 15-65).
Our meetings are held in The Civic Centre, London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, and attendees come from as far afield as Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Horsham. We hold activities weekly and monthly. All our activities (except for group neuro-physio class) are delivered free of charge for patients and their family members.
Our April newsletter can be found here.
To join the group, please contact me on my mobile number 07446 400781.
Digital support
Although our preference is to meet in person, we also connect with each other virtually using WhatsApp and Zoom to ensure we can maintain our connections when mobility might be a difficulty for some of our group. We particularly relied on these methods during the pandemic when in-person activities were not an option.
Monthly meetings
Monthly meetings are held in the Southborough Civic Centre with a guest who educates the group on a topic about stroke rehabilitation. Attendance is free and available to all group members. These meetings are also an opportunity to connect and meet with other group members and share experiences.
Rehabilitation programmes
Group neuro-physio exercise programmes:
This is a close-knit group who exercise together weekly. The neuro-physio seated group exercise class is available for eligible attendees at a cost of £10 per person for introductory classes, and £20 per person thereafter.
Before joining the group, each participant will be assessed by our private neuro-physio therapist from neurorehabkent.co.uk to assess their suitability for the group class. The assessment is currently funded by the group.
As places are limited and the group is currently full, please contact me if you would like to be added to the waiting list.
Conversation Café:
Communication café is suitable for patients who live with aphasia after stroke and their carer or key conversation partner. It is a closed group available by invitation only. This programme is offered by West Kent Different Strokes free of charge, and each participant must be assessed for their suitability before joining. This innovative format is delivered to participants in pairs by a private Speech & Language Therapist, Lisa Edwards, from neurorehabkent.co.uk. Its value has been recognised by Kent’s Mental Wellbeing Awards in 2024
Next meeting: Friday 16th May, 10:45am – 12:15pm, Russet Room, Town Hall, Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1AL.
A guide to diet and nutrition after stroke