Gok’s Charity of the month September: Beat
Hi Guys, its September and I would like to introduce you to my charity of the month Beat (beating eating disorders). This is a charity which is very close to my heart as they are exactly the type of support network I could only have dreamt of when I was growing up and having to deal with my own eating disorder. September is a particularly important time for all of those of you going into a new school year and the pressures that come with that. Whether it is you, a friend or a relative who has an eating disorder, or you want to help fund raise you really should get in touch with these guys! They are amazing and trust me everyone deserves to be happy and confident in who they are, what they eat and what they want to be, and these guys can help you achieve that.
Take care my lovelies
Gok xxx
Beat www.b-eat.co.uk is the national charity supporting people affected by eating disorders and campaigning on their behalf. Over 1.6 million men and women of all ages and backgrounds in the UK are affected by eating disorders.
About eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses and include anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and one in five of the most seriously affected will die prematurely. The sooner someone gets the treatment they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.
About Beat
Beat aims to change the way people think about eating disorders, challenge the stigma people with eating disorders face and campaign for better services and treatment. We provide helplines for adults and young people, a UK wide network of self help and support groups and online support including information, message boards, live chat and online support groups. Beat also provides expert knowledge, education and training to health and social care professionals and supports and encourages research into eating disorders.
The Shape of Fashion – positive body image summit, Wednesday 18 September 2013
As a finale to London Fashion Week (13 – 17 September), Beat is hosting a high profile body image debate and Q&A session. The event, to be held at ASOS’ prestigious art deco offices in Camden on Wednesday 18 September, will feature a panel including a representative from ASOS as well as Beat’s Chief Executive Susan Ringwood, a Beat Young Ambassador and model Georgina Wilkin. The Shape of Fashion is taking place on Wednesday 18 September 6pm – 8pm at ASOS’s head office, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7FB. Tickets are priced at £10 with a discounted rate of £5 for students. Click here to find out more
Become a MyBeat member
We rely on fundraising and donations to support our long term core services. One way people can support us is by becoming a MyBeat member. Members have the opportunity to become more involved in our work, join a network of support and information and access the latest news and advances in research. Annual membership is just £25 and members receive regular e-newsletters, Upbeat our supporter magazine, opportunities to take part in research and surveys, chances to make your voice heard and invitations to supporter events. Anyone who signs up to become a MyBeat member in September will be placed into a draw to win a signed copy of Gok’s cookbook.
Self esteem workshops
We work with Dove to provide self esteem education to young people in schools across the UK. The free workshops aimed at 11-14 year olds build positive self esteem and provide a platform for group discussion on image related concerns. To sign up, schools can register online
Emotional overeating
We also support people struggling with emotional overeating issues and are setting up emotional overeating support groups for people who binge eat, compulsively overeat, feel they have emotional eating issues or are overweight, obese or struggling with their weight. The first groups will be set up in Norwich, Sandwell and Derby in September with further groups opening in 2014.
Supporting people at times of transition
We are currently running a project to support young people during transitions – a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Transitions represent a time of change in someone’s life such as moving between services, leaving specialist treatment services and adapting to major life changes e.g. leaving school, starting university or living independently. Our aim is to reduce the number of young people who relapse following treatment and the project gives young people the opportunity to talk openly about their difficulties with Recovery Buddies – trained volunteers who themselves have recovered from an eating disorder.
Young Ambassadors
We have a national network of Young Ambassadors, volunteers aged 14-25 with personal experience of eating disorders. Trained and supported by Beat staff, they have established an excellent reputation for speaking out about their experiences in the media and at conferences and events, helping to reduce the stigma and educate others. Young Ambassador Risha said: “I became an ambassador to inspire others that recovery is possible and spread awareness. I wanted to do something positive and creative. The scheme has allowed me to grow as an individual and make a change, challenge others and stamp out the stigma.”
Beat’s vision is simple: eating disorders will be beaten.
Help us to make this vision a reality. To make a donation, text UAUA05 followed by the amount you’d like to give to 70070. You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10.
You can follow us on Twitter @beatED and join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/beating.eating.disorders