Nearly the end of the week but the campaign marches on by Mary George, Press Officer

Nearly the end of the week but the campaign marches on.....and I'm looking forward to lying down in a darkened room!  I exaggerate, needless to say. This year from a media point of view and thanks to the efforts of so many people we were able to place more stories in advance of the week itself.  Beat media contacts opened their hearts to complete strangers so huge thanks to all those who agreed to be interviewed about their experiences.  Our survey generated over 1,000 responses ...

Variety is the Spice of Life by John Lavery, Director of Operations

Since joining Beat last October I have been amazed at the varied activities I become involved with. Just looking at my diary since the beginning of 2012 has reminded me what working for Beat really means. While trying to avoid making a list, here are some of the things I’ve been involved with. Eating Disorders Awareness Week comes up in February. This annual event is very important to Beat and our users – many Beat staff are planning this and everyone will be involved during the wee...

When is a joke not funny? by Susan Ringwood, Chief Executive

We were contacted by the media to comment on a night club with a promotion that promised "size zero girls eat for free".  Funny?  Well, I could see why someone thought it would raise a laugh.  I doubt whether the person whose idea it was had ever given a thought to the serious, deadly nature of anorexia.  But that's our point too - we need more people to give it a thought, think twice and be more compassionate.  I can't imagine even the most thoughtless of adverts saying...

Planning, Organising & Coordinating by Jaye Valori

As a very meticulous individual, my favourite part about my work here at Beat is that I get to organise many informative and exciting events, which ultimately help those suffering from Eating Disorders. Whether this be through providing a sufferers family with information and resources, or allowing Professionals working in the sector to expand their knowledge and discuss developments in the area, it is highly motivating to know that the work I am doing is helping others. Here at Beat my respons...

A blogpost from the Beat helpline team

It has been a busy few months for calls and emails for the helpline staff and we are glad to see many sufferers continuing to use the messageboards service. In the new year we hope to spread the word that our helpline team services are available and we are here to support people both over the phone or online via email, 1-2-1, live chat or text. We have noticed a really positive trend over the past 6 months that more males have been using the helpline services. This is really great news because ...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot? Natasha Jones - North Wales Project Officer

Since returning from my maternity leave in September, I have been busy re-connecting with my volunteers, carers, supporters, professionals and third sector agencies with whom I work in North Wales. After a year away, I feel so fortunate that I have come back to the same smiling faces, my volunteers (who work so hard campaigning against the stigma suffered by people with eating disorders, promoting Beat and operating Self Help Groups) have welcomed me back with open arms. And I’m glad to b...

Young Ambassador speaks out at International Conference on Eating Disorders, Austria

Beat Young Ambassador, Constance Barter, speaks about her experience of speaking at The 19th International Conference on Eating Disorders in Austria this year. After being fortunate enough to attend last year’s conference as part of the Clive Barter Bursary in memory of my late father, I was incredibly honoured to be invited back to the 19th International Conference of Eating Disorders in Austria as a keynote speaker.The bilingual conference was set in the beautiful mountains of Tyrol and ...

Trains and Boats and Planes… and a wheel! By Louise Dunne, Network Development Officer

Well, lots of trains, a few flights and a wheel, but no boats yet, I’m afraid! It’s been a very busy autumn as I’ve been travelling a lot all over the UK to deliver Group Facilitator Induction Training Days and Chair the series of Carers’ Masterclasses.  Volunteers within the Beat Network may well know this, due to the number of email starting with apologies and ‘I’ve been out of the office a lot but will get back to you’…..and I will very s...

Empowering Families project - by Hannah King, Empowering Families Project Officer

Empowering Families is a relatively new project from Beat that has been working to set up accessible skills-training workshops for carers. For the last year, there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes, recruiting and training some fantastic volunteers to run the workshops, and writing the manual and materials for the workshops. Excitingly, we’re now reaching the time when the hard work pays off, as the first groups get ready to open across the country. Workshops are based on the ...

Conferences & Christmas Cards! - by Jaye Valori, Sales and Marketing Officer

As Beat's Sales and Marketing Officer, I am responsible for planning all of Beat's Conferences and Training events, and ensuring these are as well attended as possible.  Recently I have been working on a series of Carers' Masterclasses across the UK, of which York (26th November) is the next, and final event.  If you would like some more information on this please visit the conference webpage here. In addition to this, I have been getting ahead of the game and looking towards 2012 - b...

Santa runs, yogathons and sponsored Zumba - by Emma Roper, Senior Fundraiser

I love this time of year and enjoying our beautiful Norfolk countryside and the autumnal colours.  And of course everyone’s thoughts will soon be turning to Christmas and New Year and everything that it brings.  We are getting into the spirit here at Beat and really excited to be taking part in a new event – the 5km Santa Runs.  Held on 4th December in Greenwich Park, London and 11th December in Heaton Park, Manchester these are really fun events for all members of the...

Recent News from the Finance and Admin team at Beat!

We are the finance and admin team at Beat, the team is made up of Sarah (the boss), Amy and Paul (finance) and Sue (admin). We do all the stuff that has to be done in any organisation but is not directly involved in working with eating disorders. The team is currently breathing a sigh of relief after the “go live” at the beginning of October of a new accounting software package. We had outgrown the capabilities of the previous software, it could no longer produce the reports needed ...

A 5k challenge - Nicole Albutt, Research Officer

Contemplating my blog for this week I considered a number of topics: representing Beat at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout casting event, attending the Eating Disorders Research Society annual conference in Edinburgh, and the progress of the Big Lottery funded research project I work on. Pondering this aloud in the office, a colleague suggested I write something about a personal challenge I’ve set myself – to run a 5k race. The idea for this originally came about from listening to inspirin...

World Mental Health Day and eating disorders

My Personal Best Steering Group member and Young Ambassador, Amanda, has written an article about World Mental Health Day and eating disorders, which took place on 10th October 2011. My Personal Best and Beat celebrated World Mental Health Day on Monday October 10th 2011 in order to raise awareness of prevention, the stigma and the insubstantial treatment facilities and resources associated with mental illnesses. The World Health Organisation (WHO) who creates the annual event this year foc...

What is ‘Beat Assured’? - Lawrence Brown, Engagement Officer

My turn to contribute to Beat’s new blog – a great idea, having a rota so all staff can contribute in turn - seemed to come around while I was still lost in contemplation, waiting for a flash of inspiration. In lieu of any revelatory insight into the field of eating disorders, or the kind of incisive political voice that might lend itself to a compelling opinion piece, I thought I’d wisely choose this as an opportunity to say a little more about my work at Beat.  &nbs...

Around the world in 80pence – Dragon’s Den – Woman’s Hour – all in the space of a week....

Mary George, Press Officer, tells all about her busy week at Beat... Sophie Oliver, a journalist from Pembrokeshire is attracting media interest in her bid to raise funds for us by travelling around the world on a shoestring (well, 80p to be precise).  Sophie’s story is on her Just Giving page at:   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SophieOliver Our leader(!) Susan was impressive on BBC’s Woman’s Hour – over 5million people heard her debating the issues aro...

European Council on Eating Disorders conference, by Susan Ringwood, Chief Executive

Just back from attending the European Council on Eating Disorders Conference in Florence; joining 200 therapists, clinicians and researchers from around the world for two days of debate and discussion. Project officer Leila Lahfa and Beat Ambassador Naomi Cavaday were invited to give a presentation on our Mentoring work to the whole conference audience and did a fantastic job. It was the first time anyone with personal experience of an eating disorder has ever been invited to speak to this con...

Notts County Football Club Partnership

On Wednesday 31st August 2011, David Barton (Head of Enterprise) and Jaye Valori (Sales and Marketing Officer) met with Matthew Lawson, Community Liaison Officer & Club Nutritionist to Notts County Football Club, to discuss a possible partnership between Beat and the club. Notts County runs a Change4Life initiative entitled, “A game of two halves”, delivering healthy eating and Physical Education sessions to schools across Nottingham. The club have agreed to help raise awareness...

Busy times at Beat - Susan Ringwood, Chief Executive

We were delighted to be chosen as ‘Most Exciting Newcomer’ at the Nominet Awards.  These prestigious national awards give recognition to organisations which are demonstrating best practise and raising standards in use of the internet.  It was our ‘My Personal Best’ project that really caught the judges’ attention- and I am so glad they recognised the excellent work our team of volunteers have done- most wonderfully led by project officer Leila. Check it ou...

New Beat website - Susan Ringwood, Chief Executive

There’s been a great buzz in the Beat offices for the past few days as everyone works hard to get our fantastic new website set up, ready, and packed full of the information we know people will expect and need. I’m so proud of the team here- their dedication and sense of purpose. It really matters to us that we work hard to get it right.  We are always striving to improve what we do, and I know the new website is going to be steps ahead of our previous one. Beat is known for b...

All in a day's work - Mary George, Press Officer

Lily Allen's tweets, a tabloid newspaper inventing facts and figures, talks with Radio 1 Newsbeat and ITV’s Lorraine Kelly; Tyne Tees TV campaigning about a unit in their area closing down; the launch of new services in Norfolk and Wiltshire; Beat media contacts doing sterling work  raising awareness talking about their experiences; welcoming new media contacts and finding out more about them - oh, and are there any Welsh-speaking folks out there prepared to talk about their...

Big Lottery research project – Nicole Albutt, Research Officer

Along with all the excitement of the new website I’ve been very busy travelling to and from London to meet with the clinical team at the Vincent Square eating disorders service. We’re working with them on a Big Lottery research project, which is investigating cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive analytical therapy in adult sufferers of anorexia. I’m really pleased to say that the project is well under way, and I can’t wait to see how the work will progress! We hop...

Beat Carers' work: a hive of activity - Lawrence Brown, Engagement Officer

The legacy of Beat’s three-year Carers’ Project is an undeniably strong platform for Beat to continue to expand our work for carers, offering support and getting volunteers involved in campaigning and awareness-raising activities. There’s been a lot of activity recently, with Carers’ Ambassadors training events, the launch of the Beat Carers’ Forum, and finally the publication of three new booklets for carers. Since November, 22 carers have trained as Ambassadors (...