Peer support | Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre

Peer support

Living with muscular dystrophy can bring changes and new challenges at different stages of life. The Adapting to Change Peer Support Group offers a chance to learn from other people’s experiences, share practical advice and explore ways to keep doing the things that matter to you.

Led by people living with muscular dystrophy, the group brings together service users and their family members to talk openly about life’s challenges and changes. You can share your own experiences, ask questions, hear what has worked for others and discover ideas that might help in your own life.

The group is open to all registered service users and their family members, regardless of diagnosis or experience. You don’t have to share or speak if you don’t want to. You’re welcome to come along, listen and take away whatever feels useful to you.

How the Adapting to Change groups work

Each topic is chosen by the group, drawing on members’ experiences and questions from across our community. Every topic is explored over two sessions, giving you time to reflect and return with further questions.

Part One: Hybrid discussion

Join us at our Coventry Centre or online via Zoom for a 90-minute discussion. Everyone takes part in the same conversation, whether they’re in the room or joining online. It’s an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and learn from one another.

Part Two: Online follow-up

A few weeks later, the group meets again on Zoom to share reflections, ask further questions and discuss anything that has come up since the first session.

You can attend either session or both. You’re also welcome to join the online follow-up if you couldn’t attend the first session.

In-person sessions offer an additional opportunity to socialise and get to know other people who understand some of the experiences of living with muscular dystrophy.

Meet the Adapting to Change core group

Emily Bonner

Leanne Herbert

Tony Corbett

Ruth Hereford

Neil Corfield

Mark Thompson

John Goodman

What do we talk about?

Previous topics have included:

Accessible holidays: sharing experiences, useful information and ideas for making travel more manageable.
Accessible transport: exploring different options, challenges and solutions.
Accessing social care: sharing experiences and practical tips for finding and accessing support.
Hobbies: discovering activities to try and ways to keep doing the things you enjoy.

These conversations draw on the real experiences of people in the group, including challenges they’ve faced, positive experiences, helpful providers, practical tips and ideas that others might want to try.