A.P.R.I.L. - New Forest: Who we are and what we do
It is a little known fact that around 1 in 7 of the UK population suffers with chronic
pain. Taking into account immediate family members, carers, friends etc, the ratio
increases to about 1 in 4 people affected directly or indirectly! Yet the treatment
of chronic pain is one of the most under-funded services in the NHS today. By being
denied early access to such services, far too many people experience a devastating
long-term impact on their life. Financial hardship, caused by the inability to work,
can put severe social and emotional strain on a family. The lack of effective on-going
support is often the key factor in preventing them ever getting back into employment.
Our charity is dedicated to offering support and advice for people affected by pain
and we do this by providing a free of charge service which includes a walk-in centre
and reference library with up to date information and impartial, friendly, first-hand
advice and support from our volunteers many of whom do themselves suffer with, or
have been, affected by chronic pain and can provide helpful advice based on their
own experience of living with and managing chronic pain. It is clinically evident
that a person is better able to self-manage, if they have a good understanding of
the nature of their pain.
A.P.R.I.L. was founded in 2006 and became a registered charity in its own right in
November 2008. We operate the first walk-in centre of its kind in the country and,
subject to the necessary fundraising, we have ambitious plans to expand into other
geographical areas; primarily, in the South. The charity is manned and managed entirely
by volunteers many of whom are, or have been, affected by chronic pain themselves;
and consequently have a first hand understanding of what it is like to live with
constant pain. Whilst the volunteers are not qualified to give medical advice, they
can and do offer practical advice and support, based on their own experiences of
living with pain. Just pop in to our centre (no appointment necessary) for an informal
chat with someone who understands your situation and can offer advice and guidance
on a wide range of topics for people who live with chronic pain. You will be surprised
to find that just being able to talk with someone who truly knows and understands
what you are experiencing can provide that first vital step towards managing your
pain more effectively.
You can browse our wide selection of books and leaflets in the comfort of our offices
with a complimentary tea or coffee, or take them away to study in more depth, at
your home. Either way one of our volunteers will be on hand to offer you a one-to-one
help and advice and give you information about support groups and other services
we provide. No appointment is necessary, but if you intend to visit our centre and
are travelling from outside our immediate vicinity, you should phone beforehand to
check that the office is open. Alternatively, call our support line and talk directly
to one of our volunteers, who will be pleaded to help you. It may occasionally be
necessary to close the office at short notice, if one of our volunteers is having
a “bad day” with their pain management. A.P.R.I.L. is a registered charity reliant
on volunteers, fundraising and donations for its work. If you can help us financially
with a donation, please make your cheque payable to 'A.P.R.I.L.' and send it to the
office. All donations will be gratefully received and acknowledged.
A.P.R.I.L. also runs a support group that meets every second Thursday of the month
at the Leonard Cheshire Disability Resource Centre, from 1pm - 3pm. This is a free
service offering light refreshments, the opportunity to share ideas, make new friends
and listen to invited speakers, in an informal atmosphere. There are also times when
we all meet just for fun and to have informal chats with other members.
