, Hi there, I have been informed by the research team within the Stroke Association that they have an online peer support group for working age stroke survivors, is that conducted using this forum?
@Anna_Moderator can you help on this one?
Hi @mattyB
It isn’t related to this forum but we do have Online Activities which runs young people connect on the last Wednesday of each month. This is for 18-45 years old. Once you sign up to Online Activities you can then join young people connect. You also have an option of just signing up for young people connect or you can sign up to all our activities which run on weekdays.
Take a look at the Online Activities page on our website and if you have any other questions, please let me know. 
Anna
Different Strokes charity have regular Zoom meetings for survivors to talk to one another. Details of how to join and when they are can be found on their website https://differentstrokes.co.uk/virtual-meetings/
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Yes, well aware of those.And do attend three or four a year already,but I remain mystified why the Stroke Association doesn’t seem to think it should provide these kinds of opportunities to working-age survivors. Their offering to working-age survivors is poor in my opinion, when I visited my local group when I first got home from rehab itwas really just an old people’s entertainment club, with a 45-minute talk on Beatrix Potter and a man with a Bluetooth speaker reading out the football results from the last month presumably for those who had never heard of on demand television or the internet, and no-one discussed the challenges of stroke at all.The only thing they did for me that was useful was recommending Different Strokes, which you can only really interpret as a tacit admission that Stroke Association offerings are not designed for younger people which they really need to look at given an increasingly high percentage of strokes now happento people under 50.
The Young Person Connect online zoom call has been a really important part of my stroke recovery. The group have given me so much support and listened to my frustrations as a younger stroke survivor. I’d really recommend it
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Hi @mattyB
Thank you for raising this and I’m sorry you feel this way.
We know there’s a common misconception about stroke mainly affecting older people. Whilst our information around stroke is available for all ages. Please be reassured that the Stroke Association provide lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families including children who’ve had a stroke too. We also fund vital scientific research, and campaign to secure the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.
We know that younger stroke survivors have different needs and have a dedicated web page for young people where others have shared their lived experience, information about strokes in young people and details of our partnership with SameYou charity. Please also remember that you can call our Stroke Support Helpline:0303 3033 100 to get support on any specific issues relating to your stroke.
We understand that finding a face-to-face group that meets individuals needs can be difficult, especially those of working age. Our support groups are run by volunteers and will range in age, location and interests. Whilst it’s not the same as face to face, there are some online groups that might be of use as they tend to attract a wider age range.
Anna
I have applied, but at 47 technically I’m too old so I will probably just stick with the Different Strokes calls.
OK @Anna, but surely some discussion of the challenges of stroke should be a feature of every SA meeting?! Is that not the standard guidance given to volunteers?
“We also fund vital scientific research, and campaign to secure the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.” What? Even though there is zero mention of the UK ABI plan on the Stroke Association website?! baffling, SA seem to be leaving that to Headway and UKABIF, why? Past campaigns | Stroke Association .._gsMQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwhNbTBhB4EiwAsFSg-uJ51WfQ1dov9K-hYf4HvbVgTBO-i6zxfJxKpn-eJ6iIVSppTkHyOxoCDPoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADAXu2qaqkDpDRguBmIqcfWXjnlkQ
The very fact that almost no members here are aware of the delays to the National ABI Plan, surely demonstrates that the Stroke Association should be campaigning alongside UKABIF and Headway to get this published and pushed through Parliament 
.