Join and Natter – emotional support for Caithness women

Listening Ear’s first JaN women’s group was launched in Thurso in May 2022 to provide emotional and peer group support for women living in Caithness.

Since then, group members have enjoyed a busy programme of events including quiz and games nights, mindful arts and crafts, two sound therapy sessions and a pop-up menopause café. In August, members of the group rounded off the summer with a pizza night at the Thurso Community Gardens hosted by the Thurso Community Development Trust.

JaN group members are now focusing on their winter programme, which will include a music-making evening, craft events, a creative writing taster session and a workshop from Nature’s Path Natural Ways. With the darker evenings upon us, now is a perfect time to come along and make new friends in this supportive, welcoming and inclusive space.

JaN takes place every Wednesday evening between 7 and 9pm in Messy Nessy Thurso. Complimentary refreshments are provided and the group is free to attend. Come as little or as often as you would like to, for the whole two hours or just for a cup of tea.

Listening Ear Caithness also offers online peer group and emotional support for people experiencing anxiety, with staff available to chat to anyone feeling nervous about group situations. In the run up to Christmas, the team will also be running a pilot "grief café" event.

If you have any queries about the Thurso JaN group or the online anxiety support available from Listening Ear, please email Gail on gail@cvg.org.uk.

Listening Ear also hopes to get a similar group up and running in Wick in the not too distant future after receiving £500 in funding from the Tesco blue coins.

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