Welcome to our blog!
We are passionate about offering a service and community which is inclusive, empathic, understanding and non-judgmental. We believe that support should be available for all those affected by eating difficulties and disorders regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
These principles of equality and diversity underpin our person-centred, service user led approach to mental health and a big part of the reason we decided to launch our blog space. Here you’ll find First Steps ED updates, as well as stories and features from our community. We want to give everyone an opportunity to share stories, introduce unheard voices and discuss important topics around mental health and eating disorders.
Book Review: Humankind: A Hopeful (or hopeless) History
Book Review: Humankind: A Hopeful (or hopeless) History Do you have a person in your life who is always happy? You know, that friend who always urges you to look on the ‘bright side’, always has a smile on their face no matter what the weather
It’s Time to Talk
It's Time to Talk Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, encouraging us all to come together to talk, listen, and change lives. Simply being there and available for someone to reach out to is enough to make an impact. Offering someone
The A-Z of Fundraising for First Steps ED
The A-Z of Fundraising for First Steps ED As a fundraiser, you can help us continue to provide support and education to anyone affected by poor mental health and eating disorders, without judgement or discrimination. Over the year we will respond to over 1250 self and
Finding What Works For You in the New Year
Finding What Works For You in the New Year January always sets us up for a better and brighter outlook on life and we enter the new year with such high hopes of how ‘this is OUR year’, excited for change and raring to go. In
Obesity and Eating Disorders: What’s the Connection?
Obesity and Eating Disorders, What's the Connection? Obesity and eating disorders are usually seen as very different problems, but do they share some similarities? Being that it’s National Obesity Awareness Week, we though we'd try and answer that question! Let’s start with the basics… Eating disorders
A New Year of Hope and Opportunities at First Steps ED
A New Year of Hope and Opportunities at First Steps ED First Steps ED has seen a few changes since our founder, Cathy Cleary, set up the first support group back in 2004, a service open to anyone affected by eating disorders. We are now supporting
Realisation Over Resolution
Realisation Over Resolution January is filled with messages and pressures to ‘change’, it has us looking at aspects of our own life and body that we’ve never really thought about changing. We all adopt these ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ which are basically self-made rules and/or restrictions that
Mental Health at Christmas (and ways to boost it!)
Mental Health at Christmas (and ways to boost it!) For most people, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, opening presents, eating lots of chocolate and taking a break from the stresses of normal day to day life. Nevertheless, with the expectation of having the
Creating Boundaries for Christmas
Creating Boundaries for Christmas Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier every year. My pumpkins hadn’t even started decomposing before my local supermarket was littered with tinsel, chocolate tins and fake trees and now we are nearly there it feels like it's been forever! Now, I’m
Making the Most of Christmas in Recovery
Making the Most of Christmas in Recovery For those of you who don’t follow us on Instagram, you might not have seen our alternative advent with a little quote or snippet each day to help keen you motivated this month. It’s been one of my favourite campaigns
An Eating Disorder At Christmas
An Eating Disorder At Christmas Having an eating disorder at Christmas can sometimes feel like being dragged through the entire festive season by the ghost of Christmas past. Looking through the window at warm, clinking family get-togethers, with fragments of stories and laughter bobbing from the
‘Hungry for Words’ Scoops Top Award from Times Higher Education
'Hungry for Words' Scoops Top Award from Times Higher Education Last night was the Times Higher Education Awards 2021, an event which recognises the outstanding achievements in UK higher education. Last night, the attendees celebrated the achievements of the 2019-20 academic year, a year defined by
Write for us!
We are proud to support and offer a platform for individuals who are ready to share their stories and talk about their experiences of recovery. Together we can offer hope to lives affected by eating disorders. If you have something to say, a story to tell or advice to share, you are in the right place.
Get in touch!
