Local community group, Chronic Pain Coaching CIC, is celebrating after being awarded almost £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund to support its work in the community.
The Plymouth-based group will use the money to continue running and expand on the pain cafés, currently held in Plympton and Wolseley Road. Chronic Pain Coaching CIC has been operating since 2023. It was founded by Julie Widdecombe, with support from Sean Jennings, after she had to re-build her life following spinal cord injury and fibromyalgia. Both Julie and Sean live with chronic pain and manage medication free.
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Julie realised that support for those with chronic pain locally was limited and wanted to promote supported self-management. The group currently runs two monthly pain cafés where participants can receive peer support, join in safe, guided movement, and learn essential skills. Each session is guided by Sean and Julie and focus on coaching people through the ‘Ten Footsteps’ of pain management, helping to increase self-confidence and connect people to others who may be struggling with pain.
Implementation of the pain cafés is being supported by Health Innovation South West, Plymouth Octopus Project team, the Rees Centre, and Wolseley Community Trust.
Julie Widdecombe, founding director said:
“The new funding from the National Lottery Community Fund will guarantee the future of the cafés, which have so far been run with voluntary time and resources.
“Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue with our valuable service and reach out to others in the community who need our help. Those living with daily pain often feel helpless and isolated and we can give them the skills to manage their condition themselves, reducing burden on local health services.”
Sean Jennings, director, added:
“I have lived with chronic pain for nearly 32 years, 25 of those years on high dose prescription medication. I am now six and a half years medication free, using the same strategies we are teaching in our cafés. I am the co-founder of 15 pain cafés running in Cornwall using the ‘Skills not Pills’ approach that Julie and I are now using in Plymouth.
“Both Julie and I are passionate about making a difference to the lives of people in pain. The National Lottery Community Fund Award will enable us to continue our much needed work.”
To contact Chronic Pain Coaching call 07842 614419 or email chronicpaincoachinguk@gmail.com
