Listening support for 18-25s

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We understand how hard it is to be a young person living with autoimmune disease. Whilst your friends are going to university or exploring a gap year, you may be navigating hospital appointments or stuck at home.

The effects of these changes in your life can be devastating. You might feel like you are grieving the life you had, or having to put your dreams on hold. We are here if you would like someone to talk to.

At the Wren Project, we offer free, one-to-one or group listening support to young adults living with any autoimmune disease. If you are aged between 18 and 25, our listening volunteers are here to support you.


Living with autoimmune disease as young adult can be incredibly difficult. You might feel alone, isolated and like no one understands how you feel.

Hollie shares her story of life with an autoimmune disease

I miss out on a range of opportunities as a result of the journey I have been on. The main thing I missed out on was my teenage years; I didn’t get to have them.

It’s been nothing but hard. But there is a positive and I’m actually grateful for my illness. Even though it has been so tough, it has taught me so much about my life, how I handle things.

I have met the lowest version of myself, but I have also met the strongest version of myself.

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Young Voices

Here, we share real-life stories from other young adults livIng with autoimmune disease. If you would like to share your personal story, get in touch here.

Laura’s story

Arabella’s story

Seb’s story

Lauren’s story

Kate’s story

Apply for support

I am a young person looking for support

Whether you are struggling to cope with the changes happening in your life as a result of your diagnosis, or would like to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about how you are feeling, we are here for you.

Our support is free and available to anyone over the age of 18 who is living with a diagnosed autoimmune disease in the UK. Listening sessions are held via online video call, meaning you can join from wherever you are.

We offer group and one-to-one listening support. When you apply for our support, our dedicated team can help you decide which model of support is right for you.

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I am a parent looking for support for my child

Being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at a young age can feel like your life has been turned upside down. If your child is living in difficulty as a result of their diagnosis, you can make a referral, with their consent, to the Wren Project.

We exist to support people with the often overlooked emotional and social impact of a diagnosis, through empathetic listening.

Our trained volunteers create spaces for individuals to feel seen, heard and understood. We do not give medical advice or pass judgement. Instead, we sit alongside someone as they share their lived experience, quietly supporting with compassionate understanding.



In one-to-one sessions, you will be paired with a trained listening volunteer for an online video call every fortnight. These calls are an opportunity to talk openly about your experiences. Many of our Wrens - people we support - say our listening support helps reduce their feelings of isolation, loneliness and distress.

Calls last for up to 50 minutes and support lasts for six months.

With all of our support, if you need to re-refer for further support, you can do so after a brief pause.


Choosing the right support for you

One-to-one
listening support

Group
listening support

We offer one-to-one and group listening support. When you apply for our support, a member of our dedicated team will help you choose the right support for you.

In group sessions, you will join a small online community of six to eight people. Speaking fortnightly via an online video call, sessions are led by two trained listening volunteers. These sessions are an opportunity to share your personal experience of life with an autoimmune disease and to hear the experiences of others.

Group listening sessions run for up to a year, with an option to pause after a period of seven sessions. Group participants of any ages are welcomed in these sessions.

With all of our support, if you need to re-refer for further support, you can do so after a brief pause.


How Our Support Works

Being a young person with an autoimmune disease can feel very isolating. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and supportive space in which you can talk openly and honestly about how you are feeling. We believe that being listened to and validated in your experience, is life-changing.

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Testimonials

  • "I can’t thank my volunteer enough for the support. It has been truly life changing. I feel I am in a much better place to be able to live with my autoimmune disease because of the support the Wren project has given me."

  • "It's been a huge help when I was newly diagnosed to just be able to talk to someone and off load without judgement from anyone. A massively supportive group."

  • "The sessions have had a major impact on my state of mind. The benefit has been huge."

  • "I didn't know what to expect- it's been helpful in so many ways. Its helping to piece things together- the journey so far and a greater understanding of how I became ill and the severity of the experiences of the last few years."

  • "These sessions have given me something to look forward to, being able to offload everything in my life - good or bad. Being able to talk openly and honestly has made such a big difference in my life."

 FAQs

  • If you are aged between 18 and 25 and living in the UK with a diagnosed autoimmune support, you can apply for our free support. You must be willing to talk about your autoimmune disease and the impact it is having on your life.

  • Our listening sessions are an opportunity to talk about how your autoimmune disease is affecting you and your life, without advice or judgement.

  • Anyone over the age of 18 and with an autoimmune disease diagnosis can apply for support. We offer one-to-one listening support and group listening support. Once you have completed our online referral form, we will respond within a week.

  • We offer one-to-one and group, remote listening support. Our aim is to provide a dedicated, private space for you to talk about whatever is on your mind. We do not pass judgement or give advice, instead we offer spaces in which individuals can talk openly and honestly. Our aim is to help reduce the grief, loneliness and isolation often felt by people living with autoimmune disease and through reflective practice, realise your own strength and resources.

    All of our sessions are conducted over a private MS Teams call, or over the phone.

  • If you have a desire to support others in times of difficulty, we would like to hear from you. Our volunteers are there for anyone navigating the complexities of an autoimmune diagnosis. You do not need to have any specific experience or understanding of autoimmune disease.

  • If you would like to become a volunteer at the Wren Project, we ask you to fill out an application form online. We will then be in touch to find out more and see if the role is suitable for you.

Would you like to help us spread the word?

Request free leaflets to share within your organisation or community and promote our service in your region.