If you care for someone with an eating disorder it can be hard to know what to say, or how to help, and it can feel as though there’s no one to talk to.

Our skills for carers workshops will help you understand more about eating disorders and feel more confident in your knowledge; reduce anxiety; and improve communication. We are here to support you and your loved one on a journey to recovery.

You will receive full details within a few weeks after booking.

These workshops, facilitated by our Group Worker and a member of our Counselling team, will develop your skills, and build your resilience.

Over six weeks you’ll explore:

Unhelpful beliefs about eating disorders
How to cope with the caring role
Motivational skills
Reflective listening skills
How to bring about change

They are open to anyone caring /supporting someone with an eating disorder. We don’t place restrictions on relationships so you might be a parent, grandparent, sibling, partner, cousin or friend.

The person you’re supporting doesn’t need to be in our services, but if you have any questions at all about whether this is right for you, please email us at the address below.

This programme is not suitable for professionals supporting people. If you are a professional and would like to be contacted when our course for professionals opens please contact us at enquiries@edne.org.uk.

This programme starts on 15th May and will be held in person at EDNE's office in Newcastle on Thursdays between 4pm and 6pm. The workshop takes place on our 1st floor, which can only be accessed by stairs as we have no lift in the building.

We ask you to commit to the whole programme and will close the session after the first date, so you can build trust and connection as a group of people going through similar experiences, in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space.

If you're a couple looking for support for your child, we ask you to book an individual ticket each rather than one ticket for the two of you.

The dates are: 15th May, 22nd May, 5th June, 12th June, 19th June, and 26th June.

The workshops are currently free, as we have received funding from the Prudence Trust for our workshops.

We will next be running Holding onto Hope in October online, starting on Thursday 16th Octobr 1-3pm

If you cannot do these dates or the ones in October, we will be running these regularly, online and in person, please email enquiries@edne.org.uk to be informed about future dates for 2026.

Holding onto Hope: skills for supporting loved ones with eating disorders