This study is designed to identify the needs and aspirations of people with ME wishing to lead independent lives, and to consider possible ways to meet those needs. We see this as a first step, a fact-finding process, and we do not want to raise unreasonable expectations. We do feel it is a worthwhile project and we have secured funds to carry out the work from the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation.

Working with Banks of the Wear Community Project to help with the research and evaluation, we have finalised a questionnaire and have sent it out to members in the 16-35 year age group. As we do not carry full data on all our members we may have missed some of you who would like to participate. We have circulated around 250 questionnaires so far. If you want to take part, please give us a call, but we will need to ask for a rapid response.

The outcome of this first stage will lead to establishing a steering group to meet, and to interact via the Internet. We have already come up with many interesting comments whilst working on the final draft forms and we feel confident we will identify a wide range of needs that we hope to progress.

We will keep you updated via Focus.