The North Harrow Stroke Group was first launched in October 2012 as part of a community initiative by the Methodist Charity, MHA. In 2014 it was adopted by the North Harrow Methodist Church in whose premises the group has met since it started. Its founder and leader, Gordon, was motivated to set up a group as a result of personal experience of some of the challenges his father-in-law faced as he struggled to recover from a stroke a few years earlier. Despite advances in medical care and services, there still seems to be a need for more ongoing social support and an opportunity to keep abreast of what is available to those recovering from a stroke, as well as for their families and carers.
The group is affiliated to the Stroke Association and has established links with its local coordinator as well as with Harrow Council’s Stroke Services, the Stroke Unit at Northwick Park Hospital and some of the local GP services through visiting speakers, presentations and networking.
Our volunteers are a team from diverse backgrounds, some with close personal experience of the effects of stroke. Our members come from all walks of life and have each been impacted in different ways by a stroke. Some are younger in years, others older. For more details on membership and volunteering, please see the relevant section of this website.
The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. We start with a light lunch before moving into the programme around 1.30pm.
Since the group formed we have enjoyed many happy hours together and some great friendships have been established. We have a qualified Physiotherapist who runs regular exercise sessions. We also engage in a variety of activities designed to stimulate the brain. In addition we invite speakers along to help with education on helping prevent future strokes, rehabilitation and general wellbeing. Last but not least the group enjoys visits from entertainers who provide some light relief. Many of our members say that the group is like a family. New members are made very welcome and need not fear that they will be the new boy / new girl. Come and meet us; we are sure that you will not be sorry!
