Mum sets up women's group to help fight loneliness

A Merseyside mother who set up a community group for women experiencing anxiety and loneliness said the response had been "a miracle".

Becky Saunders, 39, from Litherland, said she set up the group Girls Who Gather, after experiencing 14 months of severe anxiety.

"I just couldn't get away from it," she said.

"I went to therapy, on walks, read books, listened to podcasts.

"I tried to look into why I felt that way, and I tried to overcome it. I got to the point where I just didn't think there was going to be a way out," she said.

The mum-of-two said it was only when she decided to reach out to other women that things changed.

"I thought, I don't want to be living like this forever. I need to get myself out of this," she said.

"I thought I don't want to be sat in all the time - there must be other ladies in the area feeling the way I am."

After reaching out on social media, Becky arranged for a small group to meet.

"I thought, I can't be the only one. So that's what made me think, maybe I should put something out there - to see if girls in the area want to get together.

"Even if one person turned up, that was good for me."

Becky said she was amazed when 11 women attended the first meeting.

"It was a miracle," she said.

"Honestly it's brilliant," Becky said.

The group has since grown, and now Becky arranges regular gatherings of about 20 women each month.

Meetings can include anything from meeting for a coffee, to walks in the park, cake decorating and painting classes.

"People are out there, wanting to do it," she said.

"All of these women are going through the things that I've gone through.

"I think sometimes people are embarrassed to go to therapy, or go to counselling."

She said the group was about "getting out and just talking to other ladies".

"There's no pressure to share anything. You haven't got to tell us why you're there, what you're doing there. You haven't got to tell anything.

"Just come and enjoy yourself. Get yourself away from your kids, away from your partner, away from your dog - away from everything.

"I think it's important to be yourself.

"As well as being a mum... being a partner... it's important to be you."

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