Activities
First Person Plural specialises in facilitating mutual support, providing information, delivering training and raising awareness for all affected, or otherwise needing to understand about trauma-related complex dissociative conditions.
Membership
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in our work. Full membership is reserved for those with personal lived experience of a complex dissociative disorder e.g. DID, DDNOS; Associate membership is for supporters, family, friends, professionals and anyone else with an interest. We also offer an International membership. Some of our activities can only be accessed by members. Joining FPP is a simple way of showing your support for our work.
Newsletter
Two newsletters per years are sent to our members on publication. Back issues are available to all in the Newsletter Archive. Articles and other contributions are written by people with lived experience, supporters and professionals. It also keeps our members informed about forthcoming training, other events and activities. Information about relevant policy, research and governmental actions which may be of interest our readers is included.
Members Open Meetings
One Members Open Meeting per year is offered on the same day as our AGM. These provide an opportunity for members (with their supporters/guests) to meet in a safe setting. Some meetings have invited speakers, others are more informal with activities designed to facilitate a calm and welcoming atmosphere, some meetings are a mix of the two. As a small national charity it is not possible for us to ensure that Open Meetings will be held in your locality but we try to choose a different location each year.
Online Mutual Support Forum
Online Mutual Support Forum for full members only. This resource is not formally moderated. Participants are expected to follow community guidelines when posting and remind each other of these when appropriate. The forum is password protected and secure. It also includes a chat facility which can be used to have real time contact with other members.
Training
Training is a key activity helping us to meet our charitable objectives. Our trainers are professional, knowledgeable and very experienced, with the added value of having lived experience of dissociative identity disorder. We offer courses, workshops, seminars and can provide speakers for your own events. All our training is available to be commissioned as is, or as a bespoke design to meet the specific needs of your organisation. We also aim to offer a one or two day face to face training at least once a year on which individuals can book.
Information
Information Resources are available throughout this website including newsletter archives, articles, short video presentation and resource links including the Mind booklet “Understanding Dissociative Disorders” which was originally written by First Person Plural. Our two learning resource films “A Logical Way of Being” and “No Two Paths The Same” can be purchased.
Enquiries
Enquiries can be made using our contact form, email or post. All will receive a response as quickly as possible. If you prefer a telephone conversation please initially contact us to arrange a mutually convenient time. This service provides information only. We tailor the information given to your individual queries, but this is not an advice, ongoing support or helpline service. We do not provide crisis support or individual advocacy.
Regional Support Groups
We no longer run any regional support group directly. However, we can share our experience of running these with anyone who is interested in setting up a mutual support group in their locality. Our experience has been of running non-facilitated peer support groups for people with DID. They were run by group members for the purpose of providing peer support for managing daily living with a complex dissociative condition. Such groups do not support people in crisis. Group members are expected to be self-responsible (with the assistance of an accompanying supporter if necessary), and should either be receiving therapy and/or have a good external support network.
Collaboration, consultation and participation
Collaboration, consultation and participation ensures that we are not operating in isolation. We support and influence related organisations’ work offering them our unique perspectives and expertise. We respond to policy-makers’ and others’ consultations when relevant. FPP participates in some broader focused groups, committees etc (e.g. general mental health / childhood abuse related) to ensure that the voice of those who have a complex dissociative disorder is included. We support researchers in the design of their project and will disseminate relevant research participant requests.
Press & Media Work
FPP welcomes contacts from the press and other media. We will discuss appropriate angles, together with content and co-operate with those which we believe will help us meet our charitable objectives.
