Support Group News and Community Activities

22 April, 2026

Support Group New

3 Bags Full: Mold Support Group

‘3 Bags Full’ is a stoma support group that was originally set up by Tom Russell, a Stoma Nurse at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Tom is still involved in the background, but the group is now run by four volunteers, Linda, Lindsay, Paul, and Rob.

During the first year the group has had talks from a dietician, regarding hernia support wear and the art of making chocolate.

At the group’s recent one-year anniversary, the mayor of Mold and the mayoress of Buckley both attended and gave speeches congratulating the group on its success.

• The group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 7pm at Northop Hall Cricket Club.
• Contact Sharon Davis on: 07359267075 for more information

A First of its Kind: Two Support Groups Join in a Unique Partnership

By chance, Tracy Green and Mel North each contacted Colostomy UK in August for help setting up a stoma support group in Hertfordshire, so Colostomy UK have supported them to work together, leading to the creation of the ‘Friends with Stomas’ support groups.

Tracy now runs a support group at weekends, in Welwyn Garden City.
Mel oversees one at the weekday in St. Albans.

This ensures that ostomates in the local area have choice when looking to attend a support group.

This collaboration is particularly exciting as we believe it is the first of its kind amongst support groups!

Details of both support groups can be found below:

Friends with Stomas – St. Albans

• Meets the 2nd Friday every month, at 10am, at the Rose and Crown, Sandridge, AL4 9DA
• Contact Mel at: friendswithstomas@outlook.com

Friends with Stomas – Welwyn Garden City

• Meets the last Saturday of the month, 2pm, at the Sheldon Inn, Sloansway, AL7 1NB
• Contact Tracy at: fwswgc@gmail.com

Community Activities

Active Ostomates Returns!

2026 is set to be a busy year for our online Active Ostomates exercise classes.

Classes you can choose from include:

• Mindfulness Meditation
• Chair Yoga
• Yoga
• Pilates

We can deliver Active Ostomates classes in-person at your support group which further includes Creative Minds sessions. We can also support your group set up swimming sessions*.

Classes run once a week for 8 weeks in a row and run between the following dates:

• Week commencing 24th February – 18th April
• Week commencing 02nd June – 25th July
• Week commencing 01st September – 24th October

More details can be found via our website:
Active Ostomates – Team Colostomy UK

Stoma Care Workshops for Unpaid Carers

We have three dates secured throughout 2026, offering free stoma care workshops to unpaid carers, friends and family members who are supporting someone with a stoma.

There are 20 spaces available for each workshop.

The dates and times for these sessions are:

• February 17th 10:00 – 11:30
• June 16th 18:00 – 19:30
• October 13th 13:00 – 14:30

Sign up via our Stoma Care Workshop webpage
Or search for ‘Colostomy UK Stoma Care Workshop’ in your web browser

For more information on any of the above, contact us at: getinvolved@colostomyuk.org

On Tuesday 10th March at 12.30pm, we will be running a webinar in partnership with Medicare Plus on Skin Protection and Care. If you would like to come along, please email: hello@colostomyuk.org or scan the QR code.