Welcome to Sudbury Independent Parkinson's Group
We are a friendly, locally based group of people who have had first hand, carer, or family experience with Parkinson's disease.
News and Announcements
REMINDER: The group's Christmas lunch will take place from 12:00 to 16:00 on Thursday 11 December 2025 at the Newton Golf Club. If you are a member who would like to attend then please contact John Lane as soon as possible.
FOUR CORNERS WALK
We have recently been contacted by a Suffolk man who has Parkinson's disease and who is looking for funding in order to carry out a 1600 mile walk through the UK in aid of Parkinson's charities. This six-month walk and will take him to the four corners of the country, during which he'll be carrying all of his equipment on his back!
For further information, and to fund him, please go to:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sam-with-his-epic-walking-challenge-for-parkinsons?attribution_id=sl:1f22ac90-cc07-4358-ac93-69489117769e&lang=en_GB&ts=1761929648&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=qr_code
SPEAKERS FOR OUR 2026 MEETINGS
We are currently looking for speakers for next year. We can at this point however confirm that we have booked Ryan Parker, animal conservationist, for January 2026 and David Williams, a City of London Guide, for our March meeting. The subject of David's talk will be Spitalfields Market.
PARKINSONS AND THE USE OF A PERSONAL TRAINER
At our May group meeting we watched a demonstration session from the personal trainer used by one of our members. The sessions the member undergoes have been very beneficial to him, so we are currently giving consideration to whether the SIPG can be of assistance to other members who may wish to try working with a personal trainer. See Salt Personal Training on www.saltpersonaltraining.co.uk
THE BEECH BAND
Members may already be aware of the BEECH BAND - a device worn on the wrist and which, in some people, can help control the symptoms of Parkinson's. Please see page 6 in our Resources section on this website.
We are impressed with the potential this device has, so we have bought several to trial among our members. Please speak to John Lane for further information.
HEALTH CENTRE PARKINSON'S NURSE
As some of you may already know, our Parkinson's nurse, Tracey Ward, has now retired. As we understand it, her colleague, Emily Skyrme is however still working in this role and covers our area. Her phone number is 01284 713718 email: emily.skyrme @wsh.nhs.uk.
We understand that a further nurse will be appointed by the end of July.
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About Us
Sudbury Independent Parkinson's Group (SIPG) seeks to enhance the lives of local people affected by Parkinson's disease (Parkinson's) in a supportive and social way. We provide entertainment, information and friendship to those who are finding the effects of Parkinson's to be a challenge, and to those who just don't want to be on their own in meeting the challenge.
Stimulating Connections
We believe that stimulating brain connections for people with Parkinson's through a range of activities helps slow down the onset of the illness. Through play, exercise, dance and much more, we're able to help you manage the disease more comfortably and less embarrassingly for all.
Stimulating conversations between like-minded family members and carers helps to build a connected community where everyone can share and exchange experiences, helping lighten the load and relieve some of the stress attached to the disease.
Our meetings are designed to stimulate everyone that joins us - helping to make Parkinson's a slightly more informed journey for everyone involved.
What We Do
Informal Meetings
Dealing with Parkinson’s is tough for everyone associated with the disease. That’s why we encourage family members/carers to come and make connections of their own, while sufferers interact with a range of activities.
Join us on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Stevenson Centre, Gt. Cornard at 1:45 for a 2pm start, OR at our Working Age / Young Onset informal socials at the Maldon Gray pub on the first Thursday of every month - 7pm
Gentle Activity
Keeping mobile has a key role to play in slowing down the onset of Parkinson’s.
We also want to stimulate the brain, so have live music from local musician Ben Smith. Our 'Alexander Technique' courses successfully concluded in March 2024 and we may run a further course in 2026.
Neurological Therapies
We have finished our Alexander Technique courses for 2024 and may run a course in 2026 subject to demand. See separate section on this website for details.
If you want to register your interest in the NEXT full course OR your first REFRESHER session - please Email: info@parkinsonsudbury.org.uk or Tel: 07941 391 107 (if we can't answer immediately please leave your full name and number, we will get back to you).
News and Information
Based on our members' feedback we are going to put our news and information about Parkinson's and related topics in the PUBLICATIONS section on this website.
But we recognise that not all of you have internet access, so we are looking at how best to update our non-internet users about our Parkinson's related news, so no-one misses out. Periodic newsletters are therefore currently being trialed
Days Out
2024 Days Out included:
- Tuesday 11 June - D-Day Anniversary show at Princes Theatre, Clacton.
- Thursday 27 June - Markshall Estate, Coggeshall
- Friday 27 September - Mississippi Paddle Boat, Horning, Norfolk.
- Thursday 7 November - Christmas Memories show at Princes Theatre Clacton.
- December - Christmas lunch at the Bull Hotel, Long Melford.
Contact Us
Want some more information or fancy joining us at a meeting?
Get in touch with John to learn more.