FFU SCOTLAND CIC (Fibro Friends United Scotland) CIC are Scotland’s National Non-Profit Organisation for Fibromyalgia. The organisation was incorporated on 17th April 2017 with Companies House as a Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee, having initially commenced as a local Ayrshire Constituted Association from 2015-2017. FFU SCOTLAND CIC are currently rebranding and restructuring with the launch coming very soon in 2021.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC are a disabled and Volunteer led organisation, with a current Working Board Governance of 4 Directors. The managing Director is a qualified, registered Social Worker with 2 decades of experience in Statutory roles. The Service Development Director has worked within health as a Practice Manager and within Motability and the 3rd hands on Director is trained in Adult Education and Neurodiversity. As the rebrand/restructure is Launched the Working Board will change to a Governing Board with many other skilled and experienced Directors joining. All Directors live with Fibromyalgia as do the current volunteer pool or some other long-term condition.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC organisations vision/mission is to foster a stronger connected, inclusive, and empowering Fibromyalgia Community working with and for Fibromyalgia in Scotland.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC aim to achieve this through the provisions of supports and services to provide opportunities to better self-manage the syndrome, the development of the first community-based pathway centre for Fibromyalgia in Scotland and wider collaborative and advocacy work within all sectors, especially within health and social care, research provisions and regional/national government levels. The organisation also has fostered collaborations UK and Worldwide to aim for the best provisions, information, and support for everyone living with Fibromyalgia from point of diagnosis onwards as well as newer fostered collaborations within the Long Covid agenda.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC embrace care support and seek to offer inclusion and joint learning around fibromyalgia and the fibromyalgia community as well as fostering links and educative input to employers and other professionals across both Public and Third Sector.
Volunteering is a central to our organisation as is stakeholder work. We wish to empower volunteers living with Fibromyalgia and other long-term conditions to revisit their skill and knowledge base that has been somewhat hampered due to ill health and not only utilise but expand on these in a supported and encouraging manner to increase self-confidence and reduce isolation as part of their self-management with the potential of reintegration if desired into the workforce.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC pre the pandemic travelled across the country with both Information and merchandise stalls, attending varied large events networking and speaking to stakeholders from members, supporters, and professionals. We also attended groups providing talks on Fibromyalgia. The organisation also ran 3 support meetings and had 3 information drop in venues which we hope we can get up and running now that restrictions have eased.
The organisation launched Scotland's first Fibromyalgia Awareness Week Campaign in 2018 and this has grown from strength to strength, with 2021 ' light up for fibro' campaign being supported by 43 landmarks/local authority venues participating in the weeks light up campaign.
FFU SCOTLAND CIC provide education, information, advice and guidance, signposting and referrals to other agencies, benefit support and advocacy and poverty and wellbeing outreach work through a fibro food and hygiene bank based in the centre in Ayrshire. All these services are developing as well as the development of further services and supports within a full community-based pathway from point of diagnosis to ongoing care to assist each person with Fibromyalgia through their self-management journey.
