Social Anxiety UK

Web: www.social-anxiety.org.uk

Social Anxiety UK (SA-UK) was founded in March 2000 by social anxiety (SA) sufferers themselves, who realised there were no UK-based websites for people with social anxiety problems.

The fledgling SA-UK community grew very quickly, and in August and December 2000, the first SA meetings were held in London, offering SA sufferers the chance to get together and share their experiences. Regular meetings sprung up around the country and local support/self-help groups began to set up. The website, including members profiles, chatrooms and discussion forums also developed and expanded over the following months, receiving a major revamp in the summer of 2001.

SA-UK is a volunteer-led organisation for people with social anxiety problems and their supporters. Their aims are to:

• Increase awareness and understanding of social anxiety and related issues.
• Provide an environment where those with social anxiety and related problems can find support, advice and encouragement.
• Provide access to reliable information on social anxiety and related issues.
• Promote greater accessibility and opportunity for those with social anxiety and related problems, including in employment, education and health services.
• Develop, support and co-ordinate local self-help groups and meetings for people with social anxiety and related problems.
• Work together with other organisations and bodies in the pursuit of common goals.
• Ensure that their practices and services are guided by reliable information on social anxiety and related issues.
• Operate from a principal of consensus and inclusiveness to ensure that their services are accessible to anyone.

The chat rooms and discussion boards are now run independently of the website.