The Group Hug
How did The Group Hug start?
A very sincere welcome to The Group Hug. This is your time so have a conversation. Feel better if you are down or share your good news. Do you have advice from experience for someone? Let us have it!
We have a forum community where you can speak ANONYMOUSLY click here.
All you need to do is register, choose your own “posting name” so you can post anonymously and off you go; join in the chat.
The Group Hug started off as The First Wives Club and was based in Ascot and Sunninghill. At first, it was just a local Facebook group, started by our Founder Ali as she faced a terrible divorce.
It started as women only
The very first get-together was held in Ascot at 9.30am on 12th May 2017. A group of ladies who had met through, what was then called “The First Wives Club” came together to converse and support. Everyone had a story to tell. One lady was grieving the loss of her second marriage and another had a young child and had discovered photos of other women on her husbands mobile (again).
Another gorgeous lady, a grandmother, had been through it all and offered support and advice. The strength that each and every woman around the table had was amazing and so it was born.
Moving forward to August 2018, The Ascot and Sunninghill First Wives Club became UK wide on Facebook with groups across the country and it was then that Men started to reach out and ask if there was anything for them too,. They told us that they were also feeling lonely facing the issues that women had too. So, in March 2019, we decided that a rebrand was required to make it more male friendly.
The Group Hug was born
What about the guys?
After all, men go through stuff too and The Group Hug is about getting people to talk about their issues; hopefully solving them.
Facebook and other social media outlets are not the place to converse about family law issues, or health, not when your picture is out there for all to see. Even in a “closed” Facebook group, no one can know who is watching. We made the conscious decision to be a public Facebook group, pointing people to the online forum to talk confidentially.
I was thoroughly annoyed with many of my so called “friends”. I was no longer invited to dinner parties or family Barbeques with my children as I was not in a “couple”. It was time to do something about it!”
Alison – Founder
I started the group with all good intentions but soon found myself in the depths of divorce proceedings. A then “new friend”, Kay took over the helm of the local First Wives and kept the group going with fun posts on the page.
Soon, many other ladies started to join and conversations were happening. It was lovely to see, however, many women could not engage as Facebook is not anonymous. Some women were worried that other members may see their posts and tell their exes. So as lovely as it was, there has always been a part of us all which has had to hold back.
Now we have an online forum community where everyone can chat anonymously on The Group Hug with a posting name.
Alison – Founder
Being lonely, loneliness and wellbeing
Take a look in The Hug Directory to see who may be able to help you
Do you need a Group Hug?
The Group Hug website is all about giving men and women a voice. Somewhere to share experiences and ask for advice. It’s not all about divorce.
- Maybe you are getting married again?
- Want to start dating?
- Has a change in life left you needing a larger income so you need a career change?
- Or is your mind boggling with applying for benefits?
- Looking for a singles holiday?
- Maybe you are happily married?
- Maybe you are a parent suffering from “empty nest” because your children have gone off to Uni.
- Are you are a student looking for somewhere to reach out?
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