A mum from Neath who went on a course to learn how to cope with chronic pain is now helping others – by becoming a tutor on the very same course.
Angela Funning spent three years in a wheelchair because of fibromyalgia and hypermobility.
She said:“I was in so much pain.
“Looking back I was so depressed. I wasdependent on both my husband and myson for pretty much everything.
Then she attended a chronic pain self-management courses run by Education Patients Programme (EPP) Cymru.
EPP provides a number of self-management courses and health and wellbeing workshops for people with a health condition or caring for someone with one.
The courses are based across the ABMU Health Board area, including Remploy Swansea and Bridgend and CimlaHealth and Social Care Centre in Neath.
EPP also offer health and well-being courses and self-management course for anyone who is or has been a carer.
Most of the courses are led by volunteer tutors, who themselves have experience of living with a long-term health condition, and have learnt the confidence to take responsibility for their own care.
The chronic pain self-management course helped Angela develop the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage her health and keep her active.
She made steady progress across the six weeks programme, and in time needed less and less dependence on her family for her own wellbeing.
Angela has now since progressed further, and has been without her wheelchair for two years now.
“I am no longer in a wheelchair or using any walking aids – although there are good days and there are bad days. I tire easy”
Eighteen months ago, Angela joined EPPCymruas a volunteer tutor.
She now tutors the chronic pain self-management course, which she strongly believes helped to change the way she lives her life.
“I was so inspired by the learning techniques of the course – and with my nursing background, I wanted to get back into helping others and passing on what I’ve learnt.
“If you’ve been through it yourself, you will know exactly how it feels to be at your lowest, but now I know how it feels to come through on the other side.
“Even if one person walks away from one of the sessions I tutor having learnt just one thing, then I’ve done my job.
“I want to reassure people that they can too come out on the other side, 
and if I can do that, that’s everything”.
Full tutor training is provided and volunteer tutors have access to local EPP co-ordinators for help and support and are also given ongoing training and updates.
As a volunteer tutor, Angela is supported by Natalie Harris, who is aEPP Coordinator at Cimla Health and Social Centre.
Natalie said: “As well as supporting tutors and coordinating the courses, I am a tutor myself.
“I have seen so many lives transformed through this course which is incredible. Participants have come away feeling as though they have gained control of their condition and it is no longer controlling them.
“They come away feeling more confident, and people have continued to form friendships.”
To enquire about accessing any of these Self-Management courses please contact Education Patients Programme (EPP) Cymruon 01639 684528 or email Natalie.Harris3@wales.nhs.uk
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
