Members who are Desperately Seeking Susan will be delighted to hear that our long-time member Susan Lodor is happier and more contented than she has been for some time.
"I wish to thank Outsiders for a club that really works. I've just met a fantastic, loving and caring woman by the name of Merlin Johny. I was beginning to think I would spend my life alone, but now I can see me and Merlin being together for ever.
Hi! We are two members of the Outsiders family and would like to share our story so far, as we feel it will offer hope to any members who are disheartened or lack optimism about the future. We hope you don't mind that we remain anonymous for the time being - but who knows how we may feel about 'going public' at some time in the future.
I have made three good friends through Outsiders who have helped me to gain confidence as I am very shy. I am moving into my own flat, leaving home for the first time at 31! I feel the times has come to be independent. Thank you for the support and I am enjoying making new friends. XXX
I first joined Outsiders in the late 1980s and have been a member pretty much ever since. I do not have a physical disability in the accepted sense, more a social disability. When I first joined, I was 35 and had been a teacher for 10 years - a job which helped me gain confidence, but my depression and anxiety got the better of me and I had to retire. I get panicky and feel trapped in certain situations, especially the normal dating venues like pubs, restaurants and cinemas. I have never attended an Outsiders event.
I had been a member of Outsiders' for about two years. I have Cerebral Palsy . I also have a partial hearing loss, and I was recently diagnosed as partially sighted with Macular Degeneration.
It was about a year and a half ago that I met my girlfriend, Edna. I was going to visit a disabled friend who I'd met on holiday, who lived in a home in Surrey. Edna was on the same bus, also going to the same place as I was, to see a friend. We got chatting and found that we had a lot in common. Then, one evening, a friend brought her round to see me, and we gradually went to visit each other once a week. When we were able to get transport, we saw each other very regularly. It was a dream come true. We had both been trying to find someone for a very long time.