1 week Ago By [email protected] (Deborah Hall)
Hull actress Gemma Oaten is delighted to announce the relaunch of a special “buddy” scheme to help people struggling with eating disorders. Gemma, who is CEO of the Support and Empathy for People With Eating Disorders – SEED – charity that her parents Marg and Dennis set up in Hull 25 years ago, said it had been “a really tough 12 months” for the organisation. But things were looking up with the return of SEED’s Volunteer Buddy Scheme (VBS).
The TV soap and theatre star said: “The VBS scheme will offer support weekly, over a number of weeks – we’re looking at a pilot of eight weeks - to those in Hull and East Yorkshire, in collaboration with Hull and East Yorkshire (HEY) Mind. We’re providing compassionate, non-clinical telephone support for anyone struggling or just needing someone to talk to. “Whether you’re an individual, family member, or carer, we’re offering support, with no formal diagnosis required.
” In an emotional video about VBS , Gemma said: “It’s been a heck of a year or two for SEED. “We’ve had some real struggles. We’ve had to pause.
We’ve had to strip back. We’ve had to do all sorts to survive. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Hull with our free newsletter “But we’ve kept on going because we believe that everybody has a chance to thrive and not just survive and that’s why I’m so excited to say that our VBS scheme is back up and running and we are open for referrals.
It’s just been such a slog and a long time coming but I’m just so grateful to everyone who just kept carrying me along the way and to Hull and East Yorkshire Mind for helping set this up. “Yes, it’s another step forward for SEED. As I say, we’ve had a tough time but this year is our 25th anniversary – 25 years ago, Mum and Dad co-founded SEED – to not just help save my life but thousands of others.
“I’m delighted that I can in some way carry on their legacy and we can keep fighting for you as well. Equally, if you would like to become a volunteer, that is open as well. “The more volunteers we have the more seedlings [as Gemma refers to clients] we can support and match up with buddies, so it all goes full circle and you’ll be helping more people than you know.
” Last April, Gemma spoke about the "heartbreaking" number of eating disorder referrals to her charity and said the Government must urgently inject more money into mental health services. Since then, SEED has had to lose its bespoke resource rooms it set up in Princes Quay because it “could not afford the overheads” and Gemma said: “One by one we’ve lost staff, it’s come to the point it’s just me, but the good news is we partnered with HEY Mind towards the end of last year. “Their work is like our work in supporting people and they have been absolutely phenomenal.
” The 40-year-old actress who found fame in Emmerdale is a staunch advocate for eating disorders and has spoken openly about being diagnosed with anorexia when she was ten years old. “We’ve still got our SEED educational tool kit resource and we feel this is vital, we’re trying to get it to government level, even to be part of PHSE [Personal, Social, Health and Economic education] so that children understand about eating disorders and teachers know how to teach about body image, eating disorders and early intervention.” Gemma buttonholed Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the funeral of the late John Prescott at Hull Minster about it.
“We are in touch; we’re trying to get a meeting in the diary. “It felt appropriate – it was my mum and dad who knocked on John Prescott’s [then Hull East MP] door when I was poorly and they didn’t know where to turn. Unbeknown to us John was suffering with bulimia and, of course, he helped us.
” Gemma, who is now based in Fulham where she lives with her dog, Ruby, has a busy life alongside her work for SEED, appearing in pantomime – she was in Grimsby last Christmas – and, having dipped a toe in radio in Hull, is now in demand for the BBC stations. “I’ve got my first show for Radio Leeds next Tuesday,” she said. “That’s just grown and grown.
” Helping with Fatima Whitbread’s One Voice Summit, at London’s Guildhall soon – it is focused on bringing about fundamental change to the care system, so that young people going through care are supported to thrive and their voices are heard – Gemma also hinted about “a film on the horizon in July”. She was able to say very little, only that it was “about a well-documented acting couple” and “a movie called Gone With The Wind”. “It’s not a massive part, but it’s an opportunity,” she said.
“There’s hardly any work out there for actors. It’s all self-tape, you don’t get to meet people anymore. I live with my dog and she can’t read lines with me.
” She said: “It’s lovely to still be so connected to the North. I get home to do BBC Radio Humberside and to see mum and dad and everyone. “Wherever I am in the world, Hull is always part of me.
I’m the Chip Spice ambassador, for goodness sake. When I go to Parliament I’ll be taking a pot with me.” SEED will celebrate its 25th anniversary with gala events in London on September 19 and at the Sewell Group Craven Park in Hull on November 29.
The charity is looking for local businesses who would like to support the cause and be part of the celebrations. Visit https://seed.charity/ for more information; you can complete a referral form here to be matched with the VBS and you can email volunteer@seed.
charity if you are interested in becoming a “buddy”. Don't miss a thing. Get all the latest breaking news in Hull straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here .
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