Anyone can organise a regional meet up. You do not need to be a long-standing member, an official volunteer, or someone who feels fully recovered. A new meet up can start with just three or four people, a nearby pub or café, and a date that suits everyone. It really is that simple, and it really is that worthwhile.
SCA UK began as exactly this: thirteen strangers around a table in a London pub in 2015. If you are thinking about bringing your local members together, we will help you every step of the way.
Why it matters
Meeting in person adds something that online support cannot fully replicate. You sit across from someone who has been through what you have been through, and something shifts. The fear, the isolation, the sense that nobody else could possibly understand — a lot of that eases when you are in the same room as people who genuinely do.
Meet ups also help survivors, co-survivors and rescuers find answers to questions they might not know how to ask elsewhere, share practical knowledge, and form friendships that often continue long after the event. Research consistently supports the value of in-person peer support in recovery from serious illness. You can read more about meet ups and why they work on our meet up page.
Planning checklist
- Check for local members. Use the member map to see who is near you, and post in our community to gauge interest. You need at least two or three others keen to come.
- Agree a date. Give people at least a month’s notice. If you are unsure which date works best, offer two or three options and use a free polling tool like Doodle to find the one that suits most people.
- Choose a venue. A pub with a quiet area is ideal, and it is where SCA UK started. A café, community centre, or hospital meeting room all work well. Prioritise good public transport links, as many survivors cannot drive during a DVLA suspension period. Check noise levels and whether you can book a table or small room.
- Check the location works for everyone. Use Google Maps to check travel times and public transport options from different postcodes. Accessibility matters.
- Let people know. Post the details clearly in our community. Contact us and we can help promote it to members in your area and beyond. Your local cardiac rehabilitation service may also be willing to mention it to relevant patients.
- Send reminders. A week before, and again a couple of days before. Diaries move around and people forget.
Managing expectations
Some no-shows are almost inevitable, especially at a first event. Survivors can find the idea of meeting strangers in a new setting genuinely daunting, even when they very much want to come. If fewer people turn up than expected, it is not a reflection on your organising. Even two people is a meet up worth having. Some of the most important conversations in SCA UK’s history have been one to one over a drink.
If you feel disheartened, post in our community. People who have been through the same thing as an organiser will understand, and will encourage you to try again.
What a meet up is not
A meet up is peer support, not professional support. It is a space to connect, share, and be understood — not a substitute for counselling, medical advice, or clinical care. If someone at your event seems to be struggling significantly, it is fine to gently suggest they speak to their GP or seek professional help. You do not carry clinical responsibility, and that is not what you are there for.
You do not have to do this alone
Once you have a date and a venue, let us know. We can help promote your event to members in your area, share it through our wider community channels, and give you any other support we can. Get in touch via the contact page or post in our community.
Frequently asked questions
What do Abbott (formerly St Jude) ICD alerts mean?
Abbott ICDs (formerly St Jude Medical) have traditionally alerted you by vibration rather than sound. A typical pattern is a six-second vibration, then sixteen seconds of silence, then a further six-second vibration, then ten seconds of silence, after which the pattern repeats.
Historically, many Abbott devices had no patient alert at all. The newer Gallant models have added an audible alert facility, so a Gallant device may beep as well as vibrate.
If you feel an unexpected vibration from your device, contact your ICD clinic, and ask for a demonstration at your next appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page explains the alerts by manufacturer.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat do Boston Scientific ICD alert sounds mean?
Boston Scientific ICDs use audible alert tones. A typical alert is a set of sixteen tones that repeats roughly every six hours until the device is checked.
It is worth knowing that having an MRI scan permanently disables the beeper on these devices. If that applies to you, your clinic will usually recommend relying on remote monitoring so that alerts are still picked up.
If you hear an alert, contact your ICD clinic. To hear what your device sounds like, ask for a demonstration at a clinic visit. Our ICD sounds and alerts page has more detail.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat do Medtronic ICD alert sounds mean?
Medtronic ICDs can alert you with both audible tones and vibration. A common pattern is a six-second vibration, then sixteen seconds of silence, then a further six-second vibration, then ten seconds of silence, after which the pattern repeats.
A solid, continuous tone is the magnet alert tone, which you may hear when a magnet is placed over the device. These tones are programmable, so your clinic can adjust them or switch them off, and your own device may sound different.
If you hear an alert, contact your ICD clinic. To hear exactly what your device sounds like, ask for a demonstration at your next appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page has example recordings.
Category: Implantable DevicesDo all ICDs make sounds, or does every ICD beep?
No. Whether your ICD makes a sound depends on the manufacturer, the model, and how it has been programmed. Some devices beep, some vibrate, some do both, and some make no patient alert at all.
For example, Medtronic devices use audible tones and vibration, Boston Scientific devices use audible tones, and Abbott devices have historically used vibration, with audible alerts on the newer Gallant models. Biotronik and Sorin/Microport devices do not emit patient alerts and rely on remote monitoring instead.
If you are not sure what your device does, ask for a demonstration at your next clinic appointment. Our ICD sounds and alerts page lists the alerts by manufacturer.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat does a low-battery alert from my ICD mean?
A low-battery alert means your ICD’s battery is approaching the end of its life. The device emits a warning sound periodically, usually at the same time of day, so you may notice it as a regular daily beep.
This warning typically begins three to six months before the battery is depleted, so it is not an emergency. Contact your ICD clinic so they can check the device and plan a replacement, known as a generator or box change.
Our ICD sounds and alerts page explains the common alert types in more detail.
Category: Implantable Devices