Raising awareness and supporting men with eating disorders
Our goal at The Laurence Trust is to provide men and their family members, friends and carers with a safe space where they can seek information, access support, and feel assured they are not alone. We’re the first stepping stone in the process – a friendly ear to listen and provide you with a connection to many different NI services and support systems to get the help you need. Whether you’re struggling with an eating disorder or you have a loved one you’re concerned about, we provide information and guidance to access the necessary support and care.
What we do
Our primary aim at The Laurence Trust is to reassure men across Northern Ireland that are struggling with eating disorders. We support both those suffering illness, as well as the people that love and care for them. As a bridging organisation, our goal is to get vulnerable men on the right track towards support, medical care, and information to improve their lives and help them recover.
Laurence’s story
The Laurence Trust was named after Laurence Nugent, a young man who lost his life due to an eating disorder. We exist due to that personal experience, and our mission is to ensure that other friends and carers aren’t left in the same tragic situation. We provide men with the support and information needed to access further treatment, additional support and medical care. Whether you need to know how to access crisis care or want to know more about eating disorders, we provide a hub for information and guidance to start you on the right path.
Meet the team
The Laurence Trust was created by the family of Laurence Nugent. Since then, we have expanded with the support of passionate volunteers to offer a helpline, online information, and guidance on seeking the best-possible help for eating disorders. Our current team of seven works hard to raise awareness, connect with vulnerable people and support those who desperately need a compassionate ear.
Why men?
Because eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender – but that’s not the perception we have as a society today. We’ve seen first-hand how the stigma and lack of representation for those affected by eating disorders for men can have fatal consequences. That’s why The Laurence Trust is committed to providing a voice for men with eating disorders, shining a light on just how difficult this condition can be, regardless of whether you’re male or female.
Contact us
The Laurence Trust offers a hub of online information to support those with eating disorders and provide insight and guidance for their loved ones through our helpline. While we cannot directly offer therapeutic care through our helpline, our personal experience makes us a compassionate ear. We can also advise on the best next steps to seek assistance, with a network of services and crisis options to help you receive the best care possible.
