Online forums are places where you can read and post messages, comments, thoughts etc., often following a particular topic (or thread). Generally you can choose to have these sent to you each day by email, or to log in online to the forum to read them.

A chat room is where, when you have logged on (normally at an agreed time) you can "chat" (type comments) to members who have also logged on to the same chat room.

In almost all cases first you have to apply to be accepted as a member ( to improve privacy and so that people who misuse it can be excluded).

Brainfog - has both a general support/discussion forum and a chat room. It was set up as a kind of online coffee house and has members throughout the U.K. (and beyond). It started in the South-East.

Kent and Sussex M.E. Society - has a support forum, including news of events, of latest research, of local meetings and of changes in benefits.

mechat - is a smaller general support/chat message board of an informal nature, where people can just be in touch with others who are in similar situations.