NSUN news

Member Blogs

Last week, a technical glitch affected the link to the member's blog. We are re-publishing it today, hoping that this time the link will work.

In Stephen Fry loses respect of mental health survivors due to insensitive comments - Stephanie Taylor King wonders how the man who used to be perceived as one standing up to the establishment, and, more importantly, be a respected voice in the mental health survivor movement, could have come up with such unacceptable comments concerning those who live with the memories of childhood abuse.

#NSUNthrive10 campaign

It is 10 years since the 'Doing it for ourselves’ service user conference in Birmingham.  It was at this conference in 2006 that the vision of the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) was taken forward, leading to funding in 2007 and becoming a fully independent organisation in May 2010.

We have survived!  To enable us to continue to connect, communicate and influence, we need your help. We want to continue to communicate weekly with over 5000 people. Please spread the word to help raise funds to continue our work through our #NSUNthrive10 campaign.

You can also raise money by shopping online with the  Giving Machine

NSUN is about people 'doing it for themselves' with the right help, at the right time, in the right place.

Mental health world loses one of its guiding lights

We are very sad at the news of Sarah Wheeler's passing on April 19. A wonderful and inspiring person, Sarah (pictured on the right) was the founder and director of Mental Fight Club and the amazing Dragon Cafe (first mental health cafe in the UK). The world of mental health has lost one of its guiding lights.

Our thoughts are with Sarah's loved ones and with those who attended the Dragon Cafe regularly and must have felt close to its director.

NSUN national gathering and Shaping Our Lives launch event

Thrive: building for a better future

Date: Wednesday 8th June 2016
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Venue: BVSC Birmingham, B5 6DR

10.30               Arrive – Tea and coffee / networking
11.00               NSUN AGM Business
12.00               Members’ Soap Boxes
13.15               Lunch and networking
14.15               Welcome back
14.30               Launch of ‘From mental illness to a social model of madness and distress’ report and panel discussion
15.30               Closing comments – what next?
16.00               Coffee and cake and networking
16.30               Close!

Download the flyer here. Booking essential.

RSVP to: info@nsun.org.uk

Joint call for examples of social innovation

Social Care Strategic Network (SCSN) and the National Survivor User network (NSUN) are looking for practical examples of where people using services have been involved in the co-production of innovative social approaches to mental health from across the country, and gather information on what has been achieved.

An event will follow SAVE THE DATE 15th June in London.

Please contact NSUN info@nsun.org.uk

Previously shared information available online

Please visit our website to find involvement opportunities, jobs and events we shared in previous e-bulletins. This includes our guides to support involvement in reducing the use of restraint in mental health settings.

Mental Health Today Wales is an exhibition bringing together 400 visitors, 15 exhibitors and a full, multi-stream seminar programme.

The conference will take place a couple of weeks after the Welsh Assembly elections, and will reflect on where mental health policy will go next. This major Welsh exhibition is for the entire mental health sector – professionals and people who use services – from across the statutory and independent sectors.

The theme of this year's Mental Health Today Wales event is: Having a voice and being listened to.

Date: 18th May 

Find out more and book here.

Guisborough PionEER group

A new peer support group in the North East.

Starting 3rd May and opening every Tuesday 1.30pm - 3pm.

Meeting at Sunnyfield House,
36 Westgate, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, TS14 6BA

Offering a safe and supportive space.

For more information contact Jan Turner
Email or call 07505 769996

2 Apprentice young advisers / peer supporters needed in Rochdale

Apprentice: Listen Up Project (Peer support / Young Advisor) 2 x Posts 30hrs per week

Rochdale and District Mind is a thriving third sector organisation delivering local services to individuals who experience mental distress. It has been at the forefront locally, of innovation and development of mental health services. The organisation’s aims and objectives are centered on providing recovery focused services for people who experience mental distress, and the organisation is led by the people who use them. This opportunity intends to grow further successful and award winning work with children and young people.

Salary: £8,268 - £10,452 based on a 30hr week (dependant on age / national minimum wage rates apply)

Closing Date: 4pm Friday 6 May 2016

Interview Date: Wednesday 16 May 2016

For more information and how to apply, please visit here.

Live performance in Newcastle: 'Cracking Up' with artist Sean Burn

A compelling durational live art performance from Sean Burn that opens up space for discussion around mental distress. This performance allows the audience a safe space to undergo transformational experience of witness as well as giving their own testimony.

Sean has spent many years 'reclaiming the languages of lunacy' across performance, writing and art. He is actively involved nationally in disability arts and is part of the North-East Mad Studies Forum.

12 May 2016 7-9pm, Recovery College, Top Floor, Broadacre House, Market Street, Newcastle upon Tyne ne1 6hq

To book your free place, please contact the artist: burn.sean@googlemail.com / 07834-373710

Submissions of short films wanted for DaisyFest, Guildford, Surrey

DAiSY, Disability Arts in Surrey, are looking for short films, made by disabled filmmakers or featuring people with disabilities, to be screened as part of Daisyfest on Thursday 9th June 2016 at GLive, Guildford.

for more information about DaisyFest and how to submit your work, please visit this page.

BSL-intepreted events at Wandsworth Arts Fringe, London

6 May 2016 to 22 May 2016

Wandsworth Arts Fringe is back - the vibrant, annual showcase of creative activity taking place across London's largest inner-borough. For two weeks in May you will be able to see some of the most dynamic work being made by local and national artists. From giant puppetry to opera, comedy to art picnics, there's fun in store for everyone. This year there will be a series of BSL-interpreted events and performances.

Details of all BSL-interpreted events, including times, places and fees, on this page

NSUN members get discount offers on several events

Mental Health in the Young - 21 June, Salford. Please visit here for information concerning the event and your discount code. Organisers originally asked for people to confirm by 22 April but it may be worth checking with them again this week, in case there are some discounted places left.

Healthcare UK (HCUK) events and masterclasses taking place between April and July - please visit here for details concerning many events and a discount code

Nominations for the National Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards 2016 now open

The Positive Practice MH Collaborative is user led multi agency collaborative of seventy organisations, including, NHS Trusts, CCG’s, Police Forces, third sector providers, front line charities and service user groups.  The Collaborative's reason for being is to identify, and disseminate positive practice in mental health services by working together across organisations and sectors, to facilitate shared learning, and to raise the profile of mental health with politicians and policy makers. 

One of the means the Collaborative use to implement their vision is the National Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards

Nominate now for the Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards 2016.
There are 15 team/service awards, supported this year by NHS England, Picker Institute Europe, King’s Health Partners, Otsuka Health Solutions and HS Consultancy:

• Acute Care Pathway
• MINDset Quality improvement
• Digital innovation
• Integrated physical and mental health care
• Early Intervention in Psychosis
• Older people’s mental health (including dementia)
• Innovation in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
•  Community perinatal mental health services
• Mental health integration in the Five Year Forward View new models of care
•  Patient experience
•  Partnership working
• Crisis care pathway
• Mental health, the emergency services and the criminal justice system
•  Mental wellbeing of staff
• Diversity and equality in service delivery

There is one individual award:

•  Making a difference

Closing date for nominations is 22 May - You can nominate online here

Healthy Minds Calderdale - Social Return on Investment Tender

Objective: To measure the impact in monetary terms of the Recovery and Support Project,running for 2 years until March 2016, and funded by Calderdale Clinical CommissioningGroup. (CCG)

• Start date: a.s.a.p. End date: October 2016
• Value of Tender: around a maximum £8000 (including fees, expenses and VAT).
• Closing date for receipt of proposals: 9.00 am Monday 16th May 2016

For a full description of the project and more information on how to apply, please visit the jobs page at Health Minds Calderdale

Recovery In The Bin: Welfare Rights Training for ESA/ PIP

Recovery In The Bin  (RITB) is a mental health social justice group. In response to the news about the government recruiting 180 new presenting officers (see article above), they are fundraising to help train 16 volunteers to support people with mental health difficulties before and up to ESA/ PIP tribunals.

Welfare Rights training - ESA and PIP (form filling/collecting evidence/over view of tribunal process) - Last few places remaining.

Trainer: Tom Messere, author of the Big Benefits Book
Dates: 1st / 2nd June 2016
Venue: Rethink, 15th - 17th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, SE1 7TP
Time: 10 am - 4.00 pm

FREE for 16 people (ex or current mental health service users preferably with experience of being a claimant).

All participants will receive a FREE copy of Tom's book.
There will be a strict no filming/photography request for both days.

RITB want people to attend with a view to assisting someone with their forms afterwards, be that a friend or someone you know in your networks. Or teaching the skills you learn (and to as many people as you can).

Find out more and help raise funding for the training here

Book via Twitter or Facebook.

Guidance: DLA vs PIP - what are the differences?

Information about the main differences between Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 

Claiming Carer's Allowance online:material for advice organisations

Material to encourage people to claim Carer's Allowance online

Care Act 2014 Fact Sheets Updated

These factsheets provide an overview of the Care Act and the duties and powers of local authorities under the Act.

Fundraising Week 2016: Keynote speech

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, spoke at the launch of Fundraising Week on the government's support for charity fundraising and reform.