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Text Box: Service Users Matter ADDING VALUE TO HUNTS MIND’S WORK

Following changes to People of Potential and their meeting on 6th June 2011, it was agreed it was time to launch a new Service User Working Group.

People of Potential members and other interested service users were invited to attend the launch on Monday 27th June 2011 at Huntingdon Library.  The aims of the meeting were to ascertain who is interested in becoming a member and being involved in supporting Hunts Mind through changes that will be happening over the forthcoming year.

From that meeting, a suitable venue was identified and future meeting dates were agreed.  The group now meet on the fourth Monday each month at Huntingdon Library from 11.30am until 1.00pm. 

Forthcoming meeting dates for 2012 are as follows :

23rd January

27th February

26th March

23rd April

28th May

25th June

The aims and objectives for the group have been agreed by the group members and are reviewed on a regular basis.  The current aims and objectives are:

Aims:

  • Direct communication between service users and Hunts Mind Board of Trustees.
  • Create a pathway between the Group and the Cambridgeshire Service User Network (SUN) with a representative of the group attending the Service User Network (SUN) meetings.
  • To promote awareness of this group through members talking with service users about the benefits of being part of the Group.
  • Develop strategies for communication with other service users.
  • To organise an event that promotes the benefits of being part of Hunts Mind’s Service User Working Group.
  • Members to demonstrate commitment and to be active within Hunts Mind.
  • To provide appropriate training that supports service users to actively take up roles within the organisation both practically and strategically.
  • To provide appropriate training, such as committee skills in order to attract the recruitment of service users to the Board of Trustees.

Objectives:

  • To involve service users in the decision making process that takes place at Hunts Mind.
  • The group to represent the views of all Hunts Mind service users.
  • To read and comment on the review of Hunts Mind’s policies and procedures.
  • To be directly involved in the recruitment and selection of staff.
  • To assist the organisation with service user consultations and monitoring and evaluation processes.

Membership to the group is still open and they are looking for committed Hunts Mind service users who are keen in supporting the organisation through the current changes.  In addition to commitment, the other requirement to join the group is that you are expected to become a member of Hunts Mind.  This costs £1 per year but provides the following benefits:

  • Attend our AGM/EGM to vote on important aspects of running the charity
  • Support our vital work across Huntingdonshire
  • Receive regular newsletters highlighting our work
  • Membership to a quality mental health charity!

If you are interested in becoming a member of the group, please contact either:

Jane Powell – jane.powell@huntsmind.org.uk

Sharon Cox – sharon.cox@huntsmind.org.uk

Cambridgeshire Service User Network

Cambridgeshire Service User Network (SUN) is a collaborative working group of adult mental health service users and mental health commissioners from Cambridgeshrie County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire.

To find out more please go to their website www.suncambs.co.uk