Survivors History archive of material related to Manchester Mind

Internet archive 25.10.2007 offline

Aims and Objectives

Mission statement

Mind in Manchester is a charitable organisation that works to support and promote "the preservation of mental health and to relieve or assist in the relief of people with mental health problems, in particular those who live or work within the City of Manchester and its environs".

History and structure

Mind in Manchester was set up in 1979 by a group of people who had experienced mental ill-health and the damaging consequences of medical diagnosis and treatment at the time. Although the period of illness may be relatively short, the stigmatising effects of having been a 'mental patient' can last a lifetime. These effects can include: loss of relationships or friends; loss of employment; side effects of drugs or other treatment and discrimination.

We have employed the developmental model, where a small core organisation develops projects by listening to service users to find out how people with mental health needs could help each other both in one-to-one and group settings. These projects can then become separate organisations or part of mainstream provision, including:

- Drop-ins, with the Blackely Drop-in now operating independently.
- The Information Bank (now continuing as the Information Service).
- Moving On employment support project which became independent and is now part of mainstream provision at the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
- North and South Manchester Counselling Service, which is now independent.
- Mind to Mind project, which provided a one to one service and group work from 1998 to 2001, informing future development based on the principles of mentoring.
- Social Inclusion and Recovery project, which provided support and guidance through trained volunteers to people with a range of mental health needs from 2004 to 2007.

Mind in Manchester is an Industrial and Provident Society directed by a voluntary Management Committee with at least 50% mental health service user representation.

The Management Committee includes people with decades of experience creating and managing community mental health projects. Thorough recruitment procedures ensure that we have appropriately qualified and experienced staff and volunteers. We are committed to professional development of staff, committee and volunteers with specialist training being available as appropriate

Current Work

Development

We are a development organisation, continually looking for the best ways of meeting the needs of people are in mental distress or diagnosed with a mental illness in Manchester.

We are currently looking at the social enterprise model of providing services with a number of other organisations in Greater Manchester.

Information Service and Mental Health Directory

Our Information Service currently deals with over 800 telephone enquiries a year. This is funded by Manchester Advice, a department of the City Council. Our database has been available on the Internet since 1999, but in 2004 was made available, together with selfhelp information, as the On-line Mental Health Directory. This is now receiving over 1500 visits per month and is recognised as the main source of mental health information in the city. Our young people's guide, What Happens Next has been distributed throughout Manchester and is now in its third edition. The new pocket size Help! your guide to mental health in Manchester will appear in autumn 2007, aiming to help people navigate the maze of mental health provision to find the help they need.

Inreach Project

The Inreach Project works with clients in day centres operated by the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust for people with severe and enduring mental health needs.

The project provides individual support to clients so they can get together and create their own activities outside the centre that promote social inclusion.

Networks and partnerships

Mind in Manchester is part of the Mind network of over 200 independent Local Mind Associations who work towards the shared aim of 'better mental health' and common quality management standards.

We are founder members of the Delivering Inclusion Network, a partnership between voluntary organisations funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to deliver mental health services that promote social inclusion, overseen by a steering group that includes representatives from voluntary organisations and the NHS. The Network is now looking to create a social enterprise to run services on its behalf.

Survivor History Group archive saved 29.4.2010. offline

Aims and Objectives
Mission statement

Mind in Manchester is a charitable organisation that works to support and promote "the preservation of mental health and to relieve or assist in the relief of people with mental health problems, in particular those who live or work within the City of Manchester and its environs".

History and structure

Mind in Manchester was set up in 1979 by a group of people who had experienced mental illhealth and the damaging consequences of medical diagnosis and treatment at the time. Although the period of illness may be relatively short, the stigmatising effects of having been a 'mental patient' can last a lifetime. These effects can include: loss of relationships or friends; loss of employment; side effects of drugs or other treatment and discrimination.

Mind in Manchester is currently an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable aims directed by a voluntary Management Committee with at least 50% mental health service user representation.

Our work

The Mind Federation

Mind in Manchester is one of 182 Local Mind Associations who are affiliated to the Mind 'federation' of 'interdependent organisations campaigning for improvements and providing the mental health service of choice among people who use them. We are rooted in the communities we serve and work together to bring about our vision of a society which promotes and protects better mental health for all'.

The Mind federation is the biggest provider of mental health services in England outside the NHS, working to Quality Standards that align with recognised auditing standards such as Investors in People, Supporting People and the Charity Commission Hallmarks of an Effective Charity.

Information Service

The Information Service currently deals with over 500 in-depth telephone enquiries a year, providing information and guidance on mental health services and organisations in Manchester. The Information Service is funded by Manchester City Council who contribute to overall running costs, staff time, volunteer expenses and office costs. The On-line Mental Health Directory, available at www.mhdirectory.org.uk, includes our database of mental health services and organisations in Manchester, plus links to other sources of information and guidance. It is now receiving about 4,000 unique visits per month and is recognised by Manchester Public Health Development Service as the main source of mental health information in the city.

Mental Health Guides

We have produced a series of mental health guides, in partnership with the Manchester NHS Public Health Development Service and informed by the experience of mental health service users through focus groups. The young people's guide, What Happens Next, has been distributed throughout Manchester since 2005 and the fourth edition of 5,000 copies is now in preparation. The second edition of the pocket size Help! your guide to mental health in Manchester has been distributed widely in 2008 to statutory mental health services, voluntary sector agencies, libraries and individuals. It aims to help people navigate the maze of mental health provision to find the help they need. The very positive feedback from both individuals and organisations indicate that these guides have been successful in making mental health information more accessible.

Inreach Project

The Inreach Project works in partnership with day centres operated by the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust for people with severe and enduring mental health needs. The project provides individual support to clients so they can undertake their own activities outside the centre that promote social inclusion. It is funded by the Mental Illness Specific Grant and the Tudor Trust. This project was relaunched in June 2009 to run until March 2010, with an evaluation which will contribute to informing next steps for day centre provision. Initial findings show that the project has significantly contributed to the ability of clients to undertake new social activities and move forward in their lives.

Health and Wellbeing Project

This new project applies the principles of mentoring to provide short term support and representation to those who identify as having a mental health issue and are looking for help with practical problems such as claiming benefits, housing, debt, attending medical appointments. The support and guidance is provided by a trained and supervised volunteer who can help people overcome the barriers that are causing them difficulties in their lives. This project is funded from June 2009 until March 2010 by the Allen Lane Foundation.

Mental Health Training

We are providing mental health and awareness training, focused on the 'recovery model' to other organisations, enabling them to better support their staff and clients who have mental health needs. This training has been very well received and can be charged for at rates which bring in useful income after costs are covered.

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