Background
Throughout
the late seventies and early eighties campaigning organisations
throughout England and Wales played a leading role in
spearheading user involvement at all levels of patient
care. Much of Mind's early work involved campaigning
for the right of service users to be consulted on issues
that directly affected them. So much has been achieved
since those early days. In the last 15 years or so the
user movement has gone from strength to strength and
we have really begun to see policy develop into a culture
of positive, proactive user involvement in mental health
planning and provision.
Locally, Mind has a long history
promoting user rights and has worked to establish user
involvement at all levels of the organisation. Mind
also provides charitable status, management and fundraising
guidance to further the development and expertise of
two local user groups, one of which specifically supports
the needs of black service users.
The Kensington
& Chelsea Service User Network (SUN)
The Service User Network (SUN)
has been set up to expand and develop the work of the
Black Unity and K&C Forum. The SUN exists
to create a network of users and survivors who care
about mental health issues and who want to be part of
a dynamic and influential user movement.
Aims
The SUN aims to foster a better
understanding of the experience of people suffering
from mental distress and particularly those from black
and ethnic communities and other under represented groups.
The SUN also exists to ensure
that users and survivors of mental health services have
a direct say in influencing, shaping and developing
local mental health services, including the work of
Mind.
See the
blue panel for details of SUN's Terms of Reference.
Please note the new contact details listed below.
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Kensington &
Chelsea Service User Network (SUN)
Office 8,
7 Thorpe Close,
London
W10 5XL
Tel: 020 8964 1333 ext 8
E-mail: sun@kcmind.org.uk
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