Sector supports Samaritans' call for the renewal of local suicide prevention funding
Ella Dunthorne
Published: October 11, 2023
Joined by over 20 other charities in the mental health and suicide prevention sector, they wrote an open letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP urging him to demonstrate his commitment to reducing lives lost to suicide. Read the full letter below: Dear Jeremy, As you know from your time as…
Read moreThe Association's Annual General Meeting
Ella Dunthorne
Published: October 5, 2023
The Association’s Annual General Meeting, which took place on Thursday 28 September 2023, was an opportunity to bring together our colleagues and wider membership to celebrate the Association’s impact on the VCSE mental health sector. This time, we looked at our year in numbers, our publications and progress, and welcomed three new trustees. The presentation…
Read moreBuilding Community into the Integrated Care System - Our Response
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 21, 2023
The Association welcomed the publication, by its members Rethink Mental Illness, of this major paper which sets out a range of ways in which statutory and VCSE mental health sectors can work more effectively to help improve and personalise community mental health services, at a time of increasing need and health and care system transformation…
Read moreGuest Blog: Youth Mental Health Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 19, 2023
Today is Youth Mental Health Day, an opportunity to recognise the unique challenges that young people face and the positive impact support can bring. We are pleased to have a guest blog post written by our members No5 Young People who help young people to be brave, manage anxiety, and improve their mental health through…
Read moreGuest Blog: Suicide Prevention Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 10, 2023
The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is essential in delivering early intervention and preventative support services to prevent mental health crises and suicides. The Government has found that “the suicide prevention VCSE sector saw an increase in the number of individuals seeking support – with some services seeing up to 20% more contacts…
Read moreInternational Recruitment/UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 5, 2023
Request for Information Can you please answer the following: a) Do you have an active UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship? b) Or are you in the process of applying for a sponsorship license? Please let us know by emailing the team. Why we would like to know: The Association is aware that there are unscrupulous operators…
Read moreCall For Political Parties To Back A 10-Year Plan
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 25, 2023
In a letter that was hand-delivered to 10 Downing Street on Thursday 20th July, mental health leaders have asked Rishi Sunak to reverse his Government’s decision to scrap the 10-year Mental Health Strategy that was scheduled for publication this year. The Association is one of over 50 signatories, which include a group of academics, health…
Read moreNational Schizophrenia Awareness Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 25, 2023
National Schizophrenia Awareness Day takes place on 25 July and is an opportunity to highlight the difficulties millions of people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia face and how we can tackle the stigma and discrimination which surrounds it. What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that is related…
Read moreNew training resource from Turning Point
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 13, 2023
Leading social enterprise, and AMHP member, Turning Point, have launched a new training resource to increase the awareness and understanding of substance use and mental health. The initiative started with a donation from a mother whose daughter, an NHS nurse, lost her life after a long history of mental illness and alcohol addiction. Turning Point’s…
Read moreWhy Small Charities are Vital for the Mental Health Sector
Ella Dunthorne
Published: June 22, 2023
Around “97% of charities in the UK are small charities”, and this includes any “charitable organisation with an annual income of less than £1 million.” [1] Across the UK, charities are doing incredible work to support others. We have seen the fantastic work that all charities, including those in the mental health sector, do each…
Read moreUpdated Guidance for the Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space Scheme
Ella Dunthorne
Published: June 12, 2023
Background The Breathing Space scheme was launched by the Government in May 2021. The standard breathing space scheme provides a period of protections for individuals who seek professional debt advice, pausing enforcement action, and most interest, fees and charges for 60 days. As problem debt and mental health are often linked, the Government…
Read moreSensitive Conversations with Mott MacDonald
Ella Dunthorne
Published: May 31, 2023
Delivered by Kerry Smith, EDI Manager, International Development, and Grace Jenkins, Group Wellbeing Advisor, from our private sector partner, Mott MacDonald. In this session, Kerry and Grace outlined how to prepare for sensitive conversations that are sometimes needed as part of your role with practical tips and discussion to help show you how to navigate…
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