Mental health charity forum champions inclusion
Almost 100 people attended Richmond Fellowship group’s forum ‘working together to promote recovery’ at the Foresight Centre in Liverpool on Tuesday 31st March.
Organisers are awarded certificates to recognise their contribution to the successful forum
The forum was an opportunity for people who use Richmond Fellowship services to meet and talk about mental health recovery, take part in workshops and discuss and shape the organisations’ strategy for engaging with and supporting people with mental health problems.
The event was co-ordinated by a planning group of individuals who access services in Liverpool, and was chaired by Pauline and Michael, who have both been supported with their mental health recoveries. Several people stood in front of the audience to share their personal mental health recovery stories, which were moving and inspiring. Everyone who took part in the day was awarded a certificate to recognise their hard work and success.
Beverley Clay, best practice manager who supported the planning group, said “It was a fantastic day where people could have meaningful discussions about what we do at Richmond Fellowship and also have a lot of fun. It’s great that we have the opportunity to come together to talk about mental health recovery and to share our experiences, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the event.”
People chose to attend two of the interactive workshops on offer, on topics ranging from digital inclusion, art, finding a voice and relaxation. Everyone found these activities engaging and interesting, and they were a good opportunity to meet new people around the country who might have had similar experiences.
The inspirational Dr Rachel Perkins from ImROC (Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change) spoke at the forum about co-production, when professionals and experts by experience work as equal partners to design, produce and deliver support together. Her motivating talk boosted enthusiasm and excitement for working together to make recovery reality.
Through co-production Richmond Fellowship recognises that everyone has valuable skills and experiences, and the organisation is committed to respecting the contribution that each individual can make and to enabling people to achieve goals that are important to them.
Richmond Fellowship group’s strategy is based on co-production and engage with everyone they support about how they can have greater influence over their personal recovery, the service they use, the organisation as a whole and on wider society, a revolutionary approach to mental health recovery.
See what mental health recovery means to the forum attendees:
