Welcome
September 2023
Welcome to the CAPS Independent Advocacy newsletter! 
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind exhibition
Out of Sight Out of Mind is in its 11th year and is Scotland’s biggest mental health art exhibition. It takes place this October at Summerhall in Edinburgh and rejoins the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival programme which is also on at the same time.

The exhibition will be spread over three floors in Summerhall and will show artworks made by around 180 people, including films, paintings, sculptures, photography, installations and more.  
Visit the exhibition’s website for the most up to date information and see the programme of events.
Blog from Malin: LGBTQIA+ update
'The LGBTQIA+ community is disproportionately affected by many larger societal issues including homelessness, unemployment, and mental ill health.’ Find out more in this blog from Malin who works on our new Individual Advocacy service for LGBTQIA+ people. Read Malin's blog.

If you are an adult aged 16-65 living in Midlothian who identifies as LGBTQIA+, and you feel you may benefit from independent advocacy, you can read more about our service and how to refer yourself to us here.
One million case files: a visit to Lothian Health Services Archive
The Lothian Health Services Archive has over one million case files relating to people being treated in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Records date back to 1729. Recently a staff team from CAPS went to visit the archive. We learned about how the eighteenth and nineteenth century physicians wrote their case notes very much from the institution’s point of view. They often contained moral judgements about the character of the people in the hospital.
The archive is of special interest to CAPS because it houses the Oor Mad History archive. Oor Mad History is a community history project hosted by CAPS. The project donated its own archive to the LHSA and so we were able to look at some of the documents which reveal the history of 'mad activism' in Scotland and further afield. Read more.
Image Courtesy of Lothian Health Services Archive, Edinburgh University Library
People in Edinburgh having their voices heard
Do you have experience of mental health issues and live in Edinburgh? If the answer’s yes and you want to work with others to call for improvements to mental health services get involved in collective advocacy. CAPS is establishing new collective advocacy groups across Edinburgh. Collective advocacy groups provide a safe space to explore your own experiences together with the experiences of others. People in the groups lead the work the group does and they decide what happens. Learn more about Edinburgh collective advocacy.
People's conference
We are excited about this year’s People’s Conference organised by the Lothian Voices collective advocacy group. This yearly event is by and for people with their own lived experience of mental health issues. With rents going up and up and people’s finances becoming more stretched, the group have decided to make housing the topic for this year. The conference will take place on 8th November at Norton Park Conference Centre in Edinburgh. Please get in touch with Azra on azra@capsadvocacy.org or 07436 102 762 for further details or to register your attendance.
OOSOOM team members call out
The exhibition planning group is looking for voluntary exhibition team members for setting up and invigilating the Out Of Sight Out of Mind exhibition.

Being involved in the exhibition set up can be fun, and it can be satisfying to see the exhibition through the different stages to the launch event. Meanwhile invigilating (welcoming visitors when the exhibition is open) can be an interesting way to spend time with the artworks at the exhibition. You’ll also get to meet visitors, exhibitors and the others involved.
Find out more.
A number of people looking at artwork in the Out Of Sight Out Of Mind exhibition.
Have you ever experienced binge eating?

Would you like to share your experiences to help others?

We have an exciting opportunity to get involved with writing a new book called “Overcoming Binge Eating Disorder”. We are looking to set up a group of people with lived experience of binge eating to work alongside the authors of the book. You will help to make sure the book reflects the experiences and realities of people who have experienced binge eating.

For more information, please contact Ellis (ellis@capsadvocacy.org).
Welcome to new staff members
Angharad Blundell started work as the Collective Advocacy Worker for Edinburgh. Angharad is enthusiastic about working collaboratively and creatively to make change. She is a native Welsh speaker and has a background in socially engaged art. In her spare time she enjoys dog walks, trying to remember to water her jungle of houseplants, and listening to podcasts.
Irene Paolini started as Collective Advocacy Worker (Peer Community). She worked as mental health practitioner and peer worker for almost three years. She is passionate about the peer approach and the intentional sharing of personal experiences. Irene is currently undergoing a MSc in Psychology of Mental Health. Alongside this, she is an independent filmmaker focusing on documentary production. In her spare time she enjoys weightlifting, theatre, reading about physics and writing poetry.
Very best wishes from all at CAPS!
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CAPS Independent Advocacy is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation Scottish Charity number: SC021772