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Welcome to the CAPS Independent Advocacy newsletter! Last one of 2023!
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What have we been up to this year?
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Over the last year we've had plenty to do! We're excited to say that we have started a number of new projects. Thanks to funding from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing fund we are now able to offer Independent Advocacy to LGBTQIA+ people in Midlothian. People can get help with all sorts of issues but most often to do with gender related healthcare.
We also now provide Independent Advocacy to military veterans all over Scotland. And we've begun a partnership with AdvoCard and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patients Council that will see us provide collective advocacy in Edinburgh.
We're delighted to publish our Annual Report where you can read all about these and many more projects! Read it here
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What is Independent Advocacy anyway?
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Independent Advocacy helps people to have as much influence and control as possible over their lives. It’s about people having the right to a voice: addressing barriers and imbalances of power and ensuring that human rights are recognised, respected, and secured. We stand alongside people who are in danger of being pushed to the margins of society. In Independent Advocacy, work is led by the advocacy partner (the person or group we’re working with), they’re the boss! Learn more.
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Edinburgh collective advocacy welcome sessions
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Do you have lived experience of mental health issues and live in Edinburgh? Do you want to use your voice to make change happen? Join us at these drop-in welcome sessions run by Edinburgh Mental Health Collective Advocacy! Pop in to chat to the CAPS advocacy workers running this project. Teas and coffees (and biscuits!) will be provided. If you have any questions please contact angharad@capsadvocacy.org or 07989402612.Monday 11th December 10am to 12pm - Sandy’s Community Centre, 37 Craigmillar Castle Avenue, Edinburgh EH16 4DWMonday 11th December 4pm to 6pm - Corstophine Community Centre, 5 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh EH12 7HDThursday 14th December 4pm to 6pm - Gilmerton Community Centre, 4 Drum Street, Edinburgh EH17 8QG
Tuesday 9th January 2pm to 4pm - Norton Park Conference Centre, 57 Albion Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
Tuesday 16th January, 4pm to 6pm - Hub 531, 531 Lanark Rd, Juniper Green EH14 5DJ
Monday 22nd January, 4pm to 6pm - Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firrhill Dr, Edinburgh EH13 9EU
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'Edinburgh has a rich history (and hopefully future) of mad activism!' This blog from Collective Advocacy Worker, Angharad, goes into more detail about the new collective advocacy project in Edinburgh and the welcome sessions she is planning (see article above). Read it here.
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People's Conference debrief
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We had a stimulating and productive time at the People's Conference! The conference is by and for people with experience of mental health issues and this year focused on housing.
People let us know how they found it in the feedback: 'I felt sadness and anger at the problems or issues, but grateful for the opportunity to spotlight it' 'other people's viewpoints being formed in an inclusive and welcoming environment leads to poignant conversations'. Some pics are below
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Lothian Voices letter to Scotland's Housing Minister
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Housing is a human right. This was a loud and clear message from the recent People’s Conference, which was all about housing and mental health. As a result of the conference, Lothian Voices, who organise it, decided to write a letter to Scotland’s Minister for Housing. The letter looks at the specific ways that people have been affected by Lothian’s housing crisis. It highlights that for many, bad housing means poor mental health. We have published the letter in full here.
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Independent Advocacy and the National Care Service
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The Scottish Government is planning to introduce a National Care Service with the intention of making improvements to health and social care. They recently held a number of face-to-face consultations, or ‘co-design sessions’ with people in areas across Scotland from Stranraer to Shetland. As part of the process, the government wanted to know how people’s voices could best be heard in decisions about their care. They asked how Independent Advocacy helps with this and how access to it could be improved. Read more here.
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Save the date! An afternoon of queer activism
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The LGBTQIA+ collective advocacy group is inviting queer people to come together, learn from one another and get inspired to work for change. Join us for an afternoon of talks, workshops and advocacy at 11am-4.30pm on Saturday the 17th of February at the Quaker Meeting House in Edinburgh. Any enquiries or to book a place please contact Ellis on ellis@capsadvocacy.org.
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Festive season get together
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Every year CAPS hosts a festive gathering for the people who have been involved with us over the year and this year we are happy to invite you to our new offices at Norton Park!On Thursday the 14th of December between 4pm and 6pm we will be opening the doors for some Christmas mulled wine (non-alcoholic!) festive nibbles, cheesy Christmas music and, since they went down such a treat last year….some Christmas games!If you would like to come along please get in touch with Ele, ele@capsadvocacy.org as we need to let Norton Park reception know who is coming so that everyone can get a pass. If you want any further info or you want to chat about anything please get in touch. Poster to follow shortly 😊
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Welcome to new staff members
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Alex Kellas is a Collective Advocacy Worker and will facilitate the Much More Than a Label group for people with experience of Personality Disorders, and the group for people with experience of Psychosis across Edinburgh and the Lothians. She has an academic background in Social Work, Mad Studies and Literature. In her spare time she can usually be found arguing with her cat, working on her narrowboat and writing painfully earnest poetry.
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Amy Shields is a Collective Advocacy Worker for Midlothian and East Lothian and for the Lothian Voices project. Her background is in lots of different types of support work with some psychology, counselling and coaching training too. She is very interested in well-being and the power of listening so is excited to have joined an advocacy organisation that also values these things. In her free time she enjoys making mosaics, finding sea glass & pottery on beaches, crocheting, walking in woods, baking and cats, especially Siamese.
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Elil Jeyakumar is the Collective Advocacy Worker for the Minority Ethnic and the Experience of Trauma projects. His background is in Anthropology. He has 5 year's experience working in drug and alcohol support, and migrant and refugee mental health support. Coming from a refugee family, migrated from a war-torn country, he is very passionate about bringing to the foreground the effects both of trauma as well as race and culture-based barriers in accessing support. He is an avid cyclist, and loves cooking.
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We wish you season's greetings from all of us at CAPS! |
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Very best wishes from all at CAPS!
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CAPS Independent Advocacy is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation Scottish Charity number: SC021772 |
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