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Welcome to the CAPS Independent Advocacy newsletter! Last one of 2024!
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The need for Independent Advocacy continues to grow
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It’s been an unpredictable year! People’s need for Independent Advocacy continues to grow, and we see it is perhaps even more necessary in these difficult times.
We’re here still helping marginalised people to have their voices heard. Whether that’s helping members of the LGBTQIA+ community navigate a variety of serious issues, such as unsafe housing and homelessness, harassment or abuse due to their identity, or supporting people to carry out experience-led research into eating disorders. Or supporting people from minority ethnic backgrounds to educate mental health professionals about how their communities are discriminated against, or supporting vulnerable children to get what they need at Children’s Hearings. All this and much more is in our Annual Report 2024. 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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Free community course at University of Edinburgh
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A new community course, 'Understanding Oor Mad History’ will be held at the University of Edinburgh in February 2025. This free course will offer students a chance to understand the legacy of Oor Mad History through 4 weeks of learning, discussion and community building. The planned structure is as follows:Week 1: Introduction: What is Oor Mad History?Week 2: The History of Confinement and TreatmentsWeek 3: Madness, Gender, Sexuality and IntersectionalityWeek 4: Activism Then and NowThe course will run on Thursdays from the 6th to the 27th February 2025 and a certificate from CAPS will be available upon completion of the four weeks. Participating students will get access to the library and University of Edinburgh facilities and a pass.If you want to join, then please send a message to azra@capsadvocacy.org with a little bit about yourself and why you want to come on the course. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Charlotte Mitchell: a memoir
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Charlotte Mitchell is an Edinburgh woman, the daughter of well known architects. She has had mental health issues and now is very much involved in the user movement. In her memoir she takes the reader from her early childhood to today when she leads a very orderly and structured life. The launch date is yet to be confirmed but look out for more about this important book. Charlotte writes from the perspective of lived experience and offers a unique insight into life.
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Power to the people! People's Conference debrief
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CAPS' Collective Advocacy group Lothian Voices facilitated their annual People's Conference for people with lived experience of a mental health issue on the 19th November at Norton Park Conference Centre. We had several guest speakers including John Beaton from HUG Action for Mental Health, Dr Pamela Jenkins of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the writer Robyn Thomas and a session with Alex Black from Tidal Yoga, as well as lots of lively discussions and activities on the day. A feedback quote from one of the participants: "CAPS are a really supportive organisation who are compassionate and empathetic in their support of people with mental health challenges without being patronising or demeaning. They also have a great capacity for listening'. Some pics are below.
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1961 visitors to the Out of Sight Out of Mind exhibition
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The 12th Out of Sight Out of Mind exhibition was the biggest yet, showing artworks by 310 people who have mental health issues, at Summerhall this October. The exhibition had 1961 visitors.Artworks included films, paintings, sculptures, photography, installations and more. They explored many topics: mental health, a joy of making, a personal story of another sort and others. Many exhibitors responded to the Scottish Mental Health theme of In/Visible in their artworks, with some expressing the tension between being seen and unseen. We will soon be planning 2025! Please get in touch if you or your group would like to get involved. See more here: www.outofsightoutofmind.scotE-mail: exhibition@capsadvocacy.org Mobile: 07989402634
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Helping children experiencing the Children's Hearings system
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Life-changing decisions are often made at a Children’s Hearing, for example where and with whom the child will live. It is CAPS’ job to make sure that the voices of children are central to their hearing and that their views are taken into account. We are one of a number of organisations who provide Independent Advocacy to children involved in the Children’s Hearings system. A recent Independent Report demonstrates the successes of this advocacy provision for children attending a hearing and features testimony from children and young people who have been supported by Independent Advocacy across Scotland. Over 5,000 children and young people across the country have felt supported while attending a Hearing. Read more about the report here.
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Workshops exploring personality disorder and psychosis
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Two of CAPS’ Collective Advocacy groups shared their workshops with a team of Newly Qualified Nurses recently recruited to the Self Harm team at the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary. The workshops both focus on the experiences of group members, but are quite different. Much More Than A Label (a group for people who may attract the diagnosis of a personality disorder) used their own experiences of personality disorders, along side quotes and art work from other group members, to do a deep dive into the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder, how these criteria do or do not manifest for group members, and what professionals working with people with such a diagnosis can do that helps and doesn't help.
Meanwhile the Experiences of Psychosis group use their own experiences, as well as their poetry, art, and academic or philosophical understanding of psychosis to challenge stigma and inform people about how psychosis, and its treatment in hospital settings, can feel for those experiencing it.Participants gave some thoughtful feedback, for example: 'this has reinforced the importance of seeing the person, not just the diagnosis, always being mindful. Some parts made me feel sad that people had been ‘done to’ as opposed to cared for...it has changed how I see my practice.’
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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. We are happy to invite you to our office at Norton Park as we did last year!On Wednesday 11th of December between 4pm and 6pm we will be welcoming you for some Christmas mulled wine (non-alcoholic!) festive nibbles and cheesy Christmas music!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 😊.
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Welcome to new staff members
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Rachel Hughes is the Collective Advocacy Worker for the ‘Seen but Not Heard’ Experiences of Eating Disorders group and the LGBTQIA+ group. She recently finished her Masters in Psychology of Mental Health and also works as a support worker and psychology research assistant. She is passionate about working collaboratively to share and understand lived experiences of mental health issues.
In her spare time she loves going to the gym, musical theatre, and trying out Edinburgh’s many brunch spots!
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Romany Howarth is an Individual Advocacy Worker. Her role involves supporting individuals to express their views and have their voices heard in decisions affecting them. She was drawn to this role due to her background in mental health and the focus that CAPS places on taking a rights-based approach to support which prioritises autonomy of people with mental health issues. Prior to joining, she volunteered with various charities including supporting refugees with accessing healthcare and she has an educational background in Social Anthropology and Global Mental Health. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading in cafés, and learning aerial silk.
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We wish you happy holidays 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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