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Welcome to the first CAPS Independent Advocacy newsletter of 2025!
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Out of Sight Out of Mind visits ‘Women in Revolt!’ exhibition
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On 16 January, the Out of Sight out of Mind Planning Group visited an exhibition at the National Galleries titled ‘Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990’, where they received a tour from an artist working at the galleries. An inspiring trip for the Planning Group before they begin the work of planning the 13th Out of Sight Out of Mind exhibition. They will again create an opportunity for people who have experience of mental health issues to have their voices heard through their art. Read about their trip here. Get in touch for more information about taking part in Out of Sight Out of Mind. Email: exhibition@capsadvocacy.org Mobile: 07989402634 Exhibition website: www.outofsightoutofmind.scot
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Our survey on Drop-ins in Edinburgh is now open!
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Drop-ins are free or donation-based events in the community, that do not require booking. They often run on a regular basis, with a focused activity or purpose, e.g. a coffee morning or a crafts session. Members of the Community Voices Collective Advocacy group have agreed that there are not enough drop-ins and community spaces where people in Edinburgh can meet to socialise. If you live in Edinburgh they want to hear from you about the drop-ins that are currently available. Can you help them out? You don’t need to have attended a drop-in to respond. Fill in the survey here. It takes around 10 minutes to complete. Find out more here.
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Join our Free Mad Studies course at the University of Edinburgh, for people with experience of mental health issues. By connecting our experiences, sharing knowledge, inviting discussion and building community, we can inspire change and tread new grounds of social justice. Participants will work with unique collections from the Lothian Health Services Archive. The course runs on Thursdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th February 2025 from 10am to 3pm. Topics covered include: the History of Confinement and Treatments; Madness, Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality; and Activism Then and Now. If you'd like to join the course, then please send a message to azra@capsadvocacy.org with a little bit about yourself and why you want to come on the course. Find out more here.
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Do you have personal experience of Adult Support and Protection processes? Do you live in Edinburgh? We're keen to hear your experiences. Tell us what this was like, what worked well? Are there things you would change? Get in touch and get involved with shaping these systems for the future. Contact: collective@capsadvocacy.org or Irene on irene@capsadvocacy.org, 07881 377 635.
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Charlotte Mitchell: a memoir
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You are invited to a celebration and launch of Charlotte Mitchell’s memoir. There will be readings and refreshments, and you can collect your own copy of the book at no charge. Booking required. When: 3-4.30pm, Wednesday 12 February 2025 Where: Norton Park Conference Centre, Training Suite, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY Booking: E-mail pam@capsadvocacy.org, or leave a message on 07989402634Accessibility: Norton Park building is fully accessible. Please let Pam at CAPS know when booking if you have any specific requests or needs around joining this event.
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What does it mean to be independent?
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An Independent Advocacy organisation is always on the side of the person we are providing advocacy to. We’re completely separate from other services and we provide advocacy and nothing else. It is not care or support work, advice or befriending. This means that Independent Advocacy organisations like CAPS can make sure that we don’t follow the agenda of any other service or organisation. People we have supported have said: ‘because my advocacy worker was independent, they were able to support me in the way I wanted’, ‘[Independence makes a difference] because you’re nothing to do with the mental health system’, '[CAPS' independence] made me feel secure and confident'. At CAPS we can support you through Collective or Individual Advocacy. Find out more.
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Individual Advocacy service for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ expands
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CAPS’ service to provide Individual Advocacy to people who identify as LGBTQIA+ in East Lothian and Midlothian will be funded to continue for a further year thanks to the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing funds in East Lothian and Midlothian. If you live in these areas and identify as LGBTQIA+ our advocacy workers can support you to have your voice heard in all sorts of issues. This could include: gender identity clinic appointments; speaking to your doctor; meetings about your education; raising issues with services when you’ve had a bad experience or getting advice when you need it e.g. Citizen’s Advice or solicitor. We’ve also received funding for the first time from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing fund in Edinburgh to expand our LGBTQIA+ Individual Advocacy service into that area too from the beginning of April 2025. Look out for more information on this new service soon.
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Lived experience panel for people who use drugs or alcohol
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We have recently been asked to set up a Lived and Living Experience Panel for people affected by drug or alcohol use in East Lothian. We’ll be supporting people to have their views heard around trauma-informed practice within local drug and alcohol services. Look out for more information on our website soon about this exciting new piece of work.
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Out and about in Musselburgh
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Our colleague Kousar, who’s an Individual Advocacy worker, has been out and about promoting our service to students of English for Speakers of Other Languages classes at Fisherrow in Musselburgh, here’s a couple of pics! Our Individual Advocacy workers can support you if you live in East Lothian or Midlothian and you have mental health issues or need help to have your voice heard because of drug or alcohol use. Or if you identify as LGBTQIA+ and live in either of those two areas, or if you have an eating disorder and live anywhere in Lothian. Find out more.
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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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