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Welcome to the CAPS Independent Advocacy newsletter - a special edition with Out of Sight Out of Mind fundraiser!
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Fundraiser for a 14th Out of Sight Out of Mind exhibition!
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For 13 years, Out of Sight Out of Mind exhibition has created a space where hundreds of people with experience of mental health issues can express themselves through art and be heard. It allows thousands more to reflect, connect, celebrate and more. Out of Sight Out of Mind is organised by people with mental health issues, creating a space that is welcoming, supportive and inclusive. The project is facilitated by CAPS. We are working to secure funding for its future; in the meantime, we need help to make the 14th exhibition happen!
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If you can donate, thank you. Any amount helps from £5 to £100 or beyond! It will all contribute to Out of Sight Out of Mind in 2026. If donating isn’t possible just now, sharing the campaign is incredibly valuable and helps reach lots more people. Sharing the campaign helps more than you think!
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Your support means so much to all the people involved in this one-of-a-kind project!
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One exhibitor and organiser of the exhibition said: ‘This exhibition doesn’t just support artists — it saves lives. It saved mine.’‘this exhibition gives me a voice in a world where I often feel voiceless. It’s not just about creating or showing work — it’s about being heard. OOSOOM gives space to the kind of expression that can’t be forced into neat sentences or diagnoses. Here, I don’t need to explain myself in ways I can’t. Through art, I speak. Through this exhibition, I am understood'.'Nowhere else have I found a community like this. Nowhere else have I felt so wholly accepted. Here, I have friends. A mad, loving family.’The exhibition also means so much to the thousands of visitors who flock to see it each year.
Audiences have said: 'Thank you for being so brave and sharing your stories. We need these brave souls to shout out for the rest of us'.'OOSOOM is a rare collective, artistic expression of hope and of challenging norms and stigma around mental health'.'This is an amazing, interesting and thought-provoking exhibition. We enjoyed that a lot. Gives you good insight into other people, what they go through and how art helps them deal with it. It’s very inspiring and beautiful. Loved it and we really hope it will be back next year'.
Read more about what the exhibition means to people here.
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It's a great time to be involved with the Experiences of Eating Disorders group
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With a new Collective Advocacy Worker and some new members, the Seen But Not Heard – Experiences of Eating Disorders group is currently revisiting the previous work of the group and considering future directions. This is a great time to get involved with the project, and we will be holding a retrospective/reflective session on Tuesday 24th March. This will be a good opportunity for new members to become familiar with the group’s existing resources, and to help to identify any gaps or areas for updating. These resources include two Eating Disorder films, workshop materials, and a leaflet for GPs previously produced by the group.
Group members have recently highlighted inclusivity, language, weight stigma, and the focus on weight restoration in treatment as possible areas to discuss in relation to updates. If you’re interested in getting involved with the group, please contact Elli at elli@capsadvocacy.org to find out more!
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Event report from ‘Advocating for Collective Advocacy’ published
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VOX and SIAA, supported by CAPS, hosted the Advocating for Collective Advocacy event on 20th January this year. The event was a morning of honest conversation, shared expertise, and problem-solving about the future of collective advocacy in Scotland. The report from the event is now available and includes the visual minutes created by graphic recorder Jenny Capon, reflections from the Scottish Mental Health Law Review panel, and clear recommendations for the Scottish Government, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and the independent advocacy sector. SIAA will share the report with Minister Tom Arthur, Mental Welfare Commission, Scottish Government officials, Integration Joint Boards, and Health and Social Care Partnership leaders across Scotland. Read the report here.
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Understanding Oor Mad History
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the Understanding Oor Mad History course and connected their experiences through materials in the Lothian Health Services Archive! Participants were able to examine historical documents relating to Mad History in Lothian over the centuries. Below are a few pictures from the course.
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Independent Advocacy 2026 Manifesto: Voice. Rights. Independence
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As candidates gear up for forthcoming Holyrood elections, the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA), has set out a clear vision for Scotland built around three priorities:• Addressing the need and fulfilling Scotland's commitments on mental health and capacity, including implementing all 21 Scottish Mental Health Law Review recommendations on independent advocacy• Building sustainable, high-quality provision for everyone, including minimum three-year funding cycles and closing geographic gaps in rural areas and prisons• Investing in the preventative models, collective and citizen independent advocacy, that keep people connected and well before crisis point
Read the manifesto here.
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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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