We are an independent, friendly User Network
established for over 12 years
and now registered as a Community Interest Company and open to people
with lived experience of mental distress and their allies.
UIP was formed by a group of
service users who wished to be heard. Their case was taken up by West
Midlands Partnership in Mental Health. For a number of years the
organisation was hosted by the National Institute for Mental Health in
England and then the Mental Health arm of the Care Services Improvement
Partnership.
In 2006 the membership decided to become independent,
and
in 2007 the organisation became registered as a Community Interest
Company.
Some examples of the work that members of UIP have been involved in.
Since its creation over 12 years ago, UiP has
championed the creation of User groups and User workers, which are now
standard practice, as is a user payments policy.
The former
Chairperson and Vice chair have given presentations together with people
who use services, to Mental Health workers on the value of including service users in the decision
making process.
Several members have given talks on Direct
Payments from their own experience of receiving that benefit.
The
UiP Executive group have facilitated workshops at a number of venues
both large and small.
Our former Chairperson Angela Hill takes a
particular interest in women’s issues and mental health, and has been an
ardent campaigner for women only wards.
Angela along with other
members of the group has worked on transitions from adult services to
older adult services to ensure that a clearly defined pathway is
implemented.
One of our executive members Gwen, has
an arts and entertainment background and has championed this field as a
therapy and recovery mechanism.
Our Network means that we have contact with people, who have worked with Universities, Primary Care Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, Mental Health Research, Specialist Services, including Secure Services and voluntary organisations across the West Midlands.
