NEWS: UK Advocacy Network IN DANGER of defunding

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> <office

 

> Sat, 28 Aug 2004 00:48:48 -0500

> CC: TezBeulah

> NEWS: UK Advocacy Network IN DANGER of

> defunding

>

>

> NEWS: Your Mind & Freedom - 27 August 2004

> http://www.MindFreedom.org - please forward

>

> UKAN IS IN TROUBLE!

>

> And there's an easy way for you to e-mail your

> support!

>

> The UK Advocacy Network (UKAN) networks many

> groups of people labeled with a psychiatric

> disabilities in UK. For years UKAN has been a

> Sponsor

> Group in MindFreedom International.

>

> Below is an alert that long-time psychiatric

> survivor

> activist Jan Wallcraft has issued. Please act on

> this, and

> spread the word!

>

> For more information, see contact information below.

>

>

> ~~~~~

>

>

> Jan Wallcraft - Jan.Wallcraft

>

> UK Advocacy Network under threat

>

>

> The future existence of the UK Advocacy Network is

> under threat as sources of national funding they

> can apply for seem to be drying up. This has

> already led to the redundancy of one of the

> 3 workers, and will probably lead to a further

> redundancy soon, leaving only one member of staff,

> able to provide only a minimal service to its 260

> member groups.

>

> This should not be allowed to happen at a time

> when the right to have an advocate is coming

> onto the national agenda in a way that UKAN have

> consistently campaigned for for the past twelve

> years or more.

>

> Clearly there is a need for change in the world

> of advocacy for there to be enough sufficiently

> well trained, professionally networked and

> supported advocates in place when the new Mental

> Health Act comes into force.

>

> But UKAN should be part of the process towards

> achieving this. We need more than ever a national

> network of service user-led advocacy to continue

> to uphold the principles of independence and

> the central role of service users in defining

> good practice in advocacy.

>

> If there was no survivor/service user led advocacy

> organisation, we would have to invent one, and

> why do that when we already have an organisation

> which has provided standards, guidance, training,

> networking and support for many years, despite

> receiving only minimal funding?

>

> Yes, we do need a body of professionally trained

> and paid advocates available once a person has

> been assessed under the Mental Health Act, but

> advocacy needs a wider basis in the community,

> so that people can access an advocate at any stage -

> not only when immediately under threat of section.

>

> If UKAN goes, who will be there to defend

> community-based local advocacy projects set up

> and run by service users for service users?

>

> UPDATE FROM JAN: " Things are moving forward, there

> is a new sense of unity in the movement now and we

> will seize the opportunity. "

>

> ~~~~~~~

>

> A C T I O N * * * A C T I O N

>

> If you support the continued existence of UKAN,

> please send a message of support.

>

> E-MAIL YOUR SUPPORT TO:

>

> Jan.Wallcraft,

> patrickwood, officeukan,

> TezBeulah

>

> ~~~~~~~

>

> For further information on what is happening

> and what support UKAN needs call or email Patrick

> Wood, on patrickwood, (44) 114 272

> 8171

>

> Please also spread the message to your contacts.

>

> It's time for the survivor/user movement to begin

> acting together, with or without funding, to ensure

> we have a place in our own right in the future of

> mental health.

>

> PS - the latest news on funding from Sainsbury

> Centre

> for Mental Health (SCMH) for a

> steering group of survivor/user organisations is

> that we will hear in September, but I am assured

> the will to go ahead is still there. I am really

> sorry

> it's taking so long.

>

> - Jan Wallcraft - Jan.Wallcraft

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> FORWARDED by MindFreedom International

> http://www.MindFreedom.org

>

> To get alerts from MindFreedom, e-mail

> to office.

>

>