The Service User Leadership Grant Scheme
The Service User Leadership Grant Scheme has been a vehicle for Service User Leadership since it was developed alongside people using Together services in 2013.
The purpose of the scheme is to offer individuals, services and departments at Together the opportunity to identify new and creative ways to positively impact the lives of those experiencing mental distress through ensuring their voice is at the core of projects that develop service user leadership locally. Open all year round, individuals are invited to apply for grants between £100 and £1000, with all applications assessed by the Grant Scheme Committee; a board consisting of people currently accessing Together services.
Projects that have been funded by the grant scheme include:
Lived Experience Poetry Book
An individual using one of our community-based services wished to share their journey towards improved wellbeing through a poetry book, which they developed, printed and distributed to other individuals accessing Together services throughout Norwich. The Author hoped that their poetry would provide insight into how peer support can positively impact someone’s journey towards improved wellbeing. For other readers, it was hoped that the booklet would provide insight into living with mental distress and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health.
“For many years I’ve wanted to tell my story [to] help people have insight into what it’s like living with a mental health diagnosis. I would never be able to share my story in a conventional way as the hurt is far too deep. But through my poetry, nature metaphors and beliefs, I can only hope to shed some light on the complexity and constantly changing mental health challenges that people face.”
Complimentary Therapies for Mental Health Support
The inspiration behind the project came from a group of residents, from one of our residential services, who requested holistic-based therapy activities to support the ongoing clinical mental health support they were receiving through various services. Following the award of the grant scheme fund, an entirely new programme was introduced within the service, designed and driven by the wants and needs of the people using the service. Years later, there remains a robust timetable of opportunities for residents to access including sound baths, aromatherapy, creative therapy, music sessions, meditation and breathing, and walks in nature. One individual within the service spoke to staff after having an aromatherapy hand massage, saying that they had not experienced human touch in a non-clinical way for a long time, and the experience had meant a great deal to them.
Gardening Group
This project was initiated by residents in one of our residential services, focusing on learning new things and utilising pre-existing skills. The project encouraged individuals to work in groups, spending less time in isolation and more time socialising outside. The individuals scheduled regular meetings in the run-up to the project, identifying what tasks and activities they would like to do to improve and utilise the outdoor space; and sharing their ideas to create a robust project plan. One resident had the opportunity to revive their carpentry skills, setting up a woodwork group and designing and building accessible raised flower beds. Fruit and vegetables grown by residents are used to eat and cook with at the service, creating an opportunity to develop new cooking skills. The first harvest was used in a large communally cooked roast dinner. Staff from the service reported a new sense of ‘purpose and focus’ in the service, has emerged from the project.
