Getting Involved

If you are interested in being involved with West Essex Mind there are lots of different and exciting opportunities for you. We really value your views, ideas and opinions which help us to make changes and improve our services in response to what you say.

The User Forum is a great way for us to be able to really listen to you, and sharing your experiences and views can be a good experience. If you are a service user and training would help you to take part in the activities of the forum we will be happy to help.

There are many easy ways to communicate with the forum and to give across your views. This can be done by the User Forum which is on this website, via our activities, by email or phone. Details of who to contact and how are listed at the end of the page.

Below is a list of the range of opportunities that you might like to take part in:

Working groups and committees

Working groups are run by and for members and is really useful for us to have your views for advising staff and the Executive Committee on all areas of the running of the organisation. These groups will be supported by staff user forum representative. The kind of thing the groups can talk and work on is the Quality review.

Rural Network Operational Group

This group meets to talk about the day to day running of the project. There is more about this Uttlesford project if you would like to look on the brochure section of the website at the Rural Network Brochure.

Other things you might be interested in are:

• Editing written information for words, language and design. For example our brochures and general articles.
• Photography. We often need photographs for displays and for this website.
• Recruitment. Users can sit on recruitment panels interviewing for staff.
• Updating our information at GP surgeries. We always aim to have our latest information at the surgeries, you may want to help us to do this at your local GP.
• Mental health promotion. This can be many different ways like carnival events, helping the Rural Network Project at the events they go along to.
• Refreshments. It is really helpful to have help with drinks and snacks when an event or training is on and you might enjoy talking to people and learning something at the same time.
• Event preparation. There is always lots to do when setting up for an event and an extra pair of hands really helps, it can be fun, chance to meet other people and learn something.
• Specific administartion tasks. This can be a wide range of things for example putting together community information packs which go out to our rural communities filled with information about us and a variety of mental health related information.

If you think you would like to be involved in any of the activities and opportunities that we have for you please contact me. I am the User Forum representative and my name is Sarah Mason. You can phone or text me on 07837 094853 or you can email me at ruralnetwork@westessexmind.org.uk. You can also contact me on the User Forum section of this website. I look forward to hearing from you.