March Newsletter - FEEL monthly meeting Monday 19th - David K's birthday

Dear Friends,

Almost one year ago, at our monthly FEEL meeting on Easter Monday, we were meant to celebrate David Kessel's 70th birthday. However back then David had a serious accident and we ended up visiting him in hospital instead.
Fast forward, David's health is currently reasonably improved and zest for campaigning is back, while we are slowly learning some important CRDP material. David's birthday is only a few days away (2nd April) and Easter is also in the air. Perhaps a good time to celebrate all the things above and more at our monthly meeting, next week at LARC on Mon 19th. 

 

Do join us as we'll definitely take the time to celebrate, and thank, our Fathers ( March 19 is also St Joseph's Day) - and Mothers ALWAYS!!! - and the many more surrogate "parents" that we encounter throughout Life, under the form of teachers, partners, brothers, friends, even children (the best teachers/parents when we age).

A beautiful tribute to David's work and review of "Ravaged Wonderful Earth", the collection put together by David Amery in collaboration with Outsider Poets and FEEL for David in 2013, can be found in the recently released Spring edition of the Asylum Magazine: "Outside or Inside: Two views on survivor culture", by William Park & Andrew Roberts.

Infinite thanks go to Andrew for his tirelessly and precious work in archiving David's work and bio (among so much more work, bless this man!), to be accessible to a broader audience in space and time studymore.org.uk/donkeyda.htm#BlackCoffee

Wishing you a very Happy St Patrick's Day, Spring Equinox, Easter break, New Moon cycle (starting today) and hopefully better days and times for us ALL...nevermind the snow falling down right now in London  :)

More news and info to follow:

 
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FIRTS Global Disability Summit 24 July 2018.
Deadline for DPO Participants: 23 March 2018
The UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Government of Kenya and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) will co-host the UK’s first Global Disability Summit in July 2018. The Global Disability Summit is an opportunity to build on the current momentum on disability inclusive development. It provides a platform to secure financial and political commitments by national governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, the private sector and civil society organisations.
The Summit will be held in London at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 24 July 2018
www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/uksummit-dpos?utm_campaign=new_discussion&utm_medium=email&utm_source=thread_mailer

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BME mental health service users launch manifesto - A call for social justice
The Kindred Minds BME service user led manifesto text has recently been finalised. The Manifesto has concrete demands for change and builds upon two decades of studies on BME mental health, considering the evident race-based mental health inequalities. The process of writing the manifesto has been led by mental health service users and involved consulting with over 200 service users from Black and Minority Ethnic communities in south London. The manifesto is available from a link on this page www.nsun.org.uk/news/bme-mental-health-service-users-launch-manifesto

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NEWS FROM NOWHERE CLUB - "Wounded Leaders: Why British Politics Is So Flawed", Speaker: Nick Duffell
Saturday 17th March,  The Epicentre, West Street E11 4LJ  Leyton/Leytonstone7.30pm Buffet (please bring something veggie if you can) 8.00pm Talk. Free entry, all welcome, just turn up.
Enquiries Ph: 0208 555 5248;
E:  roskane@btinternet.com

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Demo at the New Savoy conference (protest against IAPT therapies)
Wed 21st March, 8.15am onwards, Millennium Conference Centre, 4-18 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London, SW7 4LH
The demo is organised by the Alliance for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Contact info@allianceforcandp.org for more information dpac.uk.net/2018/02/protest-against-iapt-therapies
recoveryinthebin.org/2018/02/25/demo-at-new-savoy-conference-8-15am-wednesday-21st-march-2018/

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Disability Justice Workshop: Use the Law to Challenge Discrimination
Thu 22 March 2018 1:00 - 4:30 pm, 336 Brixton Road, London, SW9 7AA
At this interactive and practical training workshop you will learn how the law protects you from discrimination and how to challenge it using real life examples. Please note this workshop is only for disabled people and DDPOs. Book your free ticket here www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/training-and-support/powerup/view/use-law-challenge-discrimination/#booking-form

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Shape Open 2018: Collective Influence group exhibition
22nd March to 5th April, 2018 The Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, Clinton Rd, London, E3 4QY
Private View: 6.30 to 8.30pm, Thursday 22 March, open to the public.This event is fully wheelchair accessible, including toilets, and has Audio Description provision. The Private View will also have BSL provision. Please email exhibitions@shapearts.org.uk or call 020 7424 7330 with any event or access queries www.shapearts.org.uk/Event/shape-open-2018

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Melancholy and Raving Poetry nightMon 26th March,  8 - 10pm upstairs at The Ship pub, 68 Borough Road, London SE1 1DX.Abe Gibson, Paul Kutting, World Renowned Maggie Nicols to share the stage on the night. There is also a open mic section for anyone who would like to sing a song, recite a poem, do a bit of stand-up or maybe something else...
Contact Kym for info melancholyandraving@gmail.com

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Mad Poets Speak - Poetry Open Mic night (£2.68 to cover costs)
Sat 31 March 2018, 7pm - 8.30pm, Unit 5E, Common House, 15 Punderson's Gardens, London E2 9QG.
Open mic event and slots of 5 mins are available. If you want to read/ perform a couple of poems the organiser, Louisa, asks that you email her beforehand to book a slot - her email address is hermey@me.com. If you'd like to come, reading or not, you need to book a ticket on eventbrite  www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mad-poets-speak-poetry-open-mic-night-tickets-43525828926?aff=erelexpmlt

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MHRN/ SolidariTEA event: Film 'The Death of Stalin', followed by a discussion with radical psychologist Lynne Friedli, looking at abuse of power and psychiatry. Thurs 5th April, 7pm at The Field, 385 Queen's Road, New Cross, SE14 5HD. Light refreshments available, disabled accessible, free, open to all!
FB: facebook.com/MHResist/
website: www.mentalhealthresistance.org
email: hello@mentalhealthresistance.org




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National Hearing Voices Network Conference - Celebrating the launch of the National Maastricht Approach Centre Telford
Thur 19th April 9 am - 4:30 pm, Park Lane Centre, Woodside, Telford TF7 5QZ
In the presence of Professor Marius Romme co-founder with Dr Sandra Escher of the Maastricht Approach and the Hearing Voices Movement. HOW TO BOOK: Ticket price: £60.00 per person. (Concessions for Groups and Unwaged) Refreshments Free. Please provide your own lunch. PLEASE EMAIL: nmac@purplebamboo.co.uk to book and arrange payment.

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Whose Side Are We On? Social Work, Austerity, Racism and Resistance!The Social Work Action Network (SWAN) Annual Conference
20 - 21 April, Centre for Social Work, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Gateway Building  Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1LW
The Social Work Action Network (SWAN) is a radical, campaigning organisation of social work and social care practitioners, students, service users, carers and academics, united by our concern that social work practice is being undermined by managerialism and marketisation, by the stigmatisation of service users and by welfare cuts and restrictions. While recognizing that social work is one of the mechanisms through which the State controls the behaviours of poor families, we believe nevertheless that social work is a valuable activity which can help people address the problems and difficulties in their lives. Many of these difficulties are rooted in the inequalities and oppressions of the modern world and good social work necessarily involves confronting the structural and public. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swan-conference-2018-whose-side-are-we-on-social-work-austerity-racism-and-resistance-tickets-41281717729

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Bobby Baker's Great & Tiny War
September - November 2018 NEWCASTLE
Daily Life Ltd. are proud and excited to announce a major new artistic collaboration with our wonderful partners, Wunderbar. Commissioned by 14-18 NOW as part of its finale programme, Great & Tiny War will occupy a house in Newcastle from Autumn 2018. More info: www.1418now.org.uk/commissions/great-tiny-war/​

!! Cancellations !! & other News

Dear Friends,

Due to the severe weather conditions the CRDP meeting won't go ahead tonight. If you wish to be notified for updates in regards pls write to crpdstudygroup@gmail.com
We'll be back at LARC for the next monthly meeting on the 19th of March.
The Universal Credit Protests is also cancelled, but the online action is still happening tomorrow.
Join Thunderclap www.thunderclap.it/projects/67736-stop-scrap-universal-credit  and share/circulating the news, if you can.You might also send a letter to your MP: this template could be used dpac.uk.net/2018/02/letter-to-send-to-mps-about-universal-credit/

Here some events to look forward to in March:


12 Days (15*) + ScreenTalk (Part of Human Rights Watch Film Festival)10+11 Mar, 4pm, Barbican Centre, Cinema 2, Beech Street, London EC2Y 8DS
www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/event/human-rights-watch-12-days-15-screentalk

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CRAZYWISE! Film screening and discussion with film producer Phil BorgesMending the Gap in Psychiatry; Bridging Traditional Wisdom and Mental HeathSat 17 March, 1:30-5:15pm, Norwich Puppet Theatre, St James Whitefriars Norwich NR3 1TN
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mending-the-gap-in-psychiatry-bridging-traditional-wisdom-and-mental-heath-tickets-42324806636?mc_cid=262631299f&mc_eid=267b7456a2

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Demo at New Savoy conference
Wed 21st March, 8.15am, Millennium Conference Centre, 4-18 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London, SW7 4LH. The demo is organised by the Alliance for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
 

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Playback: Mental Health on Film
Sun 25 Mar, 2:30 pm, ICA, Nash & Brandon Rooms, The Mall London SW1Y 5AH www.ica.art/whats-on/playback-mental-health-film

February EXTRA

Dear Friends,

 

Following last December victory in High Court against the unlawful PIP (Personal Independence Payment) changes applied since March 2017 on individuals that suffer from mental illnesses, apparently DWP will have to review 1.6 million PIP claims. “Nobody is going to be called in for a face-to-face assessment, and nobody is going to have money taken away from them”, Sarah Newton said (Minister for disabled people). People that had their benefits turned down or slashed need to appeal.We hope the reviewing won't be stirring further concerns and misery, and that people with chronic and enduring mental health issues and other disabilities will be receiving the right care required. 

 

This week school shooting in Florida once again brings a serious discussion that should not be ignored: was the event triggered by guns-mania or mental illness in se, or by the antidepressant'  side effects the boy was taking? www.drugawareness.org/antidepressants-florida-school-shooting-radio-show-friday-morning/

Firearms are certainly a danger, but what about the big pharma/psychiatry damages caused to modern society?Let's not forget that if the shooter was a darker colored person he'd probably been classified as terrorist and killed right away. 

Our monthly meeting is taking place Mon the 19th. We'll meet for the CRPD study group on Wed the 28th Feb (it's not needed to be enrolled in the course to take part to the group; lived experience and desire to see changes in the system are good causes). Both meetings are taking place between 6:30-8:30pm at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES.

Do find some extra news and updates to follow and, if not done yet, please take part in the following Survey.

Independent Review of the Mental Health Act - Have your say in this online Survey (DEADLINE 28 February 2018)

Survey for people who have been sectioned under the mental health act and/or supported someone who has been sectioned.  

 

This Independent Review of the Mental Health Act was set up in October to review how the law was used and how practice can improve. As part of this, the review wants to listen to all of the people who have experience with the Mental Health Act to help them have their say about what future practice and/or law should look like. This survey is aimed at service users and carers with experience of the Mental Health Act r1.surveysandforms.com/4c3zqo08-882s0m96?platform=hootsuite

You can download the survey relevant to you if you prefer and post it to the following address (must arrive by 28/2/18): Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU

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URGENT - Calling all BME mental health service users with experience of being detainedFocus group for Mental Health Act Review

Kings Fund, Attend 11-13 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0AN (run by National Survivor User Network) Fri 23 February, to start at 10.45am till 5pm with breaks and lunch, plus £15 honorarium for each participant.

Detentions under the Mental Health Act are disproportionately used against people from Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic communities. So, despite the jaded sense that nothing really changes, it is vital that BME service users/survivors who have experience of being detained get their voice heard at this focus group. Please contact Raza.Griffiths@nsun.org.uk for details.

 

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The law that closed the asylums. Talk by Professor John Foot (Bristol University)

Thu 22 February 7-9 pm, Italian Cultural Institute, 39 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8NXIn 1978 Italy was the first country to legislate to close down its psychiatric hospital system, with the famous ‘180 Law’. This closure – which took twenty years or so to enact – was the result of a movement for psychiatric reform led by the psychiatrist Franco Basaglia. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-and-democracy-4-the-law-that-closed-the-asylums-italy-1978-tickets-42268525297

 

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Mad Poets Speak poetry open mic night

Sat 24 February 7-8:30 pm Common House 5e Punderson's Gardens Unit 5E London E2 9QG. Cost: £2.68

Poetry open-mic night for people who've experienced mental distress to come and share their poetry and for anyone who wishes to come and listen. Please email hermey@me.com to put your name on the open mic list www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mad-poets-speak-poetry-open-mic-night-tickets-42570070226

 

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Stop and Scrap Universal Credit -  

DPAC Day of Action to Bring an end to #CrimesAgainstClaimants

Thursday 1st March - Nationwide - Join the Thunderclap

DPAC believes that Universal Credit has too many flaws to be simply paused and fixed – it must be stopped and scrapped. It is rotten to the core. Universal Credit is the punishing regime due to be more widely imposed on people with low incomes both those in and out of work. Seven million households will be affected, including over one million low paid part-time workers. For the first time ever people in work could face being sanctioned (having their benefits stopped) if they don’t prove to the job centre that they’re searching for better paid work or more hours. Pensioner couples will also be affected if one of them is under pension age. Universal Credit is an economic and political disaster bringing further distress and impoverishment to those forced to endure it. To date at least £15.8 billion has been wasted on its implementation yet it will only save £1 billion to 2022. No civilized Government should impose this on its citizens and no opposition party should want to simply pause and fix it www.thunderclap.it/projects/67736-stop-scrap-universal-credit

 

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NO More Deaths on our Streets protest - Supported by DPAC- Disabled People Against Cuts
Sat 3 March 3-6 pm. Gathering outside Downing Street to say enough is enough. No More Deaths on our Streets. Getting together to organise how to prevent any further needless deaths, since another rough sleeper died on the cold London streets just yards from Parliament this week www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/homeless-man-dies-outside-parliament-12023659 
Please bring along sleeping bags & other essential supplies that will keep people alive that will be distributed on the day to those that may need them across London. www.facebook.com/events/166541107460209/

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Women’s Strike – March 8th, Worldwide.
In solidarity with Women’s Strike, DPAC supports the Women’s Strike in London. Taking place in more than 56 countries on International Women’s Day, the strike, organised by the Women’s Strike Assembly UK will see women walk out of paid work in offices, shops and factories, as well as unpaid domestic work in homes, communities and bedrooms.
London: 1pm Women’s Strike Assembly Russell Square, WCB1 – all genders, kids welcome, food provided
London: 7pm Sex/Work Strike – all welcome, 55 Dean Street Soho
dpac.uk.net/2018/02/womens-strike-march-8th-worldwide/

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“Institutional Racism in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology: Race Matters in Mental Health” by Suman Fernando
The book, by the legendary BME mental health activist, academic and former psychiatrist, is designed to act as a conceptual framework to help activists and practitioners analyse institutionalised racism including within psychiatry – a fundamental issue about power relationships and oppression that many choose to skirt around or do not have the conceptual tools to handle
www.amazon.co.uk/Institutional-Racism-Psychiatry-Clinical-Psychology/dp/3319627279

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!cooolest weapons these games ov throneby gobscure & sean 
(paperback: £2.85 - excl. VAT; prints on demand in 3-5 business days)
"wz a year when satirists couldnt keep up but heres wee-poem / visualweekly collab thru that strange year (2017 c.e.) - theres greater need than ever to reclaim voices, add yrs into the mix too"
www.lulu.com/shop/gobscure-sean/cooolest-weapons-these-games-ov-throne/paperback/product-23516801.html

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Mental health services excluding the most at risk
London Assembly Report
The prevalence of mental ill-health is significantly higher in LGBT+ communities, disabled people, Deaf people, and those with experience of the criminal justice system. And the issue is compounded by services that do not understand and meet their specific needs. Read more www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/mental-health-services-excluding-the-most-at-risk

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The Mental Health Act: A Human Rights Perspective - 
presented by the National Hearing Voices Network
Amnesty International 17-25 New Inn Yard London, EC2A 3EA
Friday, 27 April 2018 from 10:00 to 16:30, AGM will follow at 5pm
"In this one day event, we invite you to join us to explore the mental health act from a human rights perspective. We will be creating space for discussion, reflection and exploration of the impact the Mental Health Act has had on each of us (and those we care about), and the changes you would like to see happen in the forthcoming review."
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mental-health-act-a-human-rights-perspective-registration-42935021806

February Newsletter - Time to talk... about CRDP - Convention for the Rights of Disabled People

Dear Friends,

Today some people might be taking part in the "time to talk day", where everyone is encouraged to talk about mental health.I wonder how many will touch issues such as the abuses, damages, coercion and neglect (see the TORTURE in these) that many people with mental illnesses or other severe difficulties are still experiencing under psychiatric care, primarily offered in this advancing 21st century.

With the online UNCRPD (United Nation Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities) course taught by Tina Minkowitz, Esq (a Human Rights Lawyer and Survivor of Psychiatry) that will start in March, a group of us is planning to hold regular monthly reading/study meetings to discuss the course material crpdcourse.org
People interested in the topics are welcome to joining in, even if not intending to enroll to the course.
We are meeting on Tuesday, 6th Feb 6:30-8:30pm at LARC Centre  62, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES for an initial planning meeting.

Our regular monthly  FEEL meeting will still take place on the 19th of February as usual.
Last month Dr Rose McGranahan introduced us to the NEON Study (Narrative Experiences Online), a large-scale research study running from 2017-2022 that is looking into collecting people's experiences of mental health to make them available online to help others. People willing to share their stories can find out more on www.researchintorecovery.com/NEON  or email wolfson-neon@qmul.ac.uk

To conclude it must be stressed once again that FEEL was never intended to run as a support group. We invite people requiring specialist or supportive help to refer to local social services, mental health team or peer supported circles (run a search online to find one near you, if no familiar with any one; have also a look at the resources here in our blog).

Creating a little list of contacts you trust and helpful strategies to have handy, if fearing to reach extreme emergency states is great self-help.
Some suggested contacts to remember could be The Samaritans ( phone 116 123; email jo@samaritans.org), The Spiritual Crisis Network or, if you are local to us in Tower Hamlets, The Lifehouse meets every Tuesday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at The Bromley by Bow Centre, St Leonard’s Street, London E3 3BT for face to face support (for more info reach on 07926 886372 or nickwaller30@gmail.com).

We apologise for not being able to offer further practical help, other than meeting at our monthly gatherings; so please be gentle with yourselves when difficulties strike, and with us, as some are already struggling with chronic life challenges.
Please find below a listing of forthcoming events, including the Solidarietea/MHRN event (tonight), The NHS march (Sat 3rd Feb) and more.

 

SolidariTEA/ MHRN event at The Field - FREE

The Field, 385 Queen's Road, New Cross, London SE14 5HD

Thurs 1st Feb 2018 Starts 7pm til 10pm (doors open at 6.30pm)'An Evening with ... Tara Fleur, Woman of Bones', with divine friends (made of bones) 'Thomas Gillies Smith', 'Marika Josef' 'Tom Bland' & 'Cathy Flower'. Incredible performance poet and digital artist Tara Fleur is going to take us on a round trip of her poetry and digital art, from the point of view of both a survivor artist and a psych nurse newly returned to work in the NHS. 

Searing truths, biting satire and rich in passion, Tara will leave you flabbergasted and knocked for 6.

MHRN FB page www.facebook.com/MHResist/

Website www.mentalhealthresistance.org 

Email hello@mentalhealthresistance.org​​

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NHS in Crisis: Fix It Now!  Emergency Demonstration

END THE WINTER CRISIS, FUND #OURNHS

Saturday 3 February; Assemble: 12pm, Gower Street Central London WC1 (near UCLH), March to Downing Street

Organised by the The People's Assembly Against Austerity and Health Campaigns Together.

The #NHSWinterCrisis has now descended into a perpetual year round crisis. A crisis that has brought staff to their knees and patients languishing and even dying in overcrowded waiting rooms and hospital corridors. When headlines report there is a "third world" crisis in the 6th richest country in the world, let's be clear and call this what it is: an entirely manufactured political crisis by the Tories www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/nhs_fix_it

FB event page www.facebook.com/events/174477699821503/​

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Spirit Influence on Mental Health

Is 'spirit' intrusion an important overlooked factor in hallucinatory disorders?Regent's University London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NS

Saturday 4 February 2017, 9:30 - 17:00, £55:00 (£45:00 for members of SRF and unwaged) Lunch and Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be provided in morning and afternoon. Buffet lunches are available in the university canteen  www.spiritrelease.org/conference.php​

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Effect of Childhood Brain Injury in Adulthood - FREE

Headway West London - Evening Support Group

Fulham Broadway Methodist Church, 452 Fulham Road, Fulham SW6 1BY

Tuesday 6th February 2018, 7-9pm

Gerard Anderson, Regional Child and Family Support Coordinator, London who will lead a session on "The Impact of Child Brain Injury on Adult Life". 

For further information please either email us at info@headwaywestlondon.org.uk or telephone us on 07562 341 460 www.headwaywestlondon.org.uk

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Melancholy and Raving

The Ship pub (the upstairs room) , 68 Borough Road, SE1 1DX

8pm – 10pm on the last Monday of the month - next is on the 26th February

Melancholy and Raving is a free monthly mental health inspired Variety Night in London, organised and hosted by community comic and former service user Kym Winstanley www.melancholyandraving.com

 

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National POD Conference (Peer Supported Dialogue)

Regent Hall, 275 Oxford St, London W1C 2DJ

Wednesday February 28th, 9.30am -5 pm

If you would like to reserve tickets for yourself or anyone you know - friends, families or colleagues - please respond to Katya (katya.vasco.od@gmail.com) and tell her how many you need. POD students and alumnus are admitted for free. You can also book places on www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2018-national-peer-supported-open-dialogue-conference-tickets-37362821204

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National Day of Action to #StopandScrap Universal Credit

March 1st 2018More details to follow but there will be a national day of action to call for Universal Credit to be scrapped on March 1st. We hope local groups will be able to support this and please send us details of any planned events to mail@dpac.uk.net. Please save this date to take action against this vile Tory creation and beware the IDS of March.

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Action Against Austerity!

Presented by BASW London and the Austerity Action Group

The Hall at St Margarets House, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, London , E2 9PL

Tuesday 6th March 2018 at 6.30pm (refreshments from 6pm)

Join social workers in the fight for social justice and learn about ways of campaigning, big and small, from speakers including: Jane Tunstill (Emeritus Professor of Social Work); Roger Lewis (Disabled People Against Cuts); Tom Griffiths (People’s Assembly Against Austerity); Social workers from the Boot Out Austerity march; Psychologists For Social Change; and through film, poetry and song. www.basw.co.uk/event/?id=1125

January Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Happy 2018 to you all! Hopefully the festive season has been pleasant and/or as smooth as possible.

2017 closed well in some ways as High Court declared DWP’s changes to PIP regulations unlawful, as they discriminate against people with mental health problems https://dpac.uk.net/2017/12/big-legal-victory-for-disabled-people-the-dwps-changes-to-pip-regulations-were-declared-unlawful-today/

Yet, the crash of the public sector keeps on favouring the super wealthy, not the needy, with the near-privatization of transport and NHS, among others.

Health Campaigns Together & The People's Assembly are organising the NHS IN CRISIS - FIX IT NOW march and Demonstration Saturday 3 February. Assemble at Gower Street, London WC16 from 12pm

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/nhs_fix_it?utm_campaign=nhs_fix_it_demo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=thepeoplesassembly

There will be a END THE WINTER CRISIS, FUND #OUR NHS Activists Meeting 11 January 7-8:30pm @ Unite the union 
Unite, 128 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8TN London

Check also the CALL FOR NHS http://999callfornhs.org.uk/​ and http://www.stopthestps.org.uk/ 

Can be followed on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/999CallForTheNhs/about/?ref=page_internal

Our January FEEL meeting is next Monday the 15th and we are expecting a couple of new visitors. 

Andy Brooker will come along to discuss the creation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Reading Group.

The CRPD Course https://crpdcourse.org/  is going to be running again this Spring with lectures delivered online. 

The reading group would offer people an opportunity to reflect on and discuss the materials together and offer shared insights and mutual support with the written assignments. The course is offered with an emphasis on how users and survivors of psychiatry can use the CRPD to advance our human rights. 

Would anyone be interested in organizing/attending the Reading Group to coincide with the course? Come along to the meeting next week. We'll be at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1 1ES from 6:30pm.

Check the few of us, present at the last meeting, wishing you the best for the year

Do have a look at the bottom of the page for some more listing of events and activities.

FEEL meets the third Monday of each month 6.30 - 8.30 pm @ LARC Centre  62, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES

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With the holidays gone, most charity and services are resuming back regular operation.  
The regular Mondays appointment at the Dragon Cafe' reopens today with a full programme that starts at noon till 8pm; theme of the month is 'Me, My Brain and I' www.dragoncafe.co.uk 

Winter courses and workshops are about to start also at the Centre for Better Health in Hackney. Check availability on http://www.centreforbetterhealth.org.uk/news-events/calendar-of-workshops/

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SURVIVOR'S POETRY AT THE POETRY CAFÉ - Hosted by RAZZ POET

Thu 11 Jan 8-11pm @ The Poetry Cafe',  22 Betterton Street, WC2H 9BX London

https://www.facebook.com/events/139003846785931/

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'Outside In: Journeys' ​@ ​
Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond St, London 

​- Free entry​ ​​​

​Public exhibition11-19th Jan.

Open 9am - 4.30pm, Mon-Fri only.

​Details for special events here www.outsidein.org.uk/OutsideIn-Journeys

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Outside In: Journeys is an exhibition to celebrate the launch of Outside In new charitable status, and reflect upon their journey so far and what lies ahead. It will include work from a range of artists, some who have been involved in Outside In from the beginning and others who have joined more recently.

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​London Group of the Spiritual Crisis Network 

Friday 12th Jan @ London Buddhist Centre 51 Roman Rd Bethnal Green London E2 0HU

Arrive 7pm for 7.15pm start. The meeting will finish 9.15pm. Future meetings are on Feb 9th, March 9th, April 13th. 
First timers please get in touch to confirm attendance to LondonSCN@gmx.co.uk  

The national SCN website is www.spiritualcrisisnetwork.uk

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​News from Nowhere Club​ - 'Radical Routes' Speaker: Emily Johns

The Epicentre, West Street E11 4LJ FREE ENTRY - Donations welcome, raffle. 

Sat 13th Jan 7.30pm buffet (bring something veggie if you can) 8pm Talk, followed by discussion, and back to buffet. 

"Here we are in twenty-first-century Britain, in a world not of our making but one that has been moulded over thousands of years of exploitation & injustice. Radical Routes is a network of housing & worker co-ops stretching from Scotland to Cornwall seeking to change all this through positive social change. Imagine collectively taking control of our housing, work, education, health & play. Imagine a horizontally organised, mutual aid network using consensus decision making to loan out a million pounds, to move property into common ownership, to make anarchy in action. Emily Johns is a member of Walden Pond Housing Co-op, an artist & Peace News production editor." 
Enquiries: Ros Kane roskane@btinternet.com 
Ph:  0208 555 5248 

https://newsfromnowhereweb.wordpress.com/

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Poetry Book Launch - 'As Real as Any - A Year of Day trips', by David Amery 

Wed 24th January  6:30 pm @ Positive East, 159 Mile End Road E1 4AQ

​See flyer attached.​

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SolidariTEA/ MHRN event 'An Evening with ... Tara Fleur, Woman of Bones'

Thu 1st Feb @ at The Field, 385 Queen's Road, New Cross, London SE14 5HD Disabled accessible. FREE! 

Incredible performance poet and digital artist Tara Fleur is going to take us on a round trip of her poetry and digital art, from the point of view of both a survivor artist and a psych nurse newly returned to work in the NHS. Searing truths, biting satire and rich in passion, Tara will leave you flabbergasted and knocked for 6 ... Starts 7pm til 10pm (doors open at 6.30pm) 

Please see MHRN FB page www.facebook.com/MHResist/

Website www.mentalhealthresistance.org.

Email hello@mentalhealthresistance.org.

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​A Mile in My Shoes – Migration

Migration Museum at The Workshop 26 Lambeth High Street, London, SE1 7AG Free admission 

8-25 February, 11am–5pm Wed–Sun, (open till 9pm on Thurs 22 Feb)

To accompany the No Turning Back: Seven Migration Moments that Changed Britain exhibition, the Empathy Museum presents a new iteration of its acclaimed immersive exhibit A Mile in My Shoes

​http://www.migrationmuseum.org/event/a-mile-in-my-shoes/2018-02-08/​

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​LES - LONDON END STALKING​

LES are relaunching the weekly House of Parliament gang stalking protest every Wednesday, during Prime Minister question time, between 11am and 1pm, when teh Parliament is sitting. Meet by College Green's narrow end, next to Old Palace Yard. After 1pm meet at the Wesley's Cafe for a meeting.

LES connects people that identify as targetted individuals and is part of an international movement of victims of covert harassment from all over the world.

Sign LES petition to Jeremy Corbyn https://www.causes.com/campaigns/100038-appeal-to-the-rt-hon-jeremy-corbyn-leader-of-the-opposition

Any question contact Paolo Fiora: paolo_bf@hotmail.com Ph: 07482900686 www.altnews.jigsy.com
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Petitons and Pledges:


Starting with the Dancing with Parkinson's at St. Joseph's Hospice dedicating it to our very dearest Myra Garrett, which was diagnosed with Parkingson in 2016 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/dancing-with-parkinsons-at-st-josephs-hospice


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STOP the new plans to dismantle our NHS
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-plans-to-dismantle-our-nhs

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Legal Action for Our NHS Crowdfund - Round 2 - Funded
www.crowdjustice.com/case/jr4nhs-round2

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SOS: Save Refuges, Save Lives
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sos-save-refuges-save-lives

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Please support CEPUK campaign to recruit more MPs to demand a national helpline for prescribed drug dependence
http://cepuk.org/2016/09/21/support-campaign-recruit-mps-demand-national-helpline-prescribed-drug-dependence/

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Scrap PIP (Personal Independence Payment) & restore DLA (Disability Living Allowance) https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/mental-health-disability-benefit-assessments

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Abolish Universal Credits before it puts majority of the UK in poverty
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200213

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Click here to sign the End Hunger pledge
http://e-activist.com/page/15292/petition/1

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The Emerging Kind Pledge
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-emerging-kind?mc_cid=36c77785af&mc_eid=267b7456a2

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Sack Toby Young from University Watchdog Post
https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-sack-toby-young-from-university-watchdog-post

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​Stop Windsor council removing rough sleepers before royal wedding​
https://www.change.org/p/stop-windsor-council-removing-rough-sleepers-before-royal-wedding