DPAC is supporting the campaign to save Mental Health Action Group Sheffield (MHAGS) from closure due to funding cuts from Sheffield Council.
MHAGS is a user led organisation run by and for MH service users, at
every level including office staff. There is no where else like it locally and
there are currently 250 people on their register.
Mental Health Action Group Sheffield, known as MHAGS for short,
was formed over 20 years ago as a patients campaign at the closure of an NHS
day centre in Sheffield at the hands of Margaret Thatcher, in fact the closure
of such NHS trust groups were some of the last legislations she passed before
being deposed.
The patient campaign group fought long and hard and were successful in getting
funding, and achieving charitable status, and rented a property from the
Sheffield City Council in order to keep a day centre available for people with
a variety of complex psychiatric and or psychological conditions.
The group have been moved several times by Sheffield Council over the
years. in 1997 the council got £10million to renovate an area in city centre
called the Peaces Gardens, of course this meant relocation of the group,
members say they were made to feel that they wern’t welcome in the new
and improved city centre and felt heavily discriminated against so in 1997, at
one of many protests, was that the group occupied the Peace gardens to raise
public awareness of their plight.
After it was nearly complete the SCC moved the group to a red light
district, knowing full well that some of the members of the group had issues
with substance misuse and they turned to soliciting in order to support their
habits.
Members found this upsetting and distressing, they were frightened for
their friends well being. After more yet campaigning, they have since been
moved to more suitable premises
In the 1990’s the group pioneered a bus pass in Sheffield for MH
service, they got funding for a camera and had a dark room and each pass was
signed off by a psychaitrist, and printed on the premises! This then enabled a
member to travel for a reduced fare or 25p it could well be that MHAGS hard
work all those years ago contributed to MH being included in mobility
passes today!
Over the years they have used a variety of group therapies :
-Walking Groups
-Sewing group
-Photography group ( funding for dark room n cameras etc )
-Art group
-Sewing group
-Photography group ( funding for dark room n cameras etc )
-Art group
-They go on many trips such as seaside days out or countryside walks.
-There has been two cases of group members being assisted in gaining
asylum status by other group members! One of these young men who was from
Eritrea went on to attend Sheffield University and now gives back to the
community.
-MHAGS chair/secretary and a few other members also act as an
appropriate adult when someone with MH is remanded in custody.
– The probation service used to refer people to MHAGS for support on
release from prison, but council has enforced a referral system in recent
years.
– a well known bakery gives surplus bread and buns in a van each week
that the group then distribute to homeless people in the city.
– there is fresh meal prepared by a service user who is in their own
words an honorary chef! Some members can’t cook hot food due to
disability, this is a free meal and is offered every day the centre is open,
Monday – Friday, if the centre closes there will be no alternative the members
will go hungry.
– There’s an IT corner and a pool table as well as a seated eating area
, the value of the level of acceptance users feel and the level of social
interaction is priceless, they simply wont get it anywhere else.
– The whole centre has cameras and the monitor is in the
lounge/pool room, everyone keeps an eye on each other, there’s no security
team, there`s mutual respect. It works fantastically.
Each year they group have to apply to council grants schemes for
funding, it costs just £12,000 to run the group per year.
Two weeks ago the MHAGS Chairs were summoned to a meeting with the
Council and they were told that their funding will end as the current grant
agreement states, in April 2017.
The MHAGS reps asked about alternative funding, and were told that there
is a new fund called “tackling inequalities “ that MHAGS will meet criteria for
but that 1) t`s unlikely that they will receive funding as the bench mark is
very high, and 2) even if they do get an award it doesn’t start until September
2017.
At best MHAGS are looking at a funding gap of £6,000 (April – Sep 2017)
at worst they`re facing closure leaving 250 people isolated within their own
communities with no support.
A campaign is getting under way to oppose the closure of MHAGS supported
by Sheffield DPAC, the BFAWU, NUT, Sheffield Trades Council UNITE
Community Sheffield, SWP, SP, Sheffield Uncut, Sheffield Campaign against
Library closure aka SCALP, and many more individual campaigners….
National DPAC are also supporting this campaign and we’ll bring updates
and say how people can get involved as the campaign develops.
In the meantime please sign the petition
to save MHAGS.
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